And thus continues what is possibly the slowest reading year I've experienced in a verrrrry long time. Since I really enjoyed the first book in the Warren the 13th series (and reviewed it a few weeks ago) I thought I'd be safe reading its sequel Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods by Tania del Rio & Will Staehle. I was totally right. (Thank goodness for middle grade fiction when you're in a bit of a reading slump, ya'll.) After the events of the previous book, the hotel has become wildly popular as the world's only traveling hotel. However, trouble is brewing right around the corner in the Malwoods where the Witch Queen Calvina has decreed that she must have the hotel and its occupant Beatrice (remember she vanquishes witches). While Warren and his friends are unaware of the trouble brewing in their mists, Warren has set out on his own quest to find something to repair the hotel's control panel and lands himself in one mischief after another. (Ever heard of a snake oil salesman? How about one that literally sells snake oils that he procures himself?) Unforeseen dangers, new allies, scarier enemies (in larger numbers), and the resilience of a hotel manager pack the pages of this fun little book. Once again, I need to note that this book has amazing illustrations that I'd be more than happy to frame and put on the walls of my apartment. This is a really great series to use as a bedtime readaloud with a slightly older child because reading aloud isn't something you should stop once your child can read to themselves. #librarianrant2k19 10/10 for this sequel and I'm excited to continue with the third book Warren the 13th and the 13-Year Curse which is due out on March 26th of this year. 

 

What I'm Currently Reading: Strange Magic: An Essex Witch Museum Mystery by Syd Moore

Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio & Will Staehle is the first in a series about a little boy named Warren (the 13th Warren in his family) who has inherited his family's hotel which has seen better days. Warren is not only the inheritor but the sole bellhop, maintenance man, and everything in between. Our little hero is described (and brilliantly illustrated) as an ugly little toad of a boy but what he lacks in good looks he makes up for with a great character and lots of heart. His uncle who has taken over management until Warren is of age has little interest in the running of a hotel and has allowed the grounds and building to fall into disrepair but worst of all he has married a woman who treats Warren horribly. (And then we discover she's a witch with designs on the fabled All-Seeing Eye which has been a myth passed down through the generations of Warrens.) This book is saturated with fantastic illustrations with a really cool color palette (mostly red, grey, and black) and it's those well-executed illustrations which elevated the narrative and turned this book into a winner for me. I just picked up the sequel Warren the 13th and the Whispering Woods so we'll see if that holds true for the rest but for this one it's going to be a 10/10 from me.

 

What I'm Currently Reading: The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Quirk Books was amazing and sent me a free copy of Warren the 13th and the All Seeing Eye for my honest review.

 

Meet Warren the 13th, a cursed 12-year-old Victorian bellhop who’s terribly unlucky . . . yet perpetually optimistic, hard-working, and curious. Orphan Warren’s pride and joy is his family’s hotel, but he’s been miserable ever since his evil Aunt Anaconda took over the management. Anaconda believes a mysterious treasure known as the All-Seeing Eye is hidden somewhere on the grounds, and she’ll do anything to find it.

 

Since I stumbled on this, which I can't honestly remember how, or where, I stumbled across it, I've had high hopes for Warren the 13th and the All Seeing Eye.  I wasn't disappointed.   Tania del Rio and Will Staehle created an adorable Middle Grade mystery very reminiscent of Edward Gorey.  Which is probably what originally pulled me toward the book in the first place.  I do love Edward Gorey.

 

 

The illustrations done by Will Staehle are fun and compliment that story well, which isn't surprising since original story was Staehle's.  They are wonderful additions to the story.  In fact the first thing I did when I received my copy was flip through to see all the illustrations.  Never once did I feel like the art pulled away from the story being told, but they were a great addition.  Personally I like the sort of sketchbook, newspaper, fell of the artwork that is in Warren the 13th and the All Seeing Eye. I'm sure there is a proper term for this kind of art, but i felt for the setting of the book.  Almost like Warren had sketched the pieces himself.

 

   

 

As for Tania del Rio's story, loved it!  The story moves pretty quickly, but I never felt confused or that the pieces were rushed.  Warren the 13th is written for a younger crowd, but it appealed to me just fine.  I felt it was a fun afternoon read.  I was rooting for Warren the whole time.  for me the plot felt like one of those plays where the audience cheers every time the see hero and boo's every time they see the villain.  Which makes it a wonderful bed time story.

 

Sitting here writing this I'm trying to think of something I didn't like, and really there is only one part that comes to mind.  Captain Greyishwhitishbeard.  I understood why the Captain was in the hotel.  He was there the same reason everyone else was there, but there was this moment between him and Warren that kind of confused me.  It was really the only that felt disjointed.  The Captain was was a fun character none-the-less, and it honestly didn't stop him from finishing, and enjoying, the book.

 

I have already pushed Warren the 13th and the All Seeing Eye on my bookies friends.  Particularly the ones with kids.  So a huge thank you to Quirk Books for giving me this book.  It's a beautiful cover!

 

The next installment is due sometime this Fall.

 

 

4.5 stars

I received a free review copy of this book through Netgalley and Quirk Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't know about you guys, but from time to time, I tend to end up in a book slump. My love for books is still there, I'm just not actively reading anything. A few pages of something before going to bed and that's that. I still check my Goodreads, bookblogs, bookstores etc. on a daily basis. Hell, I still even buy heaps of books because it feels so good buying them and then admiring them when they arrive (a little less admiration when it comes to adding new books to my Kindle though). However, when it's evening and I'm sitting on the couch looking at my books, I just can't be arsed to actually pick one up and start reading. Nope, I'll play a game instead or watch some TV, eyeing my books every once in a while, but then still don't feel like doing something with it.

And then a new book comes along which actually pulls you out of that state of mind. For me, Warren the 13th and the All-Seeing Eye was one of those books. I was about two pages in and already thought: THIS is exactly why I love books so much.

Just look at how chapter one starts off:



How can you NOT get excited about something like this? The artwork looks amazing! And I didn't even see half of it yet, because I've only read the test version on my Kindle.

The backflap summarizes the story brilliantly:

" Meet Warren the 13th, a cursed 12-year-old Victorian bellhop who’s terribly unlucky . . . yet perpetually optimistic, hard-working, and curious. Orphan Warren’s pride and joy is his family’s hotel, but he’s been miserable ever since his evil Aunt Anaconda took over the management.

Annaconda believes a mysterious treasure known as the All-Seeing Eye is hidden somewhere on the grounds, and she’ll do anything to find it. If Warren wants to preserve his family’s legacy, he’ll need to find the treasure first—if the hotel’s many strange and wacky guests don’t beat him to it!"

And strange guests they were alright! All characters are amazingly well developed. Fat and lazy uncle Rupert. His new wife, evil hag Annaconda. Mr. Friggs, an old veteran/tutor who basically lives in the library. Petula, a mysterious ghostly looking girl who's about the same age as Warren and knows how to draw portals and travel through them. And then Warren himself; a brave, sweet boy with beautiful golden curls and a face like a toad.

The setting is absolutely gorgeous. I first couldn't put my finger on what it reminded me of exactly, but then all of a sudden, it popped to the surface: it's like a Tim Burton movie (the ones for children that is). Sadly, I read some reviews the next day and discovered I wasn't the first person who came up with that *pouts*, but I'm still using it in my review, because it damn well hits the nail right on the head when it comes to describing the setting of this book: creepy yet oh so delightful!



I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes dark children's stories, beautiful (and many!) illustrations and has a quirky sense of humour. Or just to anyone in general actually. I will most certainly buy the book when it comes out, so I can see the illustrations on paper and hopefully, one day, will be able to read it to my children. This has the potential to become BIG!

this was so cute! I loved all the postcards. Beautiful pictures and witty captions made me love these even more. I want to give some away but I don't want to lose any of them I want to keep them all lol. A must have for any humor lover!