Jamie's Book Blog

I absolutely loved the Shells of Chanticleer so when I saw this book was out I bought it right away and while I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book it was still a great read.  I think my biggest problem with it was that the first book was just so unique, so magical with so much going on that it was just impossible to capture the same sense of wonder that the original contained.  Nevertheless I had a fun time reading it and the nostalgic factor was off the charts.  The first third of the book is just full of so many moments that triggered my memory and truly made me feel like I was coming home.  This was a very nice book to read during Christmas and the Holiday's.  In it's own way it's kind of a Christmas book even though it has nothing to do with Christmas.

The Good Things:

1. Nostalgic factor: During the first part of the book on while Macy is on Earth there's just so many little things that reminded me of the first book.  When she walks by Balthazar, the diamond earrings, her being comforted by warm caramel ever since waking up from her coma, little things here and there like a picture, her being fascinated by older times and the list just goes on and on. 

2. Getting to see Chanticleer again.  Since the first book I've been fascinated by the concept of Chanticleer and have fond memories of reading Macy's journey to face her fears.  I just love the setting.

3. The characters - For the most part.  I enjoyed all of the characters immensely especially Bing

The Not So Good Things:

1. Chanticleer was just different this time.  It wasn't that it was bad but I think a big part was that it was impossible to capture the same sense of magic and wonder that I felt reading the first one.  It's kind of like The Wizard of Oz or Star Wars.  The first time is just simply magical and while each subsequent trip is always fun, it's just impossible to capture that same sense of magic and wonder of seeing it the first time.

2. The Story just wasn't as good as the first one for me.  There were just a few little things here and there that just felt, I don't know, different?  I can't really put my finger on it and I think it's probably just me.  Like I said it didn't have the same type of magic, it had it's own magic but I was so looking forward to another trip down the same Chanticleer road although I should have realized things couldn't be the same this time.

Did I enjoy the book?  Yes very much so.

Would I gladly recommend this book?: You betcha!

Was it as good as the first? That's a hard question to answer. I didn't think so but you might feel otherwise so give it a try if you want. If you haven't read the Shells of Chanticleer yet I highly recommend that you do so.  It is a great book that has an extremely unique ideas and is sort of mysterious, hazy, trippy even and was a fun adventure that's still stuck in my head to this day.  I really wish I had liked this one as much but I just didn't.  I am very glad I read it.  Parts of it were as good if not better than the first but there were some parts that just didn't sit so well with me.  Still a fun journey full of nostalgia and that feeling of having "finally coming home" was worth the price of the book alone.  I eagerly look forward to reading more from this author.