Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor little boy named Puss. Puss had no parents and he lived with his mean stepbrothers and stepmother. They treated him like a servant and made him do all the household chores. One day, as Puss was cleaning the attic, he stumbled upon a dusty old book. It was a book of spells and enchantments. Puss was intrigued and started flipping through the pages.
Reviewed on: 06/14/2010
Once Savannah arrives in town she realizes that a 6 ft motorcycle witch is NOT what the locals want and soon finds herself at the mercy of a small town with secrets that some would kill to keep hidden. Armstrong s 11th Otherworld urban fantasy, her first book for Penguin since 2003 s Stolen, sends two paranormal investigators to the small town of Columbus, Wash.
Puss was intrigued and started flipping through the pages. Suddenly, he came across a spell called "The Magic Beans." According to the spell, if Puss planted these beans, a magical beanstalk would grow, reaching up high into the sky.
Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong
With their rotating lead characters, feisty female narrators, and absorbing mystery plotlines, Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series (formerly called "Women of the Otherworld") novel merit even standalone scrutiny. At the center of Waking the Witch, the latest entry, is Savannah Levine, a twenty-one-year-old newbie detective whose first case appears to be a triple ritual killing. Like its predecessors, this urban fantasy combines the best features of mystery and supernatural fiction: prime time crime snooping and paranormal plot dimensions. Editor’s recommendation.(Goodreads)
Waking The Witch is Savannah Levine’s story. Daughter of an infamous dark witch and cut throat sorcerer, we meet Savannah in Stolen and catch glimpses of her in Dime Store Magic & Industrial Magic. Savannah is taken in and raised by Paige and Lucas after her mother, Eve, was brutally murdered. I love Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series and was very pleased to see Waking The Witch would revolve around Savannah. Smooth writing with engaging characters and lovely snarky dialogue swept me back up into Ms. Armstrong’s world from page one. I also like that Savannah has aged appropriately in accordance to the book release dates.
Savannah Levine is 21 years old and wants to prove she is more then adequate to help out in an investigative position at Paige and Lucas’s supernatural PI firm. Savannah struggles with having two infamous parents. She was placed in a box of preconceived notions as a child and now she strives to grow beyond it. When a client comes in with a case, Savannah sees her chance to shine. So she grabs her gear and heads out to help solve a murder mystery with a supernatural bent. Once Savannah arrives in town she realizes that a 6 ft motorcycle witch is NOT what the locals want and soon finds herself at the mercy of a small town with secrets that some would kill to keep hidden.
Savannah is a multilayered character with her powers, background, and intelligence. She also has a delightful witty personality that shines through in some fantastic snarky lines. She flings herself headlong into the fray and drags you right along with her.
The secondary characters in here are all well fleshed out as Savannah. Our villains are a nasty bunch with new and old coming out of the wood work to welcome Savannah into her new career choice. We see more of Adam and I liked the one-on-one conversations they have. We don’t see what a lot who follow the series want to see but we get some nice gentle tugs in that direction.
The main conflict is fast paced with plenty of intrigue and suspense to hook you right in. Multiple subplots twist and turn us around while indirectly affecting the investigation. I enjoyed tagging along behind Adam and Savannah trying to solve the mystery with them. While this series is paranormal in genre, this falls more under mystery and suspense with a supernatural base.
There is far less romance in here then Ms. Armstrong’s usual stories but it fits the tone of this book perfect. I did feel however that the romance in the book ends in an abrupt way and it threw me off kilter. Almost as if Ms. Armstrong decided it wasn’t working and just cut it off.
The ending comes at you hard and fast with some nasty surprises and a cliffhanger that will have you wishing it was 2012 already. All in all Waking The Witch is an exciting paranormal who dun it that is a welcome addition to the Otherworld series. I will add that while this is the 11th in the series, it is possible to read as a stand alone though you may miss out on the over all arc continuation with it’s references to other characters and past events.
Rating: B
Hardcover - 336 pages - 978-0-307-35759-5
Excited by the possibility of adventure and escape from his miserable life, Puss decided to give it a try. Puss found a small patch in the garden and carefully planted the beans. He said the incantation, and to his amazement, the ground shook, and a huge beanstalk shot up into the sky. In awe, Puss couldn't believe his eyes. Curiosity got the better of Puss, and he decided to climb the beanstalk. He climbed, and climbed, and climbed until he reached the top. There, he found himself in a mysterious and magical land. The land was filled with lush greenery and beautiful flowers. As Puss explored the land, he stumbled upon a magnificent castle. He cautiously entered the castle and found a large room filled with gold and treasures. Puss couldn't believe his luck! He quickly grabbed as much treasure as he could and stuffed it into his pockets. Just as Puss was about to leave, he heard a loud noise coming from the next room. He peaked in and saw a giant, who was snoring loudly. Puss knew he had to be careful, so he tiptoed past the giant, making sure not to wake him. As Puss was leaving the castle with his treasures, he noticed a small golden harp. Feeling guilty about stealing, Puss decided to take the harp back to the village with him. As soon as Puss reached the ground, he rushed back home, taking the harp with him. The moment he arrived, he put the harp on the floor. To Puss's surprise, the harp sprang to life and started playing a beautiful melody. The sound of the harp's music attracted the attention of Puss's stepmother and stepbrothers. They were amazed to see Puss standing there with a heap of treasures and a magical harp. They were filled with envy and greed. Puss, now free from his mean stepfamily, lived happily ever after with his newfound treasures. He shared his wealth with the villagers and became a hero in their eyes. And so, the story of Puss in Boots and his magical beanstalk became a legend in the village. It taught everyone the importance of kindness, bravery, and the power of believing in magic..
Reviews for "Cracking the Code: Decoding the Symbolism in Puss in Boots and the Magic Beans"
- Sarah - 2/5 Stars - I was really disappointed with "Puss in Boots: Magic Beans". The storyline was predictable and the characters lacked depth. The jokes were repetitive and overused, making it hard to stay engaged throughout the movie. I expected more from a beloved fairytale adaptation and this just fell flat for me.
- John - 1/5 Stars - "Puss in Boots: Magic Beans" was a complete letdown. The animation quality was subpar and the voice acting felt forced. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along. I found myself losing interest and counting down the minutes until it was over. Definitely not worth the time or money.
- Emily - 2/5 Stars - This movie was a miss for me. The characters were poorly developed and lacked any real substance. The dialogue felt forced and the jokes fell flat. The overall pacing was off, making it difficult to stay engaged. I would skip "Puss in Boots: Magic Beans" and look for a more enjoyable animated film to watch.