Three Good Deeds by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Rich Horton
Howard is a fairly typical boy in a small village. One day, for
what he thinks is a prank, he steals the eggs of a goose -- one of a flock of goose protected by the local "witch." The
"witch," it turns out, is a real witch, and she responds by turning Howard into a goose. He won't become a boy again until
he performs three good deeds.
Tales From the Brothers Grimm and the Sisters Weird by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Jonathan Fesmire
While rewriting fairy tales is not new in fantasy literature, it's interesting
to see a writer's take on these bits of our cultural subconscious. The author
does a nice job of bringing something new to stories like "Little Red Riding Hood" and
"The Frog Prince." Who knew that Red Riding Hood, or the princess for that matter, were such spoiled brats?
Wizard at Work by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Rich Horton
The never-named title character is an instructor at a school for wizards. He is fairly young, though he tends to disguise
himself magically as an older man -- people just don't believe someone as young as he really is can be a respectable wizard. As
the story opens, he is settling into his summer vacation, hoping to spend his time as usual -- puttering around his garden,
mainly. An encounter with a rather snappish witch reminds him that he might not be ecstatically happy, but that "true happiness
is overrated."
Being Dead by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Rich Horton
This is a new collection of ghost stories, definitely Young Adult in tone, but
appealing to adult readers as well. The 7 stories are mostly quite dark in tone, as might be expected from the
subject matter, and rather uncompromising in facing death as a reality, not as something easily escaped. The
telling is straightforward, as with much YA fiction, but affecting and often surprising.
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Magic Can Be Murder by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Hank Luttrell
Nola and her mother are witches -- not that it does them much good. They
don't seem to be very powerful or versatile. Mostly, it is a source of
concern for them, lest they be discovered. The pair could be arrested for
witchcraft or, even more likely and dangerous, attacked by an angry mob. As
a result, they must always be careful to not reveal themselves to others.
They spend most of their lives travelling, unable to have a stable home or
friends. But then Nola witnesses a murder while she is magically spying on
someone...
Never Trust a Dead Man by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
In past books, she has dealt strongly and convincingly with
dark and even tragic themes, but this is a
thoroughly light-hearted romp. True, there's murder, greed, lust,
deception, and a spirit brought back from the dead, but all is treated with wry humour.
A Coming Evil by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
The story starts a little slowly but it soon takes off. Everything
works beautifully, from the convincing real-life details to
the suspenseful action of the climax. The interaction between
the children -- involving much bickering and conflict but also
caring and cooperation -- is deftly handled.
The Conjurer Princess by Vivian Vande Velde
reviewed by Victoria Strauss
Novelist and Guest Reviewer Victoria Strauss felt
Vande Velde's well-phrased narrative sweeps along at a swift pace,
capturing the reader's interest at once and never flagging.
Vande Velde works well in shades of gray: she makes it clear there
are no easy solutions, nor are endings ever entirely happy.
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