Chalice by Robin McKinley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It was difficult to really get into this book, as the concept of the “Chalice” and the other members of the “Circle” aren’t clearly or fully explained initially, or at all. The reader gets a pretty good sense of what is supposed to be going on with all of these really mysterious and fantastical elements, but there is so so so much more Mckinley could have delved into and really hooked her readers. Some books leave you with questions, which can be okay, not everything need be explained in painstaking detail, but I feel that Chalice may be one of those instances when the author knows what is going on and assumes the reader will by instinct. Despite this, Mckinley is wonderful and I managed to get through the book, even with my questions.

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The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sarah Addison Allen is amazing. I LOVED Garden Spells. That being said, The Peach Keeper was good. I liked the characters, and I liked the story. It was a good read, but it wasn’t amazing. I couldn’t really tell you why, but it probably had something to do with the fact that I didn’t take any of the character’s problems seriously, except maybe Sebastian. I didn’t understand Willa’s ostracism (and it’s not because I’m unable identify with ostracism—I can), probably because it wasn’t reinforced. All of the other characters seemed to like her just fine. Then there was Paxton’s inability, despite being such an assertive and capable person, to move out of her parent’s house, and her brother Colin’s lashing out against the nonexistent tethers of his family and hometown. These problems make sense, and I bought them, but I would never take them seriously in reality. It’s probably something to do with my personality. I also felt the climax wasn’t very dramatic, but again, it’s probably to do with personal taste. I was reminded vaguely of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic in regard to the Tucker Devlin ghost/murdery aspects of the plot, particularly when Agatha Osgood tells his ghost to go away, but then Hoffman and Allen’s styles are very similar.

I DID like Claire Waverly’s cameo, and I love how magical Allen can make small sleepy towns. I’ll look forward to reading more of her works, and will just hope that they’re more…climactic than The Peach Keeper.

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