Scan barcode
a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
4 Stars
I’ll be the first to admit that typically YA isn’t something that’s at the top of my list of to-be-read, but when the blurb mentions a garden gnome, then color me curious because that’s an original exploration if I ever saw one.
So yes, 15 year old Thaddeus is kinda a lonely outcast. Without really clear reasons, his father has uprooted them many a time, and Thaddeus somewhat resigns himself to not get too invested with his new location. However, this time around things are different in the town of Superstition. With a name like that how can strange and creepy and wonderful things not occur?? One of those very things is the midnight gardener Thaddeus spies next door, and his attempt at getting to know Teofil (the aforementioned gnome) sets off a chain of events and consequences he could’ve never expected. Most importantly, it reveals the mystery behind his mother’s death and why he and his dad have been living such a vagabond existence.
Now, like many YA stories, this is tame in the romance department, but what this excels at are the characters and the set up for the upcoming quest that’s sure to come. The intriguing Teofil was a delightful mix of good and innocent, devotion and strength. Intermix that with Thaddeus's sensible self, as well as his rock solid relationship with his dad, and there really weren’t any complaints at all with how this story progressed.
This definitely appealed to my love of urban fantasy/adventure and when you throw in a blossoming new sweet romance that’s full of all things first, then sign me up. I’m ready to go forth with the sequel!
I’ll be the first to admit that typically YA isn’t something that’s at the top of my list of to-be-read, but when the blurb mentions a garden gnome, then color me curious because that’s an original exploration if I ever saw one.
So yes, 15 year old Thaddeus is kinda a lonely outcast. Without really clear reasons, his father has uprooted them many a time, and Thaddeus somewhat resigns himself to not get too invested with his new location. However, this time around things are different in the town of Superstition. With a name like that how can strange and creepy and wonderful things not occur?? One of those very things is the midnight gardener Thaddeus spies next door, and his attempt at getting to know Teofil (the aforementioned gnome) sets off a chain of events and consequences he could’ve never expected. Most importantly, it reveals the mystery behind his mother’s death and why he and his dad have been living such a vagabond existence.
Now, like many YA stories, this is tame in the romance department, but what this excels at are the characters and the set up for the upcoming quest that’s sure to come. The intriguing Teofil was a delightful mix of good and innocent, devotion and strength. Intermix that with Thaddeus's sensible self, as well as his rock solid relationship with his dad, and there really weren’t any complaints at all with how this story progressed.
This definitely appealed to my love of urban fantasy/adventure and when you throw in a blossoming new sweet romance that’s full of all things first, then sign me up. I’m ready to go forth with the sequel!
ellelainey's review
5.0
Book – The Midnight Gardener (The Town of Superstition #1)
Author – R.G. Thomas
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 123
Cover – Lovely!
POV – 3rd person POV
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – Young Adult, Paranormal, LGBT, Magic
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I'm a big lover of young adult, supernatural stories and the minute I read the blurb for this one, I was desperate to read it. It didn't disappoint.
Thaddeus is like any other teenager his age – a little awkward, unsure, moody and sure that he'll be fine, because he's older now and smarter for it. The trouble that he got into in the story was always believable, realistic and intriguing.
From page one, I wanted to know who the mysterious midnight gardener might be and what he might be. I wanted to know what creature was stalking Thaddeus from the woods and just why there was a feeling of something being different about him, though I didn't know what.
About halfway through, I got all the answers I could want. They weren't thrown at me, but handed over gently, a little at a time, as Thaddeus and I learned the truth at the same time. The way the magic was revealed was gentle and considering – nothing being thrown in just for the sake of making it more interesting. Everything had it's place, it's meaning and it's use. While Thaddeus and I sat back and tried to put the pieces together, things began unravelling and it felt like a real journey.
Like I said above, it really felt like I was travelling through this story with Thaddeus, just as confused and unsure of what to believe as he was, when he was. When the few revelations were made, I'd already been set up to somewhat believe them (mostly due to Teofil's confession) and it made the thought of dragons, gnomes and witches being real that much more believeable.
Personally, I fell in love with both Thaddeus and Teofil early on. They were these sweet, narky, adorable teens that were relatable, but also very much like the teens I remember from high school. Each a little bit weird, a little guarded, a little unsure and yet drawn to each other in a way they couldn't explain. The chemistry between them was sweet and perfect, from the start. Never over stated, limited often to just a look or a blush, their romance had more of an effect on me and was more natural than some adult romances I've read.
~
This is an exceptional young adult novel, full of intrigue and mystery, with enough of a dash of romance to keep you smiling. I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens next.
~
Favourite Quote
“You taste like magic,”
Author – R.G. Thomas
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 123
Cover – Lovely!
POV – 3rd person POV
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – Young Adult, Paranormal, LGBT, Magic
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
I'm a big lover of young adult, supernatural stories and the minute I read the blurb for this one, I was desperate to read it. It didn't disappoint.
Thaddeus is like any other teenager his age – a little awkward, unsure, moody and sure that he'll be fine, because he's older now and smarter for it. The trouble that he got into in the story was always believable, realistic and intriguing.
From page one, I wanted to know who the mysterious midnight gardener might be and what he might be. I wanted to know what creature was stalking Thaddeus from the woods and just why there was a feeling of something being different about him, though I didn't know what.
About halfway through, I got all the answers I could want. They weren't thrown at me, but handed over gently, a little at a time, as Thaddeus and I learned the truth at the same time. The way the magic was revealed was gentle and considering – nothing being thrown in just for the sake of making it more interesting. Everything had it's place, it's meaning and it's use. While Thaddeus and I sat back and tried to put the pieces together, things began unravelling and it felt like a real journey.
Like I said above, it really felt like I was travelling through this story with Thaddeus, just as confused and unsure of what to believe as he was, when he was. When the few revelations were made, I'd already been set up to somewhat believe them (mostly due to Teofil's confession) and it made the thought of dragons, gnomes and witches being real that much more believeable.
Personally, I fell in love with both Thaddeus and Teofil early on. They were these sweet, narky, adorable teens that were relatable, but also very much like the teens I remember from high school. Each a little bit weird, a little guarded, a little unsure and yet drawn to each other in a way they couldn't explain. The chemistry between them was sweet and perfect, from the start. Never over stated, limited often to just a look or a blush, their romance had more of an effect on me and was more natural than some adult romances I've read.
~
This is an exceptional young adult novel, full of intrigue and mystery, with enough of a dash of romance to keep you smiling. I can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens next.
~
Favourite Quote
“You taste like magic,”
hmcendree's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
crtsjffrsn's review
3.0
Thaddeus Cane's mother died when he was a baby. He's spent as much of his life as he can remember with his father, moving so frequently from town to town that he's never really made any friends. But when they arrive in Superstition, Thaddeus hopes they might be in a place where they can stay for a while.
One evening, Thaddeus looks out his window and sees a young man tending to the garden next door. There's something intriguing about him, and Thaddeus finds himself paying attention whenever he sees the man out there--though he's curiously only out at night. And when Thaddeus finds himself running from a wild animal a few nights later, he crawls over the fence and into the presence of Teofil. From there, things begin to get really strange and Thaddeus soon learns there is much more to his life and his history than he ever could have imagined.
--
I love young adult fantasy. Toss in a light m/m element, and I'll read it up as easily as drinking a cup of tea. While this one is a bit slow in the beginning (though it's necessary for readers to connect to Thaddeus), it picks up quickly. And the backstory is definitely very interesting.
I look forward to the next book in this series. I need to know what happens between Thaddeus and Teofil, and I also need to know if Thaddeus and crew are successful in their quest.
One evening, Thaddeus looks out his window and sees a young man tending to the garden next door. There's something intriguing about him, and Thaddeus finds himself paying attention whenever he sees the man out there--though he's curiously only out at night. And when Thaddeus finds himself running from a wild animal a few nights later, he crawls over the fence and into the presence of Teofil. From there, things begin to get really strange and Thaddeus soon learns there is much more to his life and his history than he ever could have imagined.
--
I love young adult fantasy. Toss in a light m/m element, and I'll read it up as easily as drinking a cup of tea. While this one is a bit slow in the beginning (though it's necessary for readers to connect to Thaddeus), it picks up quickly. And the backstory is definitely very interesting.
I look forward to the next book in this series. I need to know what happens between Thaddeus and Teofil, and I also need to know if Thaddeus and crew are successful in their quest.
the_littlest_lion's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I feel like the issue with this book is that I come out of it feeling nothing. There's some technical issues with the clunkyness of the dialogue and the strange shifts in tone between formal and informal but those aside the story was simply not particularly atmospheric to me. It read fast but forgetful and although I didn't dislike it I come out of it uninterested in where the other books in the series might go.
bryceoc's review
3.0
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley.
I have pretty mixed feeling about this one. On one hand, it definitely has its charms, and I enjoyed reading it. But it really feels like a rough draft. It needs a lot of polish, but at the same time there's a lot here that works if you don't take it too seriously.
The dialogue could use some tightening, it shifts between pretty decent and oddly stilted. The plot, and the book as a whole, really needed more room to breathe. If it had spent more time building atmosphere, building the world, developing the characters, (and maybe including some much-needed foreshadowing of the events to come) I would have more interest in reading the next book in the series. The cliffhanger isn't even really a cliffhanger, just a bizarre stop in the middle of the action. In my opinion, the mark of a great series is when every book has a satisfying story and arc without this frustrating method of "Buy book 2 to find out what happens next!"
So yeah, the book has flaws. Quite a few, in fact. But despite all that, I had fun with it. I'd rank it at about 2.5 stars, with a lot of room for improvement.
I have pretty mixed feeling about this one. On one hand, it definitely has its charms, and I enjoyed reading it. But it really feels like a rough draft. It needs a lot of polish, but at the same time there's a lot here that works if you don't take it too seriously.
The dialogue could use some tightening, it shifts between pretty decent and oddly stilted. The plot, and the book as a whole, really needed more room to breathe. If it had spent more time building atmosphere, building the world, developing the characters, (and maybe including some much-needed foreshadowing of the events to come) I would have more interest in reading the next book in the series. The cliffhanger isn't even really a cliffhanger, just a bizarre stop in the middle of the action. In my opinion, the mark of a great series is when every book has a satisfying story and arc without this frustrating method of "Buy book 2 to find out what happens next!"
So yeah, the book has flaws. Quite a few, in fact. But despite all that, I had fun with it. I'd rank it at about 2.5 stars, with a lot of room for improvement.
literateramblings's review
3.0
Things this book does very well:
- Awkward teens
- Awkward gay teens
- Fantastically healthy and beautiful father/son relationships
It really hits the nail on the head with what it’s like to be a very uncomfortable and awkward gay teenager, and I honestly miss that in books.
- Awkward teens
- Awkward gay teens
- Fantastically healthy and beautiful father/son relationships
It really hits the nail on the head with what it’s like to be a very uncomfortable and awkward gay teenager, and I honestly miss that in books.
byftpup's review
5.0
What a BRILLIANT read...
Just what a fantasy fan wants. Just what a YA fan wants. Looking forward to the next book.
Characters are great, pulling the reader in with a vibrant young man starting his life.
Plot works well. No obvious holes or stumbles.
My usual complaint about shorter reads, but I accept adding much to the current story will just drag out the story, and that will loose YA readers.
Great Job R.G. Thomas.. :)
Just what a fantasy fan wants. Just what a YA fan wants. Looking forward to the next book.
Characters are great, pulling the reader in with a vibrant young man starting his life.
Plot works well. No obvious holes or stumbles.
My usual complaint about shorter reads, but I accept adding much to the current story will just drag out the story, and that will loose YA readers.
Great Job R.G. Thomas.. :)
charkinzie's review
3.0
Thaddeus Cane has just moved … again. He’s spent most of his life moving from one home to another. He loves his dad, Nathan, but the man doesn’t seem to be able to keep a job and it means that Thaddeus never gets to stay put for very long. This time the two of them have moved to a town called Superstition.
After a little while, Thaddeus spies another person about his age gardening at night. The garden is beautiful, filled with flowers and vines and Thaddeus loves to listen to the young gardener as he works. While spying – as quietly as he can – he encounters a much darker entity in the forest, and this sets a series of events in play that will have Thaddeus questioning everything.
This book reminded me of a fairy tale that had been re-written to be a young adult book. It captures the magical feeling of being able to believe in things that are a little magical and the day to day weight of responsibilities and commitment to family.
Thaddeus is a pretty typical kid. He’s trying to do his best to please his Dad, but he can sense there’s a lot going on that he doesn’t understand. When he meets Teofil – the midnight gardener – he begins to find out that there’s a lot he didn’t know about the world. As he falls for Teofil, he also has his eyes opened to what is around him.
This book did feel a little bit like it was simply the “set up” for the series. I did enjoy the “crush” between Thaddeus and Teofil. I also really enjoyed that the sexual orientation of the teens wasn’t an issue for the parents or guardians. They were just given the same rules that anyone else would have been given.
I was a little surprised that this book ended on a cliff-hanger…but you can rest assured that you won’t have to wait for the plot points to be resolved because the books have already been published.
After a little while, Thaddeus spies another person about his age gardening at night. The garden is beautiful, filled with flowers and vines and Thaddeus loves to listen to the young gardener as he works. While spying – as quietly as he can – he encounters a much darker entity in the forest, and this sets a series of events in play that will have Thaddeus questioning everything.
This book reminded me of a fairy tale that had been re-written to be a young adult book. It captures the magical feeling of being able to believe in things that are a little magical and the day to day weight of responsibilities and commitment to family.
Thaddeus is a pretty typical kid. He’s trying to do his best to please his Dad, but he can sense there’s a lot going on that he doesn’t understand. When he meets Teofil – the midnight gardener – he begins to find out that there’s a lot he didn’t know about the world. As he falls for Teofil, he also has his eyes opened to what is around him.
This book did feel a little bit like it was simply the “set up” for the series. I did enjoy the “crush” between Thaddeus and Teofil. I also really enjoyed that the sexual orientation of the teens wasn’t an issue for the parents or guardians. They were just given the same rules that anyone else would have been given.
I was a little surprised that this book ended on a cliff-hanger…but you can rest assured that you won’t have to wait for the plot points to be resolved because the books have already been published.
More...