The Bookshelf: What we’re reading

Published 2:00 pm Saturday, March 15, 2025

Greetings, readers. You’ve heard from me about my favorite books, so this go-round I asked our staff what books they’ve enjoyed recently. We all have some very different tastes so hopefully some of these titles will pique your interest. Without further ado, here are some recommendations from Victoria, Tori, Wade and Norma.

Victoria: The book I’m reviewing is actually a book series. It’s called “The Royal Tutor” and it’s a manga written by Higasa Akai. It’s set in a fictional kingdom called Granzreich and centers around four princes who have driven all their previous teachers away. Their father calls upon someone he knows to become the new royal tutor and the story follows his attempts to prepare the princes for the throne.

I love this series for a lot of reasons. It has a great premise with distinct characters that are a lot of fun to follow along with. It also has a good mixture of both funny and sincere moments, often blending into each other in a way that enhances the story. The brothers all have different personalities that play off of each other well, like the serious scholar and the charming flirt. The last few chapters upped the stakes while still holding true to the core of the series, and the ending was incredibly heartwarming. I still reread this series every once in a while from start to finish, and it’s always a great time.

Tori: “From Blood and Ash” by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a whirlwind of fantasy and spice. This is the first book in an ongoing series. Poppy is an untouched maiden protected with care for a reason only a select few are aware of. In fact, even Poppy doesn’t know! When she comes before the people only her lips and jaw are visible so how can temptation be present? Enter, Hawke. He is assigned as her guard but the golden-eyed warrior has a devastating secret as well. Trust is earned by the guard, but why?

This series will satisfy both young adults and adults craving romance in a medieval era. The chemistry is definitely top tier. Armentrout continues to guide this series in a direction that readers can trust. I definitely recommend it.

Wade: “The Last Ronin” is an amazing comic from the world of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” It was written by Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz and tells the story of Michelangelo, the last surviving ninja turtle in a futuristic, dystopian New York on a quest for vengeance. Oroku Hiroto, grandson of the Shredder, rules over the land with an iron fist, and it is up to Mikey to avenge his fallen brothers. With the help of April O’Neil and her daughter Casey Marie Jones they lead the resistance to an epic last stand against Oroku Hiroto and his army. Overall, this comic is a must read for TMNT fans and comic readers in general. The art style is fantastic and helps paint the scene for incredible moments.

Norma: Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” is a piece of classic literature split into 24 “books” (chapters). It tells of the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, a mortal man who has to face the wrath and challenges of Greek gods. Poseidon blocks his path home, turning him around at any current, until he finally returns to his wife after “defeating” Poseidon. The reason why I chose a classic book rather than something more modern was because I just like reading the story of Odysseus — no matter how many men he lost he wanted to return home.

Any of these titles are yours with a free PINES library card that can be acquired at any of our library system branches. Just bring a picture ID and proof of your current address and you’re all set. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be present to get a card. See you at the library!

Brian Latour is the branch manager of the Chatsworth-Murray County Public Library.