The Storyteller's Daughter

When a king is deceived by those who are closest to him he hardens his heart and swears to never be deceived again. In a twisted plot to keep his heart safe, he announces to his kingdom that he will marry a woman every night, and kill her every morning, unless a woman volunteers, then he will only kill her and no one else. Everyone throughout the kingdom are horrified at the king's proclamation and fear terribly for their daughters safety. If no one sacrifices themselves than there will be one execution a day, but who would be so selfless to give up their own life in order that others might live? So when the storyteller's daughter volunteers, everyone, including the king himself, are completely shocked, for they have never treated her as one of their own, have never been very kind to her. Why would she do something like this for them? Is there sorcery involved? Something isn't right.

This story is a romantic tale with twists and turns along the way. I found the stories within the story very captivating and loved reading this book. The only thing I did not really care for was that the character's names were too much alike and I ended up having to give them nicknames so that I could keep everyone straight. Does anyone else do that or am I just stupid haha? But it was a good read and I really did enjoy it. Cameron Dokey is a great author and I will for sure be reading more of her books in the future.

The Rent Collector

'The Rent Collector', by Cameron Wright is the story of Sang Ly and her husband Ki Lim, who live in the largest dump in Cambodia. They make a living by sorting through the trash in the dump and searching for recyclable material to sell. Not only do they have the constant worry about never having enough to eat, working in harsh environments, paying rent, avoiding the gangs of the dump who rob them of their findings, but there biggest worry of all is the worry they have for their son, Nisay. Nisay is sick and no matter how many doctors they visit or how many medicines they give him, he is not getting better. Day to day life is very stressful for them and they never know if all three of them will make it to the end of the day. When Sang Ly discovers a secret about their ornery rent collector however, she may just have a chance to make a better life for her and her family. 

This is a story of hope found in a place where there is little else to live off. It shows that one person willing to serve another can have a huge impact. It emulates the power of literacy. And it illustrates the daily lives of the people living in Cambodia. 

I loved this book. It touched my heart. It made me think. It taught me some valuable life lessons. It made me grateful for where I live and the blessings that I have. It was humbling. It was entertaining. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It basically contained all of the elements of great literature.