It wasn’t until my junior year of undergrad that I really fell in love with C.S Lewis’s writing. I was working for a family at the time and we’d often talk about books and authors we enjoyed. The grandfather mentioned to me his fierce enjoyment of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S Lewis. Honestly, it…
Umbra Ex Libris: A Year in Review
November marks our one year anniversary of the official launch of Umbra Ex Libris! This year has been a great learning experience for all of us. We still have a lot to learn and much more to write about. We have enjoyed every second of it. Thank you to our dedicated readers and to those…
Perfect Halloween Drinks to Enjoy this Season
Happy Halloween Weekend! Here at Umbra, we are big fans of the season. Between the costumes, the candy, the great reads, it’s a blast! One thing we are particularly fond of are the festivities. One thing we really enjoy are the Halloween parties. Unfortunately, there will be no party for us this year, but that…
Xeric’s Demise: A Short Story
Xeric walked down the spiral staircase into the depths below his tower. He still could not believe the wizard council forbade his research. What did those spell slingers know about the fine art of transfiguration anyways? No one in town cares about the neat trick changing mice into rats. They wanted to experience something truly…
The Bend: A Short Story
My grandfather once told me a story of an old road that twisted down from his mountain town. It wasn’t an unusual road. It wouldn’t be seen as strange from any out of towners. But for the folks living in the woods, it marked the spot of an unanswered mystery. The secrets still lurk in…
Doctor Sleep Book Review
Are you looking for a thrilling book to read right before Halloween? Have you read The Shining by Stephen King? Many consider it one of his most haunting books. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King asks the question, what happened to little Danny after the events of The Shining. This book makes a fantastic sequel or…
Halloween Stories for the Whole Family
As much as I love a spooky, Halloween read, I know there are some little readers who want the thrill with less of the fright. Working in schools of all age groups, I’ve seen a few good Halloween themed books. I thought it might be helpful for parents, teachers, or families, to list some of…
Ten Amazing Thriller Reads for Halloween
Are you looking for an exciting book to read this Halloween season, but horror isn’t your favorite genre? Want something different from your average blood, guts, and spooky monsters? Sometimes variation in reading different genres is a nice change of pace. Here, we have gathered some of our favorite thriller books for you to check…
The Maid Book Review
I have always had a heart for the underdog. When I watch movies or read books, I’m always rooting for the oddballs and outsiders to come out on top. The Maid by Nita Prose, has me rooting for the same. I picked this book up because I loved the idea of reading a book narrated…
Soon to be Released Books we are Excited for
We planned a Halloween post, but our plans changed when we saw some of the books being released soon. We figured if these books flew under our radar, we just had to share to make sure everyone had a chance to place their pre-orders. Below you will find two books the three of us, (yes,…