The Captain’s Log – the forgotten book (Mechthild Gläser)

Ahoy there me mateys!  I wanted to read this book ever since I saw the wonderful cover:

I requested it from NetGalley as an eArc and was denied.  And then I kept forgetting about this book (Hardy har har!).  But no matter, I have finally managed to read this and I am glad that I did.

This book has been described as a Jane Austen inspired YA fantasy involving a magical book.  It certainly has pride & prejudice and emma vibes.  The author is German and so I was also interested in it because I love reading translated books for the different perspectives.

This book follows Emma who attends the boarding school where her father be the headmaster.  She is determined to take charge of her destiny and make the most of the upcoming school year.  Then she finds a magic book that makes things she writes come true.  So she of course uses it and it’s a bit of a mess.

I really did enjoy reading this even though not everything worked for me.  I liked Emma and her friendships with the other girls at school.  I liked the magic book itself, how it worked, and the mysteries that needed to be solved.  There were secret tunnels which are always awesome.  I loved many of the Austen-esque vibes.  The ending also worked very well for me.

I did not like that the students at the school seemed to have no real oversight and the education seemed more like a joke.  There were an awful lot of parties, sweets, and sneaking out at this boarding school.  Not all of those things are bad but just seemed unrealistic.  Also the two boy visitors (and love interests) just ran amuck doing whatever, wherever.  Unrealistic for two 18 to 20-ish year old boys to have that much freedom in a school dang it!  Did not like the kinda creepy Darcy and Emma relationship.  And Emma’s father let her run wild and get away with everything.  Loving aye but a horrible parent.  Not a fan.  And of course I guessed the villain early on.

I know that be a lot of problems but this was a quick read and there was a lot of fun in it.  I rolled me eyeballs quite a bit but was engrossed and had to know how it ended.  So no regrets from me and I would pick up some of the author’s other works.  Arrrr!

Goodreads’ website has this to say about the novel (shortened by me):

Emma is used to things going her way. Her father is headmaster of her prestigious boarding school, her friends take her advice as gospel, and she’s convinced that a relationship with her long-time crush is on the horizon.

As it turns out, Emma hasn’t seen anything yet. When she finds an old book in an abandoned library, things really start going Emma’s way: anything she writes in the book comes true.

But the power of the book is not without consequences . . .

To visit the author’s website go to:

Mechthild Gläser – Author

To buy the novel go to:

the forgotten book – Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List