Caramel’s reviews – Page 2

Caramel reviews Warhammer – The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook

As his first review for the new year, Caramel wanted to talk about Warhammer – The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook from 2022. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, You had already reviewed the core book for Warhammer 40000. What are the differences between the two?

Caramel::Well, in Warhammer lore the Horus Heresy is 10000 years earlier. So the time is around 30000, not 40000.

S: And why does this difference matter?

C: Well, now in this time, there is a civil war between humans and humans, mostly space marines versus more space marines, but they have cool armor, and best of all, tanks, and mechs.

S: Ahh, I understand why you like this now.

C: Yes, I’m a simple bunny.

S: But Caramel, in 40K, too, there was perpetual war.

C: Yes, but in 40K, there are aliens too. In The Horus Heresy, it’s mostly between humans and humans. This is the background they give in the web page for the book:

The Imperium stretches across countless worlds, a newborn empire on the brink of ultimate victory. Yet at the peak of this golden age of conquest, the galaxy has been plunged into an Age of Darkness. Horus Lupercal, Warmaster of the Emperor’s armies, has turned against his gene-father, and the eighteen Space Marine Legions, once united in a Great Crusade to consolidate all Humanity beneath the Emperor’s banner, are riven by betrayal. This is the Horus Heresy – the bloodiest conflict Humanity has ever known. Civil war on a galactic scale, in which superhuman soldiers clad in advanced armour turn devastating weapons upon those they called brothers. Where do your loyalties lie?

S: So the Imperium is powerful but maybe not yet as spread around the universe, and the story is more about an internal struggle?

C: Yes, basically, and the political issues with the God Emperor of Mankind being betrayed by his sons, like a certain Greek titan.

S: Ooh, I see, you are referring to Kronos and his sons, right?

C: Yeah, I am. I’m a smart bunny, too.

S: I never doubted that Caramel! But in your review of the 40K book, you told us that humans still worship the God Emperor. So does this mean that he will prevail?

C: Well, he doesn’t actually like religions, he is apparently old enough to have seen what it does. But he is a perpetual, or a being that is reborn, so, yeah, he was apparently also, I think Caesar, or something.

S: Again, this is very depressing. To have an autocratic leader who hangs around for ten thousand years of perpetual war.

C: No comment. Except a tiny one: he isn’t there after the Heresy; he sort of dies, but doesn’t.

Caramel is reading Warhammer – The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook. — Caramel is reading *Warhammer – The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook.*

S: Hmm. I think you have been reading those other books about the Horus Heresy, right?

C: No comment. I plead the fifth.

S: I have a sneaking suspicion we will be ending up with reviews of some of those books, too.

C: Maybe, I plead the fifth again.

S: Okay, let us not go too far into speculation of that sort. Let us get back to this rulebook. So then the main types of warriors you can play with in this Horus Heresy world are different then, right? You do not have the same kind of warriors, I am assuming.

C: Yes, and no, some chapters of space marines still use the same types of armor and weapons, but have primaris versions, so larger and faster, but not really.

S: So, what are the chapters of this book about? I’m guessing there are rules in it.

C: Oh, yeah, so, the book starts off with a quote by Horus Lupercal to set the stage:

I never wanted this. I never wanted to unleash my legions. Together we banished the ignorance of Old Night, but you betrayed me. You betrayed us all. You stole power from the Gods and lied to your sons. Mankind has only one chance to prosper. If you will not seize it, then I will. So let it be war, from the skies of Terra to the Galactic Rim. Let the seas boil. Let the stars fall. Even if it takes the last drop of my blood, I will see the galaxy freed once more. And if I cannot save it from your failure, Father, then let the galaxy burn!

Then the book explains what the Horus Heresy game is, and then explains the types of space marine armor one might see during the Horus Heresy, but it is missing most of the terminator plates, or any of the tanks or dreadnoughts, but should I tell you what armors types it does talk about?

S: No, I think I had my daily dose of Warhammer today.

C: Aw, one can never have too much Warhammer!

S: I know you think so.

C: Me and many other bunnies around the world!

S: Okay, that is true. So now you have some figures that are from this world and some from the 40K era, right?

C: I have some space marines, but they work for both games; it all depends on whether or not my friends let me.

S: I see. And I also noticed that you have been reading the lore like it is real history basically. You have a solid grasp of the timelines and what happens when and you know so many details…

C: Yep. I know it’s fiction, but it’s cool fiction.

S: Reminds me of the Foundation series Midnight started to review. That, too, envisions a whole future history of a galactic empire.

C: Huh, maybe, but Warhammer sort of also changes the perspective of ancient beings, like necrons, aeldar and orks, who are all older than most of the universe. Then there are the old ones: frog men who are older than the entire galaxy.

S: Hmm, so it is more mixed in with fantasy than pure sci-fi, maybe?

C: Yeah, I can see that.

S: Okay, cool. I am glad we talked about all this. I was wondering about The Horus Heresy, and this helps me get up to speed a bit about all that. So let us wrap up this review.

C: Sure. I think I should probably go to sleep.

S: Yes, I think that is a great idea. As we wrap it up, what would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel has been enjoying reading Warhammer – The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook and will likely leaf through it for many more months (or even years) to come. — Caramel has been enjoying reading *Warhammer – The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Rulebook* and will likely leaf through it for many more months (or even years) to come.

The Book Bunnies review the books of 2025

For the last few years, we have been doing a New-Year-ish thing in our last post of the year and talking about all the books we have read through that year. (You can find our recap of 2022 here; here is our recap of 2023, and here is the recap for 2024.) This year, we continue this tradition and take a look at our reviews for 2025.

[2025 saw the bunnies read and review many books, both new and classic. You can find a full list here.]

The book bunnies review the books of 2025.

Sprinkles: This year was a long and interesting one! We read a lot of new books and a lot of old books, too. And all the way at the end of the year, Midnight, the fourth member of our family joined us! So we thought, we can do something slightly different this time. Maybe everyone can tell us their favorites?

Midnight: Mine is the easiest then. I only reviewed one book: Foundation by Asimov. So it is my favorite book of the year. Also it is my least favorite.

Sprinkles: I see what you did there Midnight. That is funny.

This year Midnight joined the book bunnies blog and reviewed Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Here is a link to his review. — This year Midnight joined the book bunnies blog and reviewed *Foundation* by Isaac Asimov. Here is a link to his review.

Caramel: I want to say what mine was next!

Sprinkles: Sure, Caramel. I know you have been going over your reviews for the year. So which was your favorite?

Caramel: Escaping Peril, the graphic novel version. I also really liked rereading my review because soon, very soon, I will have the ninth book to read!

Sprinkles: Yes, I know! It is going to be published in early January 2026, so you can review it when we get back from our break.

Caramel: Will do.

Caramel's favorite book in 2025 was Escaping Peril: The Graphic Novel by Tui Sutherland. Here is a link to his review. — Caramel’s favorite book in 2025 was *Escaping Peril: The Graphic Novel* by Tui Sutherland. Here is a link to his review.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow, what was your favorite book this year?

Marshmallow: I liked several of them a lot.

Sprinkles: I know, it is sometimes really hard to choose. But if you had to…

Marshmallow: I really liked The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger. I thought it was really well written and very inspiring.

Sprinkles: That was a really good book!

Marshmallow's favorite book in 2025 was The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger. Here is a link to her review. — Marshmallow’s favorite book in 2025 was The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger. Here is a link to her review.

Marshmallow: Yes. But I also really liked a lot of the other books I reviewed this year. So it is quite hard to choose. How about you?

Sprinkles: Hmm, I reviewed a lot of poetry books this year. And also Flatland: A Journey of Many Dimensions, which is a mathematical classic. So of course I liked that one a lot. But among the poetry books, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne are probably my favorites. They are really cute, and they remind me a lot of both of you when you were even younger bunnies.

Marshmallow: Of course, because we were also so so cute!

Sprinkles: Exactly.

Caramel: We are still cute, though?

Sprinkles: Of course.

Midnight: I myself don’t care to be cute.

Sprinkles: You jut can’t help it though!

Midnight: Hmm. I prefer to be mysterious and vaguely threatening.

Marshmallow: Okay Midnight. As you wish.

Sprinkles cheated and chose three favorites: *Flatland: A Journey of Many Dimensions*, *When We Were Very Young*, and *Now We Are Six*.

Sprinkles: Typically in these recaps, we used to talk about quite a lot more books, but this year, we wanted to try something different and just talk about our favorites.

Caramel: It is a lot easier honestly.

Sprinkles: Well, for some of us, it is not so easy to choose our favorites. For example, that new book you two could not stop reading last week. Maybe it will be your favorite next year?

Marshmallow: It might be, if I review it.

Caramel: Hmm, I could review it too, but if she insists, I guess Marshmallow could review it. Then I will have my Wings of Fire books to review anyways.

Sprinkles: True, besides the ninth graphic novel of the original Wings of Fire series, the sixteenth book is coming out in 2026 as well.

Caramel: I can’t wait!

Sprinkles: Maybe Midnight will review more books for us, too, in 2026.

Midnight: That remains to be seen. A mysterious rabbit does not reveal their intentions so easily.

Caramel: Hmm, okay Midnight. But in any case, we have the month of January off!

Marshmallow: And we will be back here in February! So I want to say: Happy new year everyone! We wish you a happy hoppy new year in 2026!

Sprinkles: With lots of good books and many friends, old and new!

Caramel: Yes! And stay tuned for more book bunny reviews, coming to you in February 2026!

All four book bunnies, and Caramel's good friend Steve, wish all bunnies around the world a hoppy happy new year in 2026, with lots of good books and many friends, old and new! — All four book bunnies, and Caramel’s good friend Steve, wish all bunnies around the world a hoppy happy new year in 2026, with lots of good books and many friends, old and new!

Caramel reviews Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono

Today Caramel reviews Kiki’s Delivery Service, originally written in Japanese by Eiko Kadono in 1985. Kiki’s story became a world sensation when the animated movie Kiki’s Delivery Service by Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli came out in 1989. Caramel and Sprinkles both read the book before watching the movie, and in this post, they are talking about the English translation by Emily Balistrieri, published originally in 2020.

Caramel reviews Kiki's Delivery Service, written by Eiko Kadono and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri. — Caramel reviews *Kiki’s Delivery Service*, written by Eiko Kadono and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri.

Sprinkles: Today Caramel and I are talking about a book written several decades before he was born. And an animated movie of the book also became famous all the way back then. But Caramel and I only read it this year. The story is pretty timeless though, so I think it still worked out well. What do you think, Caramel?

Caramel: Yeah, I agree. The story is timeless, and it is pretty good. It’s about a witch. In this world witches are nice, and at thirteen they need to leave home and go to a new town and help the people there.

S: Okay, that’s cool, I like that witches are nice. And I like growing-up-and-figuring-yourself-out stories. So I’m guessing that this book is about a witch named Kiki, and she starts a delivery service in a new town?

C: Yes, that’s almost exactly what happens. When Kiki turns thirteen, she needs to leave her home. Her mom is also a witch and both her parents are very supportive of what she has to do. So she leaves home and flies to a town near the ocean.

S: Wait! She literally flies?

C: Yes, on her broomstick!

S: Cool! So she is a broomstick witch. Okay go on.

C: So in this new town, Kiki begins to live with a farm family. She then sets up shop in their barn and gets a telephone, and she starts her delivery service there.

S: So she begins to deliver things to people using her broomstick, like courier services provided by people on mopeds?

C: Yeah, she delivers small things. Toy cats, real cats, children, bread, things like that.

S: Wait, she delivers children?

C: Yeah, no, that’s a joke. But she delivers all kinds of other stuff. And she has a talking cat named Jiji who always comes along.

Caramel is reading Kiki's Delivery Service, written by Eiko Kadono and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri. — Caramel is reading *Kiki’s Delivery Service*, written by Eiko Kadono and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri.

S: Oh, that sounds really cool. Wouldn’t you like to have a talking cat?

C: Maybe. I think it could be fun. But these witches sure like names that repeat a syllable. Ki-ki and Ji-ji.

S: Both names sound cute though, right?

C: Sure-sure; see I did the same thing?

S: You are in a good mood today Caramel! Okay, let us get back to the book. So did you know that the author who wrote this book wrote eight more following the adventures of Kiki?

C: Really, are they translated yet? This book was pretty good so I’d definitely like to read at least some of the followup books.

S: I don’t think any of them is translated yet. But you’re right. The story sounds really cute.

C: Yeah, it’s a nice calm book. Nothing really bad happens, and Kiki feels lonely at the beginning and faces some challenges, but nothing too scary, and she eventually finds her footing. All young bunnies could enjoy it, I think.

S: Agreed. Did you know that the animated version of the book was what made it so famous? The movie was made all the way back in 1989 and it is still well liked by many around the world.

C: Huh, that’s cool, I didn’t know that.

S: Yeah, it was made by Hayao Miyazaki, from Studio Ghibli. Do you remember them? They are the people who made My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Spirited Away (2001), and The Boy and the Heron (2023).

C: Oh yeah, I do think we saw the trailer for Kiki before we watched The Boy and the Heron, and that was one weird movie! But I think Marshmallow liked My Neighbor Totoro.

S: I did not see that one but yes, The Boy and the Heron was a very different type of movie. I think it would be neat to see the movie about Kiki, too.

C: Yes! Maybe we can put in a link for the trailer?

S: Sure. Here it is:

C: Thank you. Maybe we can find a way to watch the full movie too.

S: Yes, I think that would be lovely! Do you think this is a good time to wrap up this review?

C: Yes, I think so.

S: Okay, then, what would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews! And merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Caramel enjoyed reading Kiki's Delivery Service, written by Eiko Kadono and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri, and is eager to see the movie itself next. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Kiki’s Delivery Service*, written by Eiko Kadono and translated into English by Emily Balistrieri, and is eager to see the movie itself next.

Caramel reviews Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman

Today Caramel is talking to Sprinkles about a book he has been reading for his English class: Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman, originally published in 2004.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, can you start us off by telling us a bit about the book?

Caramel: Okay, it’s about a kid named Blake, who’s going to college at 16, and he is sort of a scaredy cat, at least about roller coasters.

S: Well, roller coasters can be really terrifying.

C: True, but this kid seems to be scared of all of them, while his little brother Quinn is not afraid of anything.

S: Hmm, okay, I am sensing that you kind of liked Quinn more.

C: He sounds a lot more like a real kid, you know? But basically, he’s just not scared of many things. Anyways, the first thing that happens in the book is that Blake, Quinn, and Blake’s friends Russ and Maggie are at a theme park. Blake wins a game, and then he is given a teddy bear by a strange and mysterious girl named Cassandra. He takes the teddy bear home and inside is a ticket to another theme park.

S: That sounds curious. Then what happens?

C: When the two boys come home, they learn that their mom is engaged, and the two brothers get into a fight over the engagement. Quinn is not happy about the engagement but Blake is more accepting.

S: It is a tough issue of course.

C: Sure, I agree. Anyways, the brother then is found in a comatose state, and Blake sees carnival lights in Quinn’s open eyes.

S: That’s freaky! And kind of scary!

C: Yeah, Blake then takes his two friends and goes to the theme park that belonged to the ticket he had found in his teddy bear, and he finds a carnival.

S: This is getting weirder and scarier.

C: Yes. And did I mention that it is the middle of the night?

S: No wonder Wikipedia describes this book as a “psychological thriller” and a “fast paced horror thriller”! I am already getting all tense here, and I have not even read the book.

C: Yep, the book is kind of tense, but it’s a kind of tense that makes you wanna keep reading.

S: I guess that is a good kind of tense. Okay, go on.

C: At the carnival they witness some weird stuff. They have to go on some rides and each of them is weird. And real! I mean one can get really hurt.

S: Not like the holodeck on Star Trek?

C: Well, actually kind of exactly like the holodeck when the safety measures are offline.

S: I see. So the kids have to ride several rides and they are in real danger?

C: Yes. Actually they have to ride seven rides before dawn and finish them without failing. And to add to it, Blake sees his brother Quinn is there, too, riding these dangerous rides and is not taking things seriously at all.

S: And of course Blake is very worried, I can imagine.

C: Yeah, and he learns that Cassandra is in charge of the carnival, but I shouldn’t spoil it any more.

Caramel is reading Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman. — Caramel is reading *Full Tilt* by Neal Shusterman.

S: Okay, that makes sense. You have already gotten us deep into the book and all tensed up. So let us talk a bit about the book in another way. It was good at making you feel the tension, I understood that. But tell us also about the characters. You liked Quinn and kind of found Blake a bit too much of a scaredy cat, but did they feel like real people? How about Russ and Maggie?

C: Yeah, the story is told from Blake’s point of view, so you get a pretty good sense of him and his view of things. And the others are just his friends, and they all feel quite normal to me.

S: What about Cassandra? I mean it seems she is kind of a mysterious character. Is that how she felt to you as you were reading the book?

C: Cassandra never seemed normal, but Blake knows why now. And I do too, but I cannot tell. I don’t want to spoil the whole thing.

S: Okay, I won’t push then. All in all, this seems like a pretty neat book, and you got to read it for your English class. Did you have many discussions in class about it?

C: Yeah, it was neat!

S: Okay, cool. Would you then recommend this book to other bunnies?

C: Yes, but probably not the very young ones. It is really tense and younger bunnies can get scared.

S: The picture on the cover is scary too!

C: Yeah, it is kind of how you can picture the characters in that weird carnival. Maybe it is good that it is scary because younger bunnies won’t want to read it.

S: I agree. I found the cover picture quite scary myself. It makes sense a bit more now that you told me about the book. So okay, I think this is a good place to wrap up this review.

C: Sure. Let’s do that.

S: What do you wish to tell our readers then?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

.Caramel enjoyed reading Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman though he warns that it is probably not appropriate for the youngest bunnies. — .Caramel enjoyed reading *Full Tilt* by Neal Shusterman though he warns that it is probably not appropriate for the youngest bunnies.