The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Thank you Blink for sending me a copy of THE MEMORY THIEF in the mail in exchange for an honest review!

Hi. Hello. I am a sucker for pretty covers. The cover The Memory Thief isn't just pretty, it's stunning. Now imagine my excitement when I learned that it was a stand-alone fantasy and saw that it finally had a summary. Needless to say that I was pretty excited when I received The Memory Thief to review.

Etta lives in a corrupt society where memories and talents can be bought or sold. The Memory Thief opens in the auction where "criminal's" memories are sold by Madame before they are killed. After a tragic accident to landed Etta's mother in the asylum and left Etta struggling with guilt, Madame threatens to send her mother to auction and Etta knows she will do anything to save her. Etta re-joins the Shadows, a rebel group that cost Etta everything four years earlier, but it's the only way to save her mother from her impending doom. To swear her loyalty to the Shadows Etta must memorize a map of the maze created by the cruel neighboring realm's leader. Only Etta isn't a lone, she is joined by Reid who is a desperate search for his brother who is trapped in the very maze that Etta has to break into.

The Memory Thief is fast paced and didn't stop for one second. From page one you are transported to a gritty and corrupt society and through the realms on Etta's journey. I ended up finishing The Memory Thief in only a few hours (I was suppose to go to bed but I kept saying, "One more chapter" and then I was suddenly done with the book. #noregrets) The plot was unique and intriguing and kept me with the nagging feeling of wanting to know what was going to happen next. By last one hundred pages I was flying through the pages because I was desperate to know how Etta's story was going to end and if evil was going to be put to rest.

I really enjoyed the both Etta's and Reid's characters. Especially together. Their banter and arguments made me laugh and go back to reread the things they said. Though I did find their relationship to develop rather quickly I did enjoy the romance aspect. I enjoyed it because it showed how both characters are flawed and that they both have things they need to heal from and that they are going to help each other through it. Love isn't always rainbows and unicorns and both Etta and Reid have things that they are going to spend time needing to recover from.

The Memory Thief was inspired by Lauren Mansy's own journey when her mother was diagnosed with a heart condition and it was uncertain that she would survive surgery or would have many of her memories when she woke up. My own mother was diagnosed with a heart condition the summer I graduated high school and has been through countless tests and surgeries. Each time I had the same worries, was she going to survive? Was she going to forget the life she had? Having read this about Laruen Mansy and where her inspiration came from gave me an even bigger appreciation for a story I had already loved.

Overall I really enjoyed The Memory Thief and I can't wait to see what Lauren Mansy has in store for her readers next. This book is perfect for people who are looking for a quick unique fantasy novel that is also a stand alone!

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz


I received an ARC of WAR GIRLS are BookExpo 2019!

I met Tochi ass BookExpo this year and though I wasn't familiar with his previous works he was incredibly fun to talk to and was down to earth. He was also super excited to talk with everyone who was on his signing line and made sure that everyone was able to have their moment to talk to him. I didn't know about War Girls until the cover reveal and ever since then I KNEW that I just had to read this book. Though I didn't love War Girls as much as I hoped I was going too, I still did enjoy the story can't wait to see where Tochi is going to take these girls next.

I read a lot of science fiction and having a person of color as the main character isn't something I have seen often, so it was really nice to see the representation in this novel and I hope it is something we start seeing more of in science fiction. Some of Tochi's inspiration for War Girls came from the Nigerian Civil War. I admit, I know almost nothing about the Nigerian Civil War and this novel opened my eyes to a horrible period of time in the worlds history.

I enjoyed most of War Girls but I do feel like there were things that could have used a lot more development. The novel takes place in a ravaged country in 2172, there has been nuclear fall out, war, famine the landscape is radically different as well as technology. War Girls falls heavily on technology and the advances it makes in becoming one with humans. Every concept in War Girls was interesting and cool but I had a hard time picturing it. I feel like there needed to be more description and explanation to what things are. I went back a few times to make sure that I didn't miss a description, but there really wasn't one.

There is a lot that I wasn't to talk about but I can't because I don't want to spoil any of War Girls for those who are looking forward to it. Though I did have my few issues with War Girls I did really enjoy Onyii and Ify's story and can't wait to see what Tochi has in store for these girls next.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

I’m speechless. So much love for this book 😍💗

Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse and Violence

I want to start off saying that I met Natasha at BookExpo this year and she was the sweetest person I ever met with the cutest accent and it was amazing getting to meet her. Girls of Paper and Fire was nothing that I expected it to be and exceeded all of my expectations!

In a world where there are three castes: Paper, fully human. Steel, partial animal-demon qualities. Moon, fully demon with whole animal features. Paper being the most frowned upon caste, Lei never expected to be swept out of her village town by a general bent on earning his title back and becoming the ninth Paper Girl. With reluctance Lei takes on her role as a Paper Girl to keep her father and friend safe. She goes to class, she goes to balls and when the time comes she will share a bed with the King of Ikhara just like the hundreds of Paper Girls before her have. But Lei doesn't want that, being a Paper Girl is something to be proud of but to Lei it's a prison sentence. But the unexpected happens when Lei falls in love with Wren, a fellow Paper Girl. Now with even more at stake will Lei be able to escape to hold of the king and live her life freely loving Wren or will the Paper Girl custom of Ikhara destroy her in the process?

I adore Lei's character. In most YA fantasies more often then not the female lead is very timid at first before becoming defiant. Lei is defiant from the moment she enters the general's carriage. She's witty and quick with her tongue, she had several moments where I snickered at something she said. I loved seeing the evolution of Lei's character from the start of the novel and as she began realizing her growing feelings for Wren. Even though their relationship was frowned upon for the fact they were only suppose to be loyal to the King and because they are both Paper Girls neither girl let that stop them and I loved that so much. Love grows from the most unlikely of places and from the most dire circumstances.

The world building in Girls of Paper and Fire is astonishing. From the caste systems, to the customs within the palace and the kingdom Ngan gave readers a great sense of the world they are currently spending their time in. In the beginning of my ARC there was a guide on the castes and what they meant and a map of the palace which is beautifully done. I do wish magic took a little bit more place in this book, but it didn't ass or take away from the overall feel and setting of this novel.

***Trigger Warning: I am going to talk a little about the sexual abuse in this paragraph. Please feel free to skip a head.***

In being a Paper Girl you are in service to the king. Each night he sends for a new girl to spend his night taking to his bed. Most of the girls are willing, its a great honor after all the be desired by the King but not for Lei. Lei is well into her relationship with Wren when the night arrives that the King sends for her. I wasn't sure what I expected in this part. I guess I assumed it was going to be brushed over but Ngan didn't brush over this part and for that I am entirely grateful. We see the emotional turmoil and Lei beg to not have to sleep with him. As a reader you see how little the King actually cares for Lei and more about his needs. Tears came to my eyes in this chapter, for this isn't just something that happens in novels but in the real world as well. In the chapter following her rape we see the aftermath of Lei's emotions and her determination on how she will never be forced into the Kings bed again.

I sincerely hope that this is going to be a series since the epilogue suggests that there is going to be more. I'm so excited for this book to be out into the world and for everyone else to experience this gem of a book. Natasha Ngan will definitely being on my auto-buy/read author list for now on.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

I been eyeing These Witches Don't Burn for as long as I can remember at this point. I am morbidly interested in Salem and all the witchcraft and magic that surrounds it. These Witches Don't Burn is exactly that. Hannah is an elemental witch, with the power to control water, air, earth and fire. Not the kind where there are animal sacrifices and ceremonies to hail Satan. I was really intrigued in the idea of These Witches Don't Burn because I haven't see a lot of urban paranormal fantasy in the past couple of months and Hannah is dealing with regular teenage problems. School. Working. Summer. Avoiding her Ex. Normal teenage things, (well as normal as they can get for a teenage witch.) That until dangerous dark magic appears and suddenly its all over Salem and out for both Hannah and Veronica.

I haven't read a book that has kept me guessing cause I couldn't predict what was going to happen next. These Witches Don't Burn had a compelling plot that had me eager to see what was going to happen next. Magic, romance and character wise. I don't want to go too in depth because I don't want to spoil it for those who are planning on reading it. But where this book is fluffy, gay romance with witches it also gets extremely dark in the last 20% or so.

I liked all the characters in this book, except for Veronica. Which I guess is natural considering she is Hannah's ex. But I found her to be extremely manipulative and persistent. Hannah does explain her reasoning behind their break up and honestly, I would have broken up with Veronica too if I was in her shoes. I also found Veronica insanely jealous when Hannah's attention shifts to the new girl, Morgan. BUT Veronica is already sleeping with someone else, so why can't Hannah move on? As much as this irked me, it is also so incredibly real. I remember my friends have the same or similar problems when they were this age. Some still do. (It irked me in the sense that I've been there and I wish I could have told Hannah that was she was doing was right and that she didn't need Veronica.)

Overall I really enjoyed These Witches Don't Burn and I can't wait to see what Isabel has in store for these characters next. If you are looking for a fluffy, magic, gay romance that is slightly dark this is the perfect book for you.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

Can we all just take a moment to look closely at the cover to The Bone Houses and how intricate the design is but so simple at the same time. The moment I saw this cover and read the synopsis I knew that The Bone Houses was a book for me. Emily blew me away with her writing style, characters and such a unique idea and I hope to read more by her one day.

Ryn, a gravedigger, is trying to save her family from being evicted from their home. Her mother and father died and her uncle has been MIA so it has only been Ryn and her siblings for the past few months. But as the dead keep rising people are choosing to burn their dead instead of burying them and Ryn's family is making almost no money. The dead that rise are called Bone Houses and legend says they were created by a magical curse. But something is stirring the Bone Houses and the are moving closer to the town instead of staying in the forest as they once where. When Ryn saves Ellis, a mapmaker from a Bone House she doesn't know that the adventure to save her life, her family's and all of Colbren from this curse is about to happen.

I really loved Ryn's character. She is selfless yet selfish at the same time. Which the best of us are. She will do anything and everything for her family and the people she cares about. She doesn't back down from the Lord who is threatening to evict her and her siblings from their home to pay for their uncle's gambling debt, if anything she just pushes his buttons and threatens him. In her chapters you can see how much that Ryn has sacrificed and the things she has had to do to keep her siblings safe. Ryn hunts the Bone Houses and when killing them she apologizes and talks to them as if they can respond to her. It made me laugh out loud a couple of times.

Ellis is a mapmaker and is in search of his birth parents. As a child he was found in the woods with a broken collar bone, which was never set right. Because of that he is limited to what he can do because of unbearable pain. But he pushes on and ends up lost in the woods surrounding Colbren, where Ryn ends up saving him from a Bone House. His search is going to lead him into the depths of the mountains and he needs a guide. Ellis has the coin that Ryn needs to pay off her uncle's debt and who else knows the forest better then her? Once the deal is struck they are off.

This is just a brief paragraph on how I really loved Bone Goat. Like, I found her to be super epic and she always ended up turning up at the weirdest and most random times. But the stubborn goat continued on the way anyway, because besides being stubborn she is loyal to Ryn and her family.

The Bone Houses was twist and turns that I didn't see coming. Each page was a new surprise and something that moved the plot a long. Emily expanded upon her world with an info dump that would leave you with your head spinning. Her world building was gradual and enough that I was able to picture Ryn and Ellis' journey clearly. The Bone Houses was also an emotional roller coaster for me. There were times I was laughing, times I thought something scary and I even teared up a few times. Emily made her characters feel real.

Overall I really enjoyed The Bone Houses and I am really bummed that it is a standalone. But I also loved that is was a standalone because everything was wrapped up really nice by the end of the novel.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

It's has only been two days since I finished Crier's War and I still don't have enough words to describe it. Also, I don't think any of the words I have would do this book the ounce of justice it deserves. An #Ownvoices story by debut author Nina Valera, has been pitched to fans of Game of Thrones and Westworld and is a beautifully written novel about the love between two girls can fuel a revolution.

I am a sucker for a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Then I learned that this was a fantasy novel with humans who are organic and those who have been made. Let's just say I was super excited to read this book. Crier is made, her father, The Sovereign, created blue prints for Crier's build and from those Crier was made. She looks human, feels like human and mostly acts human but she isn't. But Crier's life is turned upside down when she learns that she is flawed, that instead of having four pillars that mimic humanity she has a fifth: passion. Ayla is a human servant who works for The Sovereign, it isn't the best choice of work but it will get her close to Crier. When Ayla's family was murdered years earlier she swore revenge, and that revenge wouldn't be completed until Crier was bleeding and dead beneath her. But when Ayla becomes Crier's new handmaid things become a lot more trickier then they were. Crier isn't the monster that her father is. Soon secrets are unfolded, sides are chosen and a love that will cause a revolution is revealed.

"Richly imagined" doesn't even do this book any justice. Nina's writing made me feel like I was right next to her characters, living in their world as their story unfolded in front of me. Nina's writing is rich in description and illusion. Nina used certain instances and events to expand to her world, rather then giving that initial info dump that causes heads to spin. Though I have several questions regarding this world, I am sure they will be answered in the next book. I enjoyed seeing how the "made" were put at a high stature then the humans. How in a world that humans become the lesser beings and servants to machines that are "superior" to them in no other aspect then the fact they aren't artificially made. It's an issue that is addressed in many science fiction novels and movies and something that is talked about in the real world as well. But it was interesting seeing this instance in a fantasy novel. I am really excited to see where Nina is going to take this into the next book, because I need more. I need to know how this revolution is going to end.

Want to talk about a slow burn romance that makes you want to smash two character's face together? Look no further. The enemies to love arc this book has was amazing and absolutely well done. Through the story you can see the girls gradual shift towards one another. Their fondness, their thoughts, the small touches and how their feelings change and evolve over the course of the novel. It wasn't simply one moment they hate each other and the next they are in love. You didn't realize it until the characters themselves realized it.

Overall I can't say much more about this book because I don't want to spoil it. But it is easily one of my favorite novels I have read this year. Nina Valera's writing is something fresh in YA and an author I will be on the lookout for, for now on. I am excited to see where she is going to take Crier and Ayla in the next installment of their journey!

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

This is my second time reading Menagerie and I am still as shell shocked and shook as I was the first time around. Everything about this book was intricately planned and detailed and vivid. Part of me thinks I am crazy for liking this book as much as I do. But it's something so incredibly different and it shows how cruel humans can be to things that don't understand. Rachel Vincent has been a must read author for since her Soul Eaters series and I've enjoyed many of her novels since. Menagerie is unlike anything I have ever read by her before. This book isn't for the faint of heart. I won't lie when I questioned myself a couple of times if I wanted to continue on. But if you do make it through, there is something extremely satisfying how this book ends.

Menagerie is set what is to be an alternate United States, where mythical creatures exist and had once lived side by side with humans. After the Reaping, which resulted in the death of millions of children the Mythical Creatures or Cryptids where stripped of all their rights. Soon they were captured or killed. Those lucky enough to be captured become entertainment for peoples pleasure. Metzger's Menagerie is one of the largest travelling menageries in the country and is in Delilah's hometown just in time for her birthday. Delilah visits the menagerie with her boyfriend and best friend, and witnesses first had the mistreatment and abused that the cryptids are dealt. But the dark parts of Delilah come to the surface and soon she is one of the "creatures" caged and traveling with the menagerie.

I would have thought the second time around I wouldn't have been so shocked about the cruel attention and abuse the cryptids face. But I was. Part of me was concerned that I wanted to continue to read on after learning more and more about the treatment of the menagerie's inhabitants and Delilah. I think Menagerie is a good example of how humanity turns to cruelty when it doesn't understand something.

I really enjoyed Delilah's character. She spent 25 years believing she was human. She had a boyfriend, a job and rights and suddenly everything is stripped away from her in the blink of an eye. Despite the inhumane treatment and the tactics used to try and break Delilah she held her head as high as she could through it all. She is one of the fiercest female characters I have read in a long time and I am excited to see where Vincent is going to take her character next.

As I said this book isn't for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy urban fantasy that is going to make you angry and want to seek justice for a character, I highly suggest Menagerie. Both enjoyable and different this book had me in is grasp until the very last page. I am eager to continue on and see where these characters are going to go next.

The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz

I am a huge Wendy Higgin's fan from the time she released her debut novel Sweet Evil. I was super excited when I learned that she was going to be self publishing an adult, stand alone Cupid retelling based on Greek/Roman mythology. Sign me up! Then naturally it took me forever to get around to reading it, but here we are! I will admit that at first I really wasn't sure how I felt about Soul in Darkness, but then suddenly it was 3 a.m. and I just finished the story. So needless to say that I did end up enjoying it.

I think the retelling was unique and it definitely had that edge that left me: Holy shit what is going to happen next? I loved how Wendy took the well known story of Cupid and twisted it into something completely different and immersive. Sometimes retellings rely to heavy on the actually story and Soul in Darkness did not at all.

This is a Wendy Higgins book so naturally we are in for a swoon worthy romance. This was sort of the enemies to lover trope that I love. But it was more Psyche thought Cupid was evil and hated him but cupid actually really loves her and wants the best for her. Regardless, I loved it. It was also interesting for the fact that Cupid is invisible due to a curse for more then half of the book, so seeing how to romance progressed with out the typically "dreamy eyes" or "sharp angular jaw" descriptions was quite refreshing. Also I am a sucker for some good smut, and this book did not disappoint in the aspect.

In my honest opinion: Besides the on page sex, this book would be suitable for upper YA readers. But that is just my opinion. I say this only because I was reading New Adult romances with sex scenes at 16.

Overall I really enjoyed Soul in Darkness and thought that for a stand alone Wendy did a good job of wrapping the story up. I can't wait to see what Wendy has in store next for her readers, because she is an auto read and buy author for me.