3.5/5 stars

Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!

The author, William Collins, sent me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was such a quick, fun read! I basically read the entire thing in one sitting one night on my porch, and it fit the current fantasy mood I've been in. The world that Collins has created is a unique twist on the typical magic boarding school story, and I loved the intricate world of the Druids.

However, the world-building was a bit difficult to follow at the beginning. We open with Simone, but then jump to Bobby. At times, you feel a bit confused (like Bobby) does at the laws and rules governing this new world.

Overall, I loved that this book merged fantasy and reality, making us think that anything can be possible.

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Starts out as a Mulan-esque story, as Maia is a talented tailor in a society that doesn't let women be tailors. When her father is called to a competition to be the Emperor's tailor, she goes in his place. But the final quest is something that has never been done.

There are so many fantastic elements to this story, hinting to quite a few different myths and legends. Filled with suspense and a little romance, there's a lot to love about this book. Maia is fierce, the story is filled with magic, and that ending! I can't wait to read the next one!

This is a collection of essays targeted toward pre-teen girls that many will find entertaining! Some of the stories were a miss for me, but there's quite the variety that many will find funny.

I also loved that there were comics thrown in as well. A great, humorous collection of stories.

Crier is an Automae, Made to be flawless. Ayla is a human servant, desperate to get revenge on Crier and her father for the death of her family. When Ayla is made to be Crier's handmaiden, they both start to discover secrets that could topple society as they know it.

This got a bit of a rocky start for me, as I had difficulty following some of the world building, though the timeline included at the front of the book were helpful. What grounded me in this story were the characters. This enemies to lovers story is a slow burn that leaves you wanting more.

At its core, this is a book that explores what it means to be human, and how love might factor into it. Allll the love for Crier and Ayla. Varela wrote their relationship beautifully.

Gorgeous illustrations paired with an adorable story about a non-binary werewolf and a witch falling in love. Honestly, what more could you want? I read this all in one sitting and I was definitely not disappointed.

This is a perfect read for right now! Amy had to move back to Earth after living in a deep space colony. But in order to do so, her and her parents have to travel for 30 years. Now she had to adjust to a completely new life, away from her friends.

A good introduction to a new series, there are a lot of great characters, wonderful illustrations, and fantastic writing. A winning combination that makes a great graphic novel!

Though a bit slow moving, we learn more about the strange white haired bit in this one--Oliver! I just want to know where he comes from.and why he's so distant! I can't wait to read the next one.

Read my full review at between-the-shelves.com!

Fair warning, the first half of this book is incredibly difficult to follow. It’s told in a nonlinear fashion, with a somewhat unreliable narrator in Harrow. Harrow is pretty sure she’s going mad, so it’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t. Don’t worry, though! By the end, it all makes sense. Which means this series in general lends itself to re-reads (or re-listens).

This also has great LGBTQ rep, as did Gideon the Ninth. 100% glad that we read it for book club so that I could be introduced to this world. If you loved Gideon the Ninth, you definitely won’t be disappointed in this sequel! Harrow the Ninth doesn’t fall pray the sophomore slump–a wild ride that will leave you wanting more at the end!
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Giving this 4.5 stars because that first half is a bit difficult to wade through, but the ending is so worth it. That cliffhanger! Full review to come later this week.

What happens when all the water runs dry? Alyssa and her brother are about to find out.

In true Shusterman style, this book gives us snapshots of what's happening around the main characters as well, giving us a full picture of this water crisis. Relevant and timely, it's even relatable to what's currently happening.

The only reason this isn't getting 5 stars is because the ending felt too nicely wrapped up for me. With everything that happened in the book, the resolution almost came too quickly. For me, it didn't seem to quite fit with the rest of the story. But other than that, and engaging book sure to make you want a drink after you get done reading it.

Another cute installment in this graphic novel series, giving us a little more mystery behind Oliver. The art is wonderful, possibly my favorite thing about this series. We're slowly learning more about the characters too, drawing us even more into this new world.