The characters are really what make these books, I think. Plus their tragic back stories! Clare really knows how to tug at your heart strings and keep you reading for the next book. What is going to happen to Tessa, Jem, and Will??

4.5/5 stars

After the events of Skyward, we find Spensa and her friends trying to figure out how to save themselves from the Krell. Spensa knows that to do so, she must first figure out her powers. But that path is more dangerous than she ever could imagine.

The expansion of the world Sanderson has created in this book was phenomenal. Seeing all these different alien species really created a unique world. It was also nice to see that the aliens didn't follow the same gender rules as humans did; and thus, they were referred to as "them" throughout. Little details like this is really what makes this book and this series.

And that ending! I secretly hoped that there wouldn't be a cliffhanger, but I was very wrong. What does the next book come out?? I need it now.

Re-listened to this for the Book Riot Read Harder challenge this year and it's just as amazing. It's a short audiobook, but that doesn't lessen its impact.
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I loved being able to listen to Jason Reynolds read the audiobook, and he included comments at the end that made the book even better. In my opinion, poetry is always better when listened, and this book was no different.

Nora Walker comes from a family of witches, the only ones who find things in the Wicker Wood. One night, she finds Oliver, the missing boy from the camp in the other side of the lake. What happened the night he disappeared? What secrets are the woods hiding?

This is a gorgeously atmospheric book that slowly builds up to its climax. Ernshaw's prose is beautiful, drawing you into this cold, dark forest. Though the beginning of the book is a bit slow going, once you get into the mystery and the relationship between Oliver and Nora, this book is difficult to put down. A fairytale-esque story you'll want to read snuggled up in a heap of blankets.

Oh my goodness! All the emotions in this book. I enjoyed the fact that this plot doesn't follow what you expect it to. There are twists and turns, which seems to bet h norm for Cassandra Clare. And the characters! They are definitely the best part of this series, hands down.

This is a re-read for me, since I started this run when it first came out and then got really behind. But here I am! I love Kamala Khan and the hints at other comics and popular culture. It reminds me a bit of Miles Morales, which I also love. Glad I finally can get back into these!

This is such a wonderful, heartfelt story about growing up and changing friendships. Rachel's relationship with her best friend Micah might be changing--but she also thinks that she might not like boys. Meanwhile, her family is also going through money problems, meaning that they might lose their house.

This book captures such a difficult age, 13, with grace and realism. Rachel's emotions feel real and relatable, even for adults. A meaningful, middle grade book that shows that home is just where the people you love are.

After Lan learns that her betrothed might not really love her, she insults Bao, which causes him to run away. As he tries to flee, he meets witch who puts a curse on him--one that can only be broken by love. In order to make up for her mistake, Lan promises to help Bao break the curse. But they might just fall in love in the process.

A twisty, magical book, but one that didn't always hold my interest. For me, the characters weren't fleshed out enough; they mostly relied on their stereotypes and their motivations, rather than character development. This book, for me, was much more plot focused, which I always have a difficult time getting into. The descriptions were beautiful, though, and I appreciated being able to learn more about this culture.

Read more at between-the-shelves.com!

Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advance copy of this book! I got the chance to review The Boneless Mercies when it first came out, so I was excited to get my hands on this companion novel. Plus, look at this gorgeous cover! It absolutely deserves to sit on everyone's shelf.

First, let me say that if you haven't read The Boneless Mercies, you definitely can still read this book. It's a completely different story, though it's set in the same world. It does reference things that happen in The Boneless Mercies, but Torvi's story is something new. What's great about how these books interact with each other is the way they lift up women to be heroes. It's refreshing and well-done!

My main qualm about this book is that the plot seems to stall about halfway through the book. The beginning is exciting and the end is exciting, but the middle seems a bit muddled. It didn't feel as action packed as The Boneless Mercies and I just wanted a bit more meat in the middle.

All in all, an atmospheric novel that fans of the classics will certainly enjoy.
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I struggled with the middle of this book. It just didn't hook me like The Boneless Mercies. More to come in a review next week!

3.5/5 stars

Holy wow, this is a hugely intricate world! Grace has woven a world that's highly unique and a bit difficult to figure out in the beginning. There's just so much information you need to understand what's going on. This makes the second half of the book a bit more entertaining than the first.

I enjoyed that the characters felt realistic, and that Amora isn't afraid to go after what she wants. The core romance felt a bit forced to me, as if it was just there to have a romance in the book because y'know, it's YA fantasy. For me, it wasn't really needed because there was so much going on already.

Overall, an enjoyable read, and I'll still probably read a sequel!