I do think this is an important story and I appreciate that it exists, but I listened to the audiobook that's narrated by the author and just...the narration style wasn't my favorite. It didn't feel like there was much emotion in the narration style itself and it took me out of the story.

The overall structure of the book worked well and would be paired well with other memoirs that have been published for teens. It covers a country that isn't talked about a lot in YA lit, which I also appreciated. This is one of those books that I'm glad exists and I'm glad that I read it, but probably one that I won't visit again.

First of all, what the hell Rick Riordan?? Pulling a stunt like that in the middle of a series nonetheless. I knew it was coming because there's a spoiler in the summary for [book:The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure|63028719] (thanks for that, by the way), but I didn't realize it was going to come so soon in the series. 

Anyway, this might be the best in the series so far because while the stakes were risen in the first two books, I feel like they're pretty high by the end of this one. Things keep piling up and it will eventually be up to Apollo to set everything right. There's also some great character development there, as we've seen him evolve throughout all of the books thus far. Some great emotional development, actually. Thoroughly enjoying that and Apollo's narration still.

We'll see how the next two books go, I guess!

Apollo is seriously such a fun narrator. In general, I think Riordan is just great at injecting humor into these books, no matter who's narrating the story. But he's really been nailing it in this series so far, balancing the humor with the darker things that are happening in the overall arc of the story. Those memories we get of Meg's towards the end? Oof. Definitely adds to her character development, though!

Since this is the third series set in this Greek/Roman mythology world, I'm enjoying that we're getting to see a bunch of other characters from previous books. It's like a fun little scavenger hunt, seeing who get to see next. I'm always a fan of interconnected books like this anyway, especially since this just keeps building on what we already know.

Can't wait to see what adventures are in store next for Apollo!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I didn't know much before going into it, but there are some hard-hitting lines in this. It tackles some complex emotional things, like a grandparent with Alzheimer's and a parent just getting out of prison, but also has a sweet romance at its center. Plus, I just want to eat some of Danna's cookies! The descriptions of food were just amazing.

One of the underlying themes throughout was how memory can be tied up in food or music, which is how Danna was trying to get her grandfather to come back to her. It was so sweet the way she was looking for different foods he had reviewed or mentioned before, trying to help him in the best way that she knew how. Raúl helps with his music, but is also dealing with the fact that his mother is back and trying to navigate living with her once again. All of these emotions play out so beautifully on the page, getting into great detail through the verse style.

If you're looking for an emotional romance novel in verse, definitely check this one out!

Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in a small town in Georgia. They lean hard into their charm, known for being the queer awakening for their peers. No one really knows the anxious mess they actually are, except for a trans boy named Enzo living in Brooklyn.

But not even Enzo knows about the dreams Gem has, dreams that felt too real. Except the new girl, Willa Mae, who seems to know everything. And act like she and Gem are old friends. When Gem is attacked by the Goddess of Death, they learn that Gem and Willa are gods, reincarnated across lifetimes. And they’ve made a lot of enemies.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Godly Heathens by HE Edgmon to review! Though Edgmon has been on my radar for a while, I finally picked up his first series this year. And there’s just something about their writing style that has me hooked!

Though The Witch King is dark, I almost think this new duology is a bit darker. Gem is not always the most likable character, nor do they do the most likable things. As we get flashes of their past lives as a reader, our perception of them changes. Kind of like their perception of themselves changes. The way the book is written adds to this mythical world Edmon has created, and it just works really well for the way the story unfolds.

The story itself is wonderfully chaotic, with a cast of characters who have been hurt and traumatized but they’ve found each other. Sure, they’re all set up for more hurt and trauma, but you still know that they have each other. That idea of found family permeates through the core of the story, and even though it’s a bit dark, there’s still that element of hope.

The cast of characters themselves are wonderfully diverse, and it’s great for teens to be able to identify with that. I think my only complaint about this book is that at times, the jumping between memories is a little confusing, but it feels purposeful. We’re just as confused as Gem is for a lot of the book. Overall, it works to create an engaging story by the end.

Be warned, though, it does end on a pretty big cliffhanger. Luckily, you won’t have to wait too long for the second book to come out next spring! If you’re looking for a dark fantasy with morally gray characters, Edgmon is definitely worth checking out.

This is a great debut, focusing on the voices of two brothers after a particularly violent incident with one of their classmates. Both of them are struggling with their abusive father and how that relates to what happened. The voices of both brothers are distinct enough, and I appreciated that this is a mix of poetry and short vignettes. It made the story flow nicely and really focused on the overall emotions between the two brothers.

There is also a great discussion about mental health throughout, especially as it relates to trauma. It's a story about healing, a story about moving on, and a story about finding your roots. Plus, the voice is one that we haven't often seen in YA lit. If you're looking for something that's a fairly quick read, but will definitely make you think, this one is for you!

Honestly, thank god this series has shorter books than the Heroes of Olympus series because I'm trying to finish them all before the new Percy Jackson book comes out in 2 weeks. Also, can I just say that Apollo is just casually like "I love all people" in this? Not only does it fit with the mythology, but a big deal isn't made about it, and I just love that in a middle grade fantasy.

Anyway! The tone of this one is fun, with Apollo trying to adapt to his human form. You get cameos from a lot of favorite characters from previous series, which I always enjoy. Interconnected series are always fun for me. 

Riordan is also great at making stories with high stakes still feel somewhat lighthearted. Like, there are some dark moments in this (because Greek mythology is dark at times, man), but it doesn't feel too bogged down. It's an overall fun read, and I'm looking forward to hearing more from Apollo.

Also, starting each chapter with a haiku? I loved it. Added to the overall tone of the book. On to the next one!

The premise, the atmosphere, and the overall world-building were honestly great in this. It makes for a good witchy fall read, if you're into that! I always enjoy how Griffin connects her witches to nature in some way, and that's on full display in this book. Also, I would love to go to magical tea shop like they had in this book. It sounds so lovely!

I think my main qualm with this book is that I wanted more development of the romance. Sure, Tana and Wolfe got to spend a decent amount of time together, but I still didn't quite believe the romance by the end. I wanted it to be developed a little bit more. Not the worst I've read, but I wish there was just a little more spark and chemistry there.

There was good character development, though, and the overall stakes were pretty high by the end of the book. Not a bad standalone fantasy overall, if you're looking for that!

Rating this book is hard for me, because objectively, it's well-written. It's about an important topic, and will definitely prompt the right discussions in the right situations. But, this is perhaps one of the absolutely darkest books that I've read in a long time. At times, there are pockets of happiness for the characters, but for the most part, pretty dark. And that ending? Oof. Definitely need a pick me up after that.

This is a young adult book, but as someone who reads basically only YA, I'm unsure if the overall tone fits that. That's not to say that YA can't deal with the issues in this book, like racism, sexual abuse, etc., but I think it was the tone that did it for me. It seems like one of those YA books that says its for teens, but is actually mostly read by an adult audience. 

We will for sure have an interesting discussion at book club about this one, though. Lots to talk about!

Willow and her friends are back from their summer at Camp Whatever, but the strangeness seems to have followed them back home. As dark forces start to stir in their town, Willow learns that she might be marked as a part of a dark prophecy from years ago. It's up to her and her friends to figure out what exactly that means. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for a copy of Secrets of Camp Whatever Volume 2 to review! The first volume was a lot of fun, and I was excited to jump back into this world. Plus, I just really enjoy Grine's art style in this series. It works so well.

I will say, I remember basically nothing from the first book and I was mostly fine at the beginning of this one. Though I was missing quite a bit of background on some of the side characters. The magical world we were introduced to in the first volume is expanded in this one, leaving off on a bit of a cliffhanger for another volume. I can see a lot of middle grade readers loving this, as it has magic and adventure and paranormal creatures. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I remembered more of what happened in the first book.