2.83k reviews by:

betweentheshelves

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advanced copy of The Floating World by Axie Oh to review! I have thoroughly enjoyed Axie Oh’s fantasy before, and this reading experience was no different. Oh is great at weaving in the details of the world, immersing you in magic, mythology, with a touch of romance.

The pacing of the plot also works well, moving at a pace that keeps you engaged with plenty of action. But we don’t sacrifice the characters to the plot. Sunho and Ren have great chemistry, and I enjoyed the unraveling mystery of both of their pasts. There’s plenty to still explore in book two, and I’m excited to see what comes next!

All in all, if you like mythology-inspired fantasy and lots of action with great characters, definitely check this one out when it comes out in April! 
---
Review to come!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

All the Teen Titans seem like they're finally coming together! Not a bad installment into this series, though maybe not my favorite one. I did enjoy the art style, and appreciated the way that the previous characters were introduced into this story. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I am interested in seeing where the story goes next!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional reflective sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I understand that writing about the pandemic is a way that writers cope with it, but I think it's still too close for teens to want to read about it (at least in my conversations with them). The poetry in this  is beautifully written, though, which I have come to expect from Browne. The narrators in the audiobook also did an excellent job bringing the poetry to life. So far, it's not my favorite of Mahogany Browne's books, though.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous funny fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Not necessarily my favorite of these YA DC graphic novels, but still a fun time! I don't know that much about Static because generally, I'm more of a Marvel person than a DC person. However, I do enjoy Lamar Giles' writing, and the art style overall wasn't bad! If you're a fan of Static, I'd recommend checking it out.
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Definitely a fun, twisty mystery that will be perfect for fans of The Inheritance Games! I love that there was the twist of magic in this one, with mysteries unfolding at each and every turn. Not all of the characters were necessarily likeable, but they were definitely fun to read about. With that ending, it seems like there's potential for another one as well!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional funny hopeful medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What an adorable time loop story. I kind of like that when we meet Phoebe at the beginning, she's already stuck in the time loop. We get to learn more about her as she develops a relationship with Jess, who eventually gets stuck in the time loop with her. It's such an interesting way to do a time loop story, and I really enjoyed it!

We also get a lot of great discussions about chronic illness and learning to stand up for yourself. All in all, it's just a lovely romance and it was just what I needed right now!

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I have rated every single one of these books five stars because by the end, I can't put it down until it's done. The same was true about this installment. Deonn hooks you with that beginning (taking place immediately when Bloodmarked ends) and leaves you on a cliffhanger of sorts as you jump into a different part of the story. And man, was this book a wild ride.

Deonn's world building, which builds even more in this book, is impeccable. Not only do you have multiple different magic systems exsiting with each other, but we also get to see more in depth into the world of the Order. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Deonn throws another wrinkle into the system, making everything even more interesting.

Of course, this one ends on a cliffhanger, which means I need the next book immediately, thank you. I need to know what happens to Bree and the ever expanding crew! The length of this book is a bit daunting, but every single word is worth it.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Wren Martin Ruins It All was one of my favorite books of 2023, so I was excited to dive into this! Unfortunately, I didn't quite love this as much as I loved that one. The exploration of grief was definitely the strongest aspect of this book, through both Grace and Jake. I appreciated some of the conversations they had about figuring out how to move on. The characters overall are also shining points in the story, pulling you into their little worlds. 

The mystery was interesting, but I found I wasn't as invested in it as I might be in other mysteries. The touch of magic also added to the mystery, even if it didn't quite make sense to me. All in all, an enjoyable mystery with a strong cast of characters.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
funny lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Read this to book talk at my kids comic book club today and it is a delight! The illustrations are really what take the cake here, though the story is definitely relatable even if you don't live in New York. It's a fun premise, and I can't wait to see what my kids think!
adventurous tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Not going to lie, I secretly wanted more dragons to be in this. It is definitely a fantasy more focused on the fighting and the tournament. Which is fine! I think a lot of teens that like that sort of anime will definitely like this fantasy. The world building was also done well; the concept of the Breathmarked added intrigue, and we get a little bit of mystery as well. All in all, not a bad fantasy if you're looking for something entertaining.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings