I liked a lot about this story, it contained many of the classic tropes of a fairie romance. Marr is one of the original writers who incorporated fae into YA and it was so nice to revisit her world. I still remember reading Wicked Lovely for the first time and being unable to put it down! However, the last time I read it was years ago. I thought I remembered enough about Wicked Lovely to work things out and that turned out to be partly true.

Spoiler

Up until about the 80% mark, I felt that I was keeping track of everything. Then there is a time skip to the future, where I immediately realized that I had no memory of SO MUCH of the Wicked Lovely series. That’s really due to time since I personally last read it and not at all a reflection on the series or this prequel.

Overall, you can definitely enjoy this prequel story- if you’ve never read Wicked Lovely, if you’re a long-time fan, OR if you think you remember more about the Wicked Lovely series than you actually do.

What a beautiful book, definitely one of my favorites. The love of nature permeates every page, Kya taking me to a completely different world than the busy city where I currently reside. It took me a little bit to get into this book, mainly because the story starts with Kya growing up in a very abusive situation and it was hard for me to read about that. As she grows, interacts with others and explores the marsh more, I fell completely under Kya’s spell. This book is a breath of fresh air with superb storytelling, I would really recommend it for anyone.

4.5- I really enjoyed The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, such a unique concept! I definitely viewed the Coldtowns and attitude toward infected or “Cold” people in a different light given the pandemic. It took a little bit for me to feel completely invested, but I felt hooked once they reached the Coldtown. I really loved how Tana had such strong goals and an unceasing desire to protect her family. Holly Black always provides such an entrancing look at darkness and what it means to be a monster.

“Because even the bravest of us can still be afraid sometimes, so long as we don’t let our fear become all we know.”

The House in The Cerulean Sea is such a beautiful read. It stars Linus, a man who largely sees the world as being quantifiable within his trusty handbook of Rules and Regulations. Linus works as a caseworker for magical children. When he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management to go on an extended visit to a remote magical orphanage, Linus is not enthused by this prospect. Upon arriving there, he meets Arthur, the eccentric master of the orphanage. As Linus uncovers secrets, gains the children’s trust, and gets to know Arthur- he starts to question the motives behind Extremely Upper Management’s decision to send him to the island.

I absolutely loved this book. It is one of my new favorites that I’m going to try and convince as many people to read as possible! Featuring some extremely lovable magical children, LGBTQ rep, and found family- this book stole my heart. As someone who works in special education, a lot of this book really resonated with me. Arthur and Linus work together to battle preconceived notions, prejudice from the nearby village, and try to help the children flourish in a safe environment. It’s also just very funny, sweet, and made me laugh out loud. The children are absolutely fantastic and portrayed very realistically. This book has a lot to say about labels, assumptions, what family means, and that normal is vastly overrated. If you want a sweet and magical read, if you work with children, or if you have ever felt different- I highly recommend this book.

3.5- Beautiful artwork, clever details, intriguing characters, and I loved the ending. Also Kippa, Kippa is the best. This is a great introduction to a complex world. However, there was so much world-building and information to process that I initially felt confused and struggled to follow what was going on. It’s clear that this is only the very beginning for Maika and I’m excited to see how the story continues. Monstress is a graphic novel with a strong and detailed story to tell, looking forward to the next installment!

I really enjoyed this book, ultimately more than I thought I would! It gave me strong Umbrella Academy vibes throughout. Chosen Ones deals with the compelling question of what happens after the Dark One is defeated. Ten years after the battle is over, Sloane and her fellow Chosen Ones have moved on to varying degrees with their lives- until a tragedy occurs. This tragedy sparks a journey to a closely intertwined parallel world- where a Dark One hasn’t been defeated. Sloane must wrestle with what it means to be a Chosen One, attempt to control her magic, and try to save the world once again.

I didn’t feel an immediate connection with Sloane, but I was intrigued by the concept of an initially unlikable main character/narrator. It took me a bit to get into the plot, but couldn’t put it down once I did. If you’ve been around the Chosen One/Superhero block before, then you’ll likely pick up on a few of the twists and turns. I still found it very enjoyable, this book touches on both the fun and sad elements of what it means to be the heroine of a story. I liked the descriptions of Chicago, the snarky one-liners, and solid supporting characters. If you love exploring the Chosen One trope, you’ll definitely want to check this out.