3.5- Five are compelled to answer the call- which one will be the next emperor? With a ruthless champion, shy academic, dragon handler, thief who thinks he’s hilarious, and fighter who won’t pick up a weapon- what could go wrong? As all attempt to prove they have what it takes, the group bonds and works together to unravel a mystery surrounding the process of choosing the next emperor. Intrigue, betrayal, and most importantly dragons ensue.

My favorite part of this book was the characters. They were well-crafted, interesting, with great dialogue. I also found them all to be distinct players in the game, with unique motivations and goals- which can be tricky with a five POV story. I also loved the dragons!! The plot was engaging, but ran into a little deus ex machina at the end. I’ll be interested to see how things work out for the characters in the sequel!

This was a really fun, witchy middle grade book! Upon turning 13, Abby discovers that she has magical powers. When the strange Miss Winters shows up and wants to teach Abby and several of her friends magic, a chain of suspicious events begin to occur in the town. Meanwhile, Abby’s best friend Robby is trying to research what really happened to his mother, while drawing connections to the town’s mysterious history. Abby must work with her friends to uncover more about magic and friendship. Is Miss Winters truly trying to teach them magic or does she have other motives?

The writing was very accessible and I think many readers will be pulled into the mystery and magic of Willow Cove. I would recommend it for all readers 8 and up who are looking for a magical read about friendship and witches. While this is a middle grade book, I do think any older readers or parents who like stories about magic or witches will enjoy this. Harry Potter fans will appreciate the clever references to Harry Potter throughout. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more books from this author! Thank you to Josh Roberts, Owl Hollow Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Or What You Will was one of my first forays into metafiction and I absolutely loved it. Combined with Shakespeare? Incredible. While reading, I felt that I was peeking over Walton’s shoulder, getting a master class on writing, and watching the threads of a story being woven right before my eyes. This is a story filled with succinct observations, fantastic characters, and reflective moments. I do think you will probably get more out of this story if you are familiar with The Tempest, Twelfth Night, or have an interest in reading about the craft of storytelling.

This isn't a casual novel- it is definitely a commitment, a choice. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it very much was mine. Or What You Will is creative, original, and has a unique story to tell. I’m looking forward to re-reading this book, as it is full of rich details and stunning descriptions. This was the first book I’ve read from Jo Walton, but it won’t be my last.

Or What You Will releases on July 7, 2020. Thank you to Jo Walton, Tor Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you’re a fan of Phantom of the Opera or Caraval- check out Where Dreams Descend in August! I really loved the fierce strength of Kallia, she is definitely a new favorite heroine. I felt like I was watching a stage curtain being slowly drawn back to reveal the dark mystery at the heart of the story. It is a bright, imaginative, and action-packed adventure. Where Dreams Descend includes magicians competing, inexplicable accidents, and a heart-pounding conclusion. I loved all of the little nods to Phantom hidden throughout! I enjoyed the positive friendships, the timely reflections on sexism, and the ending will definitely leave you wondering what happens next. I’m already excited about the sequel! Where Dreams Descend releases on August 25th, 2020. Thank you to Janella Angeles, Wednesday Books, & Netgalley for giving me a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

In 1938, 17-year-old Kate is forced to move in with her grandfather, a former movie star. Upon discovering that her estranged grandfather lives in a crumbling mansion, complete with aspiring actors boarding with him, she is horrified. As Kate gets to know the actors and has her first experience with Hollywood- she abruptly stumbles upon a murder. Everyone in the house is a suspect...including Kate. To protect her grandfather and discover what is truly going on behind the scenes, Kate sets out to find the real killer.

Chasing Starlight was a very fun historical mystery! I really recommend this book to people who are Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys fans. There is a rich cast of characters, plenty of red herrings, and a smart heroine at the center of this murder mystery. I enjoyed that while others may try to put Kate in a specific box, she stays true to her goals. The inclusion of astronomy facts was a nice touch and I loved how determined she was to conquer calculus!

Anyone with an interest in how movies get made will appreciate the historical details and in-depth look at Hollywood in the 1940s. The story is also very accessible to people who aren’t familiar with the time period/1940s Hollywood. I’m curious to see if Kate will go on to have more mystery-solving adventures! Chasing Starlight releases on August 11, 2020! Thank you to Teri Bailey Black, Macmillian-Tom Doherty Associates, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5- The King’s 100 will be very appealing to YA fans of dystopia and romance. The book follows Piper, a princess of a nation focused on technology. Piper has long been ostracized for being interested in singing and expressing more emotions than considered proper. When Piper receives a note from someone claiming that her mother is still alive, Piper eludes her older sister and sets out for the neighboring enemy kingdom to investigate. She discovers that in order to gain access to the palace, she must audition to be an entertainer in The King’s 100. As she searches for her mother, Piper encounters romance, betrayal, and finds friends who understand her passion for singing.

I think this story will appeal to younger YA readers and fans of series such as The Selection! If I could change one thing, I wish there had been more diverse/LGBTQ+ representation, especially within the large cast of supporting characters. It wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, but I do think the book was overall a well-told story about following your dreams and standing up for what you want in life. The King’s 100 releases on July 21, 2020! Thank you to Karin Biggs, Immortal Works, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this is one of my favorite books of 2020 so far! This story is an adventure in magic, identity, and Argentinian folklore. Lobizona is the story of Manuela Azul, a girl who has never quite fit in anywhere. Not only does she have otherworldly eyes, Manu and her mother are illegal immigrants. When ICE captures her mother in a raid, Manu is forced to flee. While looking for answers, Manu uncovers secrets that her mother has been hiding from her.

With strong roots in Argentinian folklore, Manu discovers a magical school: a school for witches and werewolves. But the school has never seen someone quite like her and soon Manu is once again trying her best to hide in plain sight. Lobizona is a gripping and timely read: with commentary on gender identity, binary language, sexism, societal roles, and immigration. There is a clear emphasis and exploration of the power of language, labels, and identity.

Lobizona’s stunning descriptions and intricate details captivated me. The memorable side characters, the twists and turns, and how original this story feels made this book hard to put down. This is the story of a fierce heroine who is determined to find her way back to her mom, learn more about her mysterious powers, and finds friendship (and maybe more?) along the way. Lobizona releases on August 4, 2020! Thank you to Romina Garber, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. P.S. The cover is SO gorgeous!

If you enjoyed the world-building, complex characters, political schemes & manipulations in Dark Shores- you will be absolutely delighted with Dark Skies. If you were hoping to see more Marcus and Teriana after we left them in Dark Shores, Dark Skies focuses primarily on Lydia (introduced in Dark Shores) and Killian, a new character. Readers can start with Dark Shores OR Dark Skies, both are considered starting points to the series! I haven’t seen an author do this before, which is pretty cool.

Killian is a soldier on the Dark Shores, dealing with a deadly threat to the kingdom which promises to destroy the land and lives of many if not stopped. Unable to inherit as a woman, Lydia currently stands to be in a very bad situation when her terminally ill father dies. Her father is under pressure to arrange marriage to protect her, but she despises who he chooses. When Lydia is forced to fight for her life like never before, she meets Killian. Political scheming, very slowburn romance, and betrayal ensue.

Dark Skies weaves many threads of story together: a dangerous new threat to the Dark Shores, political power plays, and stellar world-building. I’ll definitely be looking forward to book three in this series and hope that Marcus, Teriana, Lydia, and Killian all meet up soon. Dark Skies is available 5/5/20. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

How To Break An Evil Curse is a story that tells you in the title what the premise is. As you’d expect, it’s a story built on a fun and imaginative take on how to break a curse. There’s a large cast of characters, plenty of tongue-in-cheek (sometimes cheesy) writing, and a good sense of humor. However, I felt the writing ultimately struggled in the execution. There was an omniscient narrator who would chime in, but I found this to be more annoying than charming. I think younger readers may have trouble following the tangents and train of thought explorations that occur. That’s not to say they aren’t fun, but they often lacked clarity. And while this writing style isn’t for me personally, I have no doubt that this book will be enjoyed by readers who like this style.

Upon reaching the end of the book and the big twist, I mostly felt disappointed. The world felt cobbled together rather than carefully built and more telling than showing occurred. Generally, I find extensive footnotes are hard to do well. It felt like this story was close to nailing it, but didn’t quite get there. While this book was not my personal favorite, I think the writer is definitely one to watch and I’m excited to see her future creative endeavors! How To Break An Evil Curse is a book with a lot of heart and humor, and I think readers will enjoy how creative it is. How To Break An Evil Curse releases on October 13, 2020. Thank you to Laura Morrison, Black Spot Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.