A Spectacle of Souls follows Caitlyn as she experiences mysterious headaches and migraines. When a circus comes to town, she meets Daniel: a hypnotic magician who seems to know what’s really behind those headaches. But there is something sinister going on at the circus, as Caitlyn struggles to unlock her dormant powers and regain her lost memories.

This book had a beautiful cover and intriguing premise. I’m always interested in a mysterious circus and magical powers. However, I found myself let down by the execution. The writing was cheesy, contained awkward cliches, and overall was very simplistic. This book felt confused about what it wanted to be. You could say it is intended to appeal to younger readers with the style of writing, but there were also cringy attempts at romance and trite instalove.

While I did laugh a lot, I don’t think I was supposed to find the book this funny. I thought the writing lacked a consistent flow and created more of a confused than compelling atmosphere. It was difficult to connect with these characters. This story could have benefitted from additional editing and perhaps more feedback from young adults. I understand that this book was trying to accomplish a lot, but it unfortunately fell flat for me.

Nevertheless, this book did succeed in making me want to eat tacos. Those taco descriptions really were spectacular.

A Spectacle of Souls releases on July 7, 2020. Thank you to Bleeding Ink Publishing and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

She Represents features 44 women who are important political figures both in the US and in the world. This includes sections about their life story, achievements, what’s on their agenda, and memorable quotes. I would be interested in additional sections such as discussion questions. At times, I think this book struggled with maintaining a consistent voice and tone. I do think students reading this book could learn a lot, be inspired, and would generate a meaningful conversation in classrooms.

With the understanding that this is not a final copy, some of the portraits included had more of a cartoon-ish feel and did not provide a great example of what the women truly look like. I think this book will be enjoyed by those seeking to learn more about women in politics, political history, and those with an interest in current affairs. She Represents releases on September 1, 2020. Thank you to Caitlin Donohue, Zest Books, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5- The Lost Prince stars Tristan, a long-lost prince to the kingdom of Odsia. Once identified, his grandparents take him to the palace to claim his place as heir. Tristan and his trusty dog Nork aren’t entirely sure that living in the palace is what they want to do. Meanwhile, not everyone is thrilled that Tristan survived the strange accident that killed his parents. Tristan meets neighboring princess Aliona and decides he might be interested in being the prince after all. As he learns more about the mysterious accident and adversaries circle the throne- does Tristan have what it takes to inherit?

I think this book will be appreciated by young readers who enjoy books about long-lost royalty. It’s pitched as YA, but upper middle grade readers would also enjoy this. I appreciated the map at the beginning and found it useful. The writing is generally straightforward and accessible. Tristan is a lovable character, plus he has an adorable animal companion!

However, the writing occasionally struggled with repetition and story consistency. For example, Tristan is supposed to be twenty, but is written as much younger. The dialogue tends toward simplistic and the style of writing wasn’t my personal favorite. If you’re familiar with the trope of lost royalty, there aren’t many surprises. Nonetheless, Williams’ passion and love for stories definitely shines through. The Lost Prince releases September 20, 2020. Thank you to Alonna Williams, Blue Gingham Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Kingdom of Liars follows Michael Kingman, whose defining characteristics are being a Kingman and the son of a man who committed treason. While his siblings have mostly moved on, Michael has been stuck in the past and filled with anger. Michael gets involved with a mysterious noble after a rebel attack and begins to unravel secrets about the past. Our story opens with Michael on trial for killing the king and his story is revealed via flashback.

I enjoyed this book, but there were some issues that impacted my enjoyment. I really did not see Michael as a likable character and did not feel a bond with him. I thought he was self-centered and selfish. Throughout the story, there are instances where telling and not showing is in full force. It’s as if by stating something in plain language, the author is willing it to be so. I understand his intent, but it comes off as heavy-handed writing.

While the world-building and magic system are very detailed, it takes a long time for readers to understand some of the roles and names that we are expected to pick up through context alone. An easy fix to this would be to provide more introductory information or perhaps a glossary or chart to add clarity. While I can understand the author wanting to reveal this information bit by bit, it does cause confusion when basic world-building is still being established past the halfway point.

Spoiler

The ending of the book also struggled with some deus ex machina, but I fully expected this as I’m not sure how Michael could have survived without it.

In terms of the writing itself, it was generally well done with lots of references throughout. However, I was frustrated with one of the writing choices.

Spoiler

Michael finds himself not remembering the name of a girl who he meets. The girl realizes this and rather than introduce herself, decides that she wants to keep her name hidden. So, Michael spends over half the book calling her: “the girl in red.” It was unrealistic that someone wouldn’t slip and address her by name. Michael is a target for many as the son of a traitor. How is he not more invested in learning her name? It is eventually revealed, but her name alone adds no profound meaning to the story. Why did I spend half the book reading “the girl in red” did this, “the girl in red” did that? Just name your character.

All of that said, this book is undoubtedly something the author put a lot of thought into and I think many people will enjoy it. While this book is definitely introductory and suffered some debut growing pains, I ultimately found it to be a good book. I’ll be curious to see where the author takes characters in the sequel! The Kingdom of Liars releases on June 23, 2020. Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Educated is the memoir of Tara Westover, a woman raised in rural Idaho whose family experienced many struggles with poverty, mental illness, and abuse. This is the story of a woman who overcame a cycle of abuse and fought for her right to an education. Educated is one of the most eye-opening things I’ve read and is truly unlike anything that I’ve read before. Often heartbreaking, this memoir is filled with vivid anecdotes, crisp writing, and will make you feel as if you’re standing next to Tara as she re-examines her childhood and educational journey. It’s important to know that this is a heavy book to read in many ways- the depictions of abuse (and failure of anyone to intervene) will be frustrating and disturbing to read about. But it is worth it. I highly recommend this memoir to everyone. It will make you think deeply about your own life, what education means, and will generate reflection and discussion. This won’t be a memoir that I forget.

Thank you to Tara Westover, Random House, and Netgalley for a free copy of Educated in exchange for an honest review.

The Court of Miracles combines the underworld of Six of Crows with a re-imagining of the events of Les Miserables. I’m a huge fan of Eponine and was beyond excited when I received an ARC of this book! The first in a planned trilogy, this story follows Nina (Eponine), as she fights to be reunited with her sisters and seeks to prove to the lords of the underworld that she is not a pawn on their chessboard. Nina is fierce about pursuing her goals, unflinching in the face of almost certain death, and always thinking five steps ahead. This book was impossible to put down; there’s never a dull moment and a sense of eerie fantasy permeates throughout.

Grant’s writing is smooth, descriptive, and captivating. At the heart of this book, there is a strong bond of sisterhood, which is one of my favorite things to see! The Court of Miracles was genuinely so much fun to read: with a female Javert, lots of nods to Les Mis throughout, and more than one intriguing gentleman who crosses paths with Nina. You do not need to have read or seen Les Miserables to enjoy this book, as the author makes the story completely her own. I already can’t wait for the sequel to The Court of Miracles and to see how Nina’s adventures continue! The Court of Miracles releases on June 2, 2020. Thank you to Kester Grant, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cinderella has been dead for the past 200 years, but her legacy is being used to control the women who live in the kingdom of Lille. In a land where women hold no power and all are beholden to their husband, Sophia is forced to attend a ball where she will be selected to be someone’s wife. The girls who aren’t chosen disappear. When everything goes horribly wrong at the ball, Sophia is forced to flee and meets Constance: a descendant of one of the wicked stepsisters. They must work together to find out the real reason behind the balls and the sinister mystery of the king’s power, and discover what it means to fight when the world tells you that you should just give in.

I really enjoyed the story of Cinderella growing up, but I have to say that this is one of the best retellings of Cinderella that I’ve read. Also, what a gorgeous cover! Cinderella Is Dead has a compelling and important story to tell. This book pulls no punches, with poignant writing, and forces the reader to examine their own assumptions/beliefs about well-known stories. I would have liked to see a bit more world-building, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment as the core story here is always Sophia’s mission to defeat the king and save the women and girls of Lille.

Sophia is a strong and determined character, who refuses to give in against insurmountable odds. There was a little instalove when it came to Sophia and Constance, but I didn’t mind because I thought they were cute and it didn’t distract Sophia from her ultimate goal. No matter what, Sophia never forgot the women and girls that she was fighting for. An important and timely retelling of Cinderella, this story deftly re-examines stories we’ve always believed to be true, explores what it means to be brave, and why it is necessary to always use your voice. Cinderella Is Dead releases on July 7, 2020. Thank you to Kalynn Bayron, Bloomsbury YA, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There was and there was not, a princess who was hidden away from the world. Girl, Serpent, Thorn tells the tale of Soraya: a girl cursed to poison and kill anyone she touches. When an enemy is captured, Soraya tries to discover how she can break her curse and why she was cursed to begin with. In her search for answers, Soraya is forced to decide how far she will go for freedom and must face the consequence of her choices. This book features Persian mythology, F/F romance, a descent-into-villany arc, and the storytelling was simply gorgeous.

I absolutely loved this book!! It is one of my new favorites; I was so eager to unravel the intricate plot that I literally couldn’t put this book down. However, I had to stop and marvel at the craft that went into shaping a sentence, the perfectly expressed sentiment, and the way a line of prose would resonate deeply. Girl, Serpent, Thorn is inspired by elements from Persian mythology and Sleeping Beauty, but remains original and inventive. It is refreshingly free of overused romantic cliches and homophobia. The story contains plenty of plot twists, heartfelt dialogue, and morally grey characters. The fierce and magical women who fill these pages are such fantastic characters!

Girl, Serpent, Thorn is for anyone who seeks imaginative retellings, smart heroines, excellent romance, and complex storytelling. This book hauntingly explores what it truly means to be a monster and how the choices we make determine whether we are cast as the villain or heroine in our stories. I felt utterly spell-bound as Soraya journeys to discover who she truly is and grows to understand the power she holds: thorns and all.

I highly recommend this book and encourage everyone to pick it up when it releases on July 7, 2020! Thank you so much to Melissa Bashardoust, Flatiron Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon with joy. Reading it is to discover an incredible and magical story that grabs hold of you and won’t let go. McLemore’s extraordinary writing always transports me to another world. Miel and Sam will stay in my heart long after the last page. If you’re a fan of magical realism, beautiful prose, exploration of identity- check this book out!