Kingdom of the Wicked is one of my most anticipated fall 2020 books, so I was thrilled to read the ARC! This atmospheric and compelling tale is the story of twins Vittoria and Emilia, both streghe. Streghe are witches who secretly live among humans, keeping their magic secret. When Vittoria goes missing, Emilia is horrified to discover her murdered body. In pursuit of her sister’s killer, Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked and a Prince of Hell. As she retraces Vittoria’s last steps, Emilia must decide how to use her magic and whether to trust what she’s always been told is evil.

Kingdom of the Wicked is a story about the intense love of sisterhood, family, and magical tradition. There is a masterful attention to detail regarding the colors, scents, and tastes of this world and it creates a truly immersive experience. The carefully crafted descriptions of food are mouth-watering!! I felt utterly swept away to a dark and stormy world where magic stalks the steps of the ordinary. Emilia is a very determined and relatable character. I really enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence and power throughout the book. I can already feel that Wrath is going to be a fan favorite and he certainly was one of mine! I'm looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book!

This book is magical, fun, and clearly only the start of what will be a fantastic series. I can’t wait to learn more about the complex magic system and see Emilia grow even more in her magical power. The ending will leave you absolutely craving the next book! Kingdom of the Wicked releases on October 27, 2020. Thank you to Kerri Maniscalco, JIMMY Patterson Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up, I was fascinated with the delicate and secret messages hidden in flowers! This book is incredible at explaining the language of flowers, with beautiful illustrations. Floriography is written in a very accessible and useful format, either for beginners or experts of this art. Clearly drawn with intense care, the illustrations are realistic and elegant. Floriography features examples of bouquets, relevant mythology or history, and flower pairing suggestions. Those who love flowers and seek a deeper understanding of the meaning behind them will want this for their shelves. I would definitely gift it to anyone with an interest in flowers or the language of flowers. Floriography releases September 15, 2020. Thank you to Jessica Roux, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was unbelievably cute!! My favorite characters were the grandparents- so, so sweet. I loved the depiction of Japan and how the author dealt with complicated issues of cultural identity, family history, and exploring how it feels to have dreams other than those your parents chose for you. This story has a timeless, lovable quality to it. Of course, expect lots of delicious mochi in this one!