Kiva is a healer in a death prison, where no prisoner leaves once they arrive. In such a harsh environment, healing is incredibly difficult. Still, she does what she can using the knowledge her father passed on. Kiva’s world changes when the Rebel Queen is taken captive and she finds a coded message from her family telling her to keep the queen alive at all costs. The gravely ill Rebel Queen is sentenced to endure elemental magic trials, which no one has ever successfully completed. Kiva ends up volunteering in her place and risking it all. If she wins, both of them can finally leave the prison. But first Kiva must find magic she doesn’t have and locate the cause of a mysterious illness sweeping the prison.

Kiva is a smart and scrappy character, which I love! While she guards her heart closely, it’s very satisfying to watch her form relationships with several other key players in the prison. There were several cunning twists that I didn't see coming, but made me shriek with delight! The prison is a dark and evil place, where survival is extremely difficult, so I was consistently curious about how Kiva was going to attempt to win the trials. Full disclosure, I felt a little wary about reading a story where illness is such a central aspect, as we’re all living through a pandemic. However, I did not experience any issues that impacted my enjoyment of the story. There are a number of dark elements and potential triggers (self-harm, abuse) so definitely be aware of that and feel free to ask if you have any questions!

The Prison Healer is well-paced, full of secrets, and I’m SO ready for the next book after that thrilling ending!! It’s clear there is a much larger story to be told and I’m excited to see how the story continues in the sequel. If you enjoy mysterious characters, plot twists, and elemental magic- you need to check this out! Thank you so much to Lynette Noni, HMH Books for Young Readers, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Malice is a beautifully dark, sapphic retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Alyce has always been ostracized for her green skin and rare magical powers. Upon meeting Princess Aurora, doomed to die unless she can find her true love, Alyce assumes that Aurora will be like the rest of the intolerant court. When she realizes that Aurora would rather break her own curse than rely on a prince, Alyce teams up with the princess to help her escape her fate. As her magical powers grow, Alyce begins to draw attention and must choose whom to trust.

I love stories featuring morally gray characters! This is a lovely and imaginative retelling of Sleeping Beauty, filled with plenty of magic and interesting worldbuilding. I always love when a princess plans to save herself and this was no exception. The love story between Aurora and Alyce is a delightful slow-burn romance. As Alyce learns about the history behind her powers and heritage, the carefully crafted worldbuilding shines. If you enjoy retellings of tales we assume we know, LGBTQ rep, and morally gray characters then you will love Malice. Thank you to Heather Walter, Del Rey Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Southern Sun, Northern Star is the incredible finale to the Glass Alliance trilogy. I absolutely could not put this book down! Ali has joined the resistance, taking on dangerous missions to attempt to stop the approaching war. Meanwhile, Athan is forced to lead his squadron into increasingly dangerous air battles. Ali and Athan must decide what to do when they discover dangerous secrets that could save or doom the lives of many. The choices they make will either bring them closer to peace or permanently shatter their love.

With real historical details woven in, this story is one that will capture the hearts of history buffs and YA romance readers alike. The writing is beautifully descriptive and immersive. You feel like you’re there on the ground as planes fly overhead and sweat drips down your spine. Hathaway expertly shows how much all the characters have changed from their first meeting in Dark of the West and how their choices had consequences. I loved watching Ali and Athan reach for each other over insurmountable obstacles. They have such a breathtaking and heartfelt love story that made me smile and cry equally hard as it concluded. The supporting characters are extremely compelling, all with an important role to play in the politics of war where there are no simple choices.

Southern Sun, Northern Star is written with hauntingly gorgeous prose. This is a book that forces you to look at war from every side, see the effect that it has on humanity, and reflect on the past. If you like reading action-packed war stories filled with love and extraordinary characters- then you need to read this series! The Glass Alliance is one of my favorite trilogies and I would highly recommend it to anyone. Thank you so very much to Joanna Hathaway, Tor Teen, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She Drives Me Crazy is such a fun romantic comedy! When Scottie and Irene accidentally back into each other in the parking lot, tempers are high. After losing a basketball game and being recently dumped by her girlfriend, the last person Scottie wants to see is Irene- a highly driven cheerleader and her nemesis. Once they realize they could help each other with their senior goals, a deal is struck. Scottie wants to make her ex-girlfriend jealous and the basketball team to finally have cheerleader support. Irene wants to win the best student athlete award and she thinks Scottie can help her get there. Fake-dating and enemies-to-lovers shenanigans ensues!

This is a sweet and enjoyable sapphic romance that hits all the right notes. I really loved the emphasis on mental health and how it takes time to be ready to date someone after the end of a relationship. She Drives Me Crazy examines the dangers of romanticizing people, toxic relationships, and how to be brave. If you love cheesy romance movies but wish they had a bit more depth or LGBTQ+ representation, then this is the book for you. She Drives Me Crazy is a fun and sweet story that you won’t want to miss! Thank you so much to Kelly Quindlen, Roaring Brook Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.