Blood Debts is the gripping, magical debut from Terry J. Benton-Walker. This is a story filled with emotion, multi-generational family, and strong ancestors. I appreciated the way that mental health is highlighted and de-stigmatized, especially with the use of medication and therapy when needed. There is excellent LGBTQ+ rep throughout the story and not just with the main characters. There is a large cast of secondary characters, who felt richly fleshed-out and meaningful to the main story. The tangled bonds and broken relationships in their family seemed very realistic and also really made me curious about what had caused the rifts between the sisters. Benton-Walker does a masterful job of bringing all the threads together as the story reaches a crescendo. 

Blood Debts incorporates real-life legends and traditions, while always honoring where they came from. The magic system is built with complexity and care. Cris was one of my favorite characters! I loved her relationship with Clem because I knew they would always be there for each other no matter what. Cris goes on an intense and at times painful journey in this book; I really enjoyed watching her step back into her power and reclaim her voice. Cris, Clem, and their family are faced with difficult choices when it comes to reclaiming the power they’ve lost and must make morally gray choices. 

Benton-Walker does an incredible job with pacing, whenever I had to pause in the story, I could not stop thinking about it and wondering what might come next. I cannot wait for the story to continue!! I would recommend Blood Debts for fans of Liselle Sambury (Blood Like Magic), Tracy Deonn (Legendborn), and Kalynn Bayron (This Poison Heart). Readers who enjoy urban fantasy, complex magic systems, and bewitching characters will love this book. 

Thank you to Terry J. Benton-Walker, Tor Teen, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

You Wouldn’t Dare is the incredible latest book from Samantha Markum. I loved Markum’s debut, This May End Badly, and You Wouldn’t Dare did not disappoint. Juniper Nash is overflowing with ideas and creative ways to spend her summer with friends. What she wants most is enough cast and crew to do an innovative community theater production. With the help of her friends, Milo, Graham, and Lucy, she just might pull it off. But then her mom drops a bombshell on her, that this is her last summer living on the North Shore and they're moving in with her boyfriend. Juniper is determined to make the most of it- acing her performance, spending time with friends, and possibly reigniting a romance?  

I love stories about messy girls who try too hard, who never hide their true selves, and love with heart-wrenching abandon. Juniper Nash is all the things and I thought she was fantastic. Juniper is unable to pick only one thing and instead tries to make her community theater show a success, spend time with friends, and try to mend her friendship with Graham. Graham and Juniper had incredible chemistry, but I also appreciated that there was a lot of prior history for them to untangle before being able to move forward. Markum’s writing feels realistic, lighthearted, and hilarious. I laughed out loud at some of the banter! 

Juniper is lucky to be surrounded by such an engaging cast of secondary characters- from Graham to Milo, to her supportive mom, and even Tallulah. You Wouldn’t Dare weaves together story threads from many different characters and seamlessly turns it all into a beautiful coming-of-age, young adult summer romance. There is a second-chance aspect to it, as Graham and Juniper have dated before. Juniper struggles with the idea of whether dating again is worth it if it could mess up their friend group, which felt very realistic. The sense of community is so strong, from the shop where Juniper works to the way they pull together for a community member in need. I loved it!! 

You Wouldn’t Dare would be perfect for fans of Gilmore Girls, lovable (and messy) heroines, and summer romance. I would recommend it for fans of Emma Lord, Sarah Dessen, and Sophie Gonzales. 

Thank you to Samantha Markum, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Solomon’s Crown is based on a pair of powerful men who were historically enemies, but I loved how Natasha Siegel reimagined their dynamic. I was somewhat familiar with the history behind these two significant figures, but you do not need to have this background knowledge to enjoy the book. This is a story filled with queer yearning and fighting to be with the person who knows who you truly are. 

I enjoyed how creative Phillip and Richard were as they navigated a treacherous court, homophobia, and perilous politics. I loved the secondary characters such as Isabella and Geoffrey, who really helped flesh out the characters. In reading this book, you know from the start that there will be no stereotypical happy ending here, but instead the book invites you to imagine how people in history found joy and queer love despite the obstacles of the time. 

Solomon’s Crown was a quick, enjoyable historical romance. I would recommend this for readers who enjoy historical retellings, LGBTQ+ rep, and joyful romance. Thank you to Natasha Siegel, Dell, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
 

The Foxglove King is the first in The Nightshade Kingdom series from Hannah Whitten. It follows Lore, a poison runner (smuggler) with dark secrets. After a catastrophic run-in with the palace, Lore is forced to team up with Gabe. Gabe is a celibate monk sworn to the high priest and dedicated to the rise of a god Lore doesn’t believe in. Together, they must gain the trust of crown prince Bastian and determine if he is guilty of treason. As they learn more about the secrets of the palace, there are no simple answers and they must hurry to uncover the truth behind the king’s schemes before their world is changed forever. 

I really enjoyed The Foxglove King!! I love Hannah Whitten and I knew that her writing would captivate me once again. She has created a fascinating world and an enthralling new power in Mortem. Lore is a fierce and strong heroine; I loved learning the secrets of her past. I especially loved her mothers! Gabe is a very principled man who must reckon with inconsistencies in his beliefs. Bastian is joyful and chaotic, but his antics cover a deep anxiety and desire to save the kingdom. Whitten never lets her characters get away with an easy choice and instead they must make morally gray choices, which I really loved. 

I can’t wait to find out what happens next! I hope to see more romance in the sequel! I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially to fans of Shelby Mahurin, Adalyn Grace, and Rebecca Ross. If you enjoy excellent world-building, fierce heroines, and sky-high stakes then you should read The Foxglove King. 

Thank you so much to Hannah Whitten, Orbit Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
 

Antimatter Blues is the excellent sequel to Mickey7. Mickey Barnes is still alive after a risky gambit in the previous book positions him as an invaluable resource to the colony. Two years later when his word is tested, he must scramble to save the colony. The creepers are not quite what they seem and new enemies lurk on the untested planet. Mickey must use his knowledge of failed colonies and every alliance he has in order to save everyone he loves. 

Mickey Barnes is the type of character that you can’t look away from and not for the usual reasons. Mickey is not a knight in shining art, not a morally gray hero, at the end of the day he’s someone who wants to come home to his friends and partner. It is so fascinating to watch him navigate through the ethics of being a former Expendable and how he carves out an identity beyond that. Ashton does a frighteningly good job of imagining what an Expendable might be put through, what type of choices a colony commander might need to make, and what cutthroat politics might exist in a dystopian future. 

Mickey undergoes a lot of character growth, particularly as he eludes being recycled into energy for his colony. I loved his alliance with the creeper colony (especially Speaker!) and appreciated how far he was willing to go for his friends, family, and crew. Readers will enjoy seeing familiar crew members from Mickey7, new creatures, and more of the planet on which the colony has landed. I really enjoyed Antimatter Blues and would recommend it to anyone who seeks high-stakes action, dystopian adventure, and lovable characters. 

Thank you to Edward Ashton, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.