Well, this was cute, but the male lead was kind of a pig. They had good chemistry though. I liked that the author spent time creating a country with customs, languages, and a historical background.  It felt less like a random fictional country. 

 Sometimes, the sequel is better than the first! This second book is much longer and keeps it same humor, cuteness, and relatable messaging which feels natural. It’s okay to like something that’s panned by critics or that your friends don’t like. 

If you like something, stand on it! 

The second half of this book focuses on BerryRose who has a Type A personality. She’s very by the book and doesn’t do well when spontaneity. But she learns to get out of her head and allow others a different way of doing things. 

The Cloud Puppy series is so cute, and I’m happy to read more in this series. 

There is a good balance of pictures and text (instruction/explanation). I was also pleased with the number of examples, the variety of art styles, and the diversity of characters (racial and body type). 

I checked this out at my local library, and it’s ideal as a reference book due to its length. I don’t recommend trying to read this all-in-one setting. I couldn't read this straight through. Take your time and go through or skip directly to the chapters most relevant to you.

 First, I loved the presentation. The cover is beautiful and the book formatting is well done. If anyone knows me, I love princesses (and knights) and royal kingdoms, even more, when we get Black characters in these settings.

This is a self-contained short story, but I wish it were longer. Or at least there were a few more scenes of bonding time between Avery and her soon-to-be king. The basis for the relationship is light Stockholm syndrome, but it still manages to be cute. Also, the male lead is NBA height, y'all lol.

Avery, the main character, has felt insecure about a facial disfigurement that everyone thinks means she’s cursed. She had a lot of emotional insecurity and tenderness, but she was also no pushover. Even when overpowered, she still fought back. Her relationship with her parents also shaped her. Her impending marriage brought the possibility of a new opportunity and a new fear of being rejected for her.

Male lead was pretty charming despite acting Surprise Pikachu when obviously dumb actions resulted in dumb results. Still, I liked his banter with Avery.

Overall, this was a cute story though I had a question about the worldbuilding. Did magic exist here or not, or were the people just superstitious? There were a few suggestive lines and some fight scenes, but most ages could read this with no issue (middle grade and up). I'd be interested in reading more from this author. 

I loved it. The games are at their cruelest, and we see what hardened Haymitch into the drunkard that hated to see his tributes die every year.

Haymitch has always been one of my favorites, and I knew I’d enjoy his narrative. But I didn’t expect to love the other District 12 kids so much either. Maysilee, in particular, was thought to be a stuck-up spoiled girl, and she was in some aspects. But oh was this girl ENTERTAINING. She didn’t take no mess, not even from the capitol.

Another pleasant or horrifying surprise is we get to see the victors from Catching Fire and some other familiar faces expanded upon. Mags, you’re gold. 

Beetee’s family is so tragic

This book pulled no punches. The stakes are high and dire, and young Haymitch is bright-eyed. The ending gets depressingly dark, but the epilogue is hopeful. The Hunger Games has always been a mixture of pain and hope.

Also, there is commentary on propaganda and the powers that twist media to show you what they want you to see. We’re seeing real events sanitized and wiped away before our eyes!

While I was disappointed in Snow’s origin, this story exceeded my expectations. It sparked my love for this series all over again.

TL;DR Suzanne’s pen still got it

I really enjoyed the cultural exploration here and something I don't often see in children's novels about drastic moves/big changes:

Ave's mom gives them the choice to go back to Mexicali if that works better for them. It's open-ended what the decision will be. Maybe they stay in Kansas longer or eventually go back

 When I heard kaiju, I was immediately interested. I think the story had a great introduction and world-building. The kaiju interactions are unique and seem plausible.

But as I continued I realized I didn't mesh with the humor. The humor here is not necessarily bad, but it's not funny to me. But I think it captures the type of collaboration that comes from working on a team with various quirky, STEM academic types. Sidenote, I don't know how anyone liked Niahm. They had terrible attitude problems. But I guess they were all a mostly sarcastic bunch.

Also, the detailed scientific principles here will really appeal to some readers, but to me, it felt like the equivalent of an overly technical love scene. Like, where is the sensuality?

Overall, my interest was starting to wane until the plot finally unfolded. At that point, I think the book hit its stride well.  I went into this story with no expectations, but it's not bad.