tl;dr
Mistaken identity combined with enemies-to-lovers make for a high drama story in a competently built fantasy world.

Thoughts
I started reading this book while waiting on a work call, and then I spent the entire actual call wondering when I could get back to the book (sorry, boss). The story hooked me from the first page, and kept up at a fast pace all the way through. I love a mistaken identity plot, and the delicious twists of our two leads each mistaking each other adds so much drama to the proceedings. The world building's strength is its politics and culture, with Spanish and Irish terms sprinkled in to differentiate the two kingdoms. The monastery where Cade lived was easily my favorite part, as a thoughtful and thorough way to write queerness in an alternate world. In comparison, the magic system is somewhat underdeveloped, which lead to a couple points of confusion. The middle of the book where the POVs switch off regularly also has a few jumps in the timeline that I couldn't always follow. The relationship between our leads takes the majority of the focus, with an enemies-to-lovers narrative, and lots of political maneuvering for them and the supporting cast. The end hints that there may be more to come, but it ties up all the plot threads very neatly, so this can be read as a standalone without any problems.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

tl;dr
A straightforward and competent illustrated summary of Twelfth Night ideal for very young readers.

Thoughts
Reviewing a book that's a summary of something else is always weird, but abridged versions of things got me into reading early, so I have a soft spot for them. This is also one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, so you know. This book summarizes Twelfth Night in very plain language that's easy to follow, and seems strongly geared towards younger readers. It even manages to untangle some of the complexities of the plot very clearly. Illustrations are numerous, and have all the dramatic flair of stage actors playing for the back row. A good springboard to introduce someone to Shakespeare early.

Thanks to NetGalley and Arcturus Publishing for a review copy!

tl;dr
A bright professor paired with a roguish charmer lead this extremely satisfying tale. A fun adventure with a dash of romance, strongly recommended for fans of fantasy and fae.

About
Professor Emily Wilde is great at studies and terrible at people, but her current research trip to finish her Encyclopaedia of Faeries should be enough to elevate her as an expert in the competitive world of fae studies. Enter: Wendell Bambleby - colleague, rival professor, and Emily's exact opposite. Bambleby swears he's not in town to ruin her research, but he's clearly here to find something. But with ancient magic on the horizon, the two might have to work together just to make it out alive.

Thoughts
I don't often find myself at a loss for words, but here we are. Wow! The first thing I did after finishing this book was turn back to the beginning and start it again. Not only is this a good book, it's an exceptionally clever one. Presented in the form of an expedition journal with some fun footnotes and strong character voices that change based on who's writing, the story opens at a gentle walk and then takes off running after the first few chapters. Emily is an excellent heroine. Her frank discussions on the difficulties of being social really resonated with me, and I'm relieved that the story doesn't force her to try to learn to be social in order to fit in. I also appreciate that she's genuinely an expert in her field, and confident about it without being arrogant. The fact that she basically figured out Wendell's secret just from casual observation is excellent, and saves me the frustration of a heroine who can't seem to take an obvious hint. And speaking of Wendell, he's an excellent contrast to Emily - navigating social situations with ease, and treating her research with respect and understanding. Fans of roguish charmers and attractive troublemakers will love Wendell almost immediately. Their relationship is a personable one, and I felt like it progressed very naturally. Secrets and mysteries are tightly plotted, with a lot of answers available to clever readers before the reveals, but not in a frustrating "everyone else is stupid" sort of way. Fae rules and lore are well-researched, and should be very satisfying for fans of tales involving the fae. Overall, strong recommend for folks who like fantasy.

My collector's heart yearns for a special edition that includes illustrations and perhaps some of the notes mentioned with the text.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

tl;dr
A comfortable romance that very neatly ties up the loose ends from the previous two books.

Thoughts
As usual, royalty in disguise and spy craft are my catnip, so I was very excited to give this book a go. Hope is good at code breaking, bad at socializing, and this is her first field assignment ever. Nik is well-meaning, but he knows even less about being a spy. It comes together as awkwardly as you'd assume, but at least they have each other as they stumble through their first mission. Their chemistry is comfortable, paced out over a month or so worth of story, with very little relationship drama as the assassination plot takes precedence in the story. Those looking for low-steam should be happy to find that there's a brief passionate kiss, but nothing further. Plot-wise, this is a very "comfort food" style story. I don't imagine readers will be too surprised, but the conclusion to this and the previous books is solid. Speaking of, this is the third book in a series, but all three books take place concurrently. You don't need the first two to jump into this one, but the ending covers all three books, so it will spoil the ending of the previous two installments.

Thanks to NetGalley and WOLF Publishing for a review copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

tl;dr
Solid in-depth world building, a cast of morally gray characters, and so much queerness to be had. Can take a few chapters to get into.

Thoughts
Dragonfall is not shy about its world building - which is both its greatest strength, and a bit of a speed bump. The first few chapters had me floundering in terms I didn't fully understand, but the path smoothed out considerably once Everen entered, as he provides a great insert for other characters to explain the world to, and I found myself very impressed by the scope of it. There's a LOT of world to get through here: magic, government, history, classes, dragons, religions, and so much gender. Every added detail paints a vivid picture of multiple societies with real weight to them, and the world feels comfortably lived in. The cast is full of complex, morally gray characters, with church-ordained assassin Sorin taking the lead as my favorite, and I hope for only good things for her. The slow burn romance gets steamy in places, with just a hint of spice (so far). Plot moves at an even pace, taking its time with each of the POV characters. Most characters are written in third person while the two leads are in first person, with an interesting conceit for Everen that can feel stilted, but has a strong payoff at the end. And speaking of the end, lots of big reveals that open up possibilities for the next two books in the series. I genuinely have no idea what's going to happen next, but I'm glad to be along for the ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and DAW for the advance copy. All thoughts in here are my own.

tl;dr
With fun characters and clean art, Clock Striker is an ode to the classics of shonen manga while retaining a spirit and vibrance all its own.

Thoughts
High school me would have been ALL about this. Current me is pretty invested, too, if we're being honest. This has all the shonen manga goodness that I love: shadowy organizations, a badass sensei, fighters who shout attacks, super powers, mysterious pasts, and a spunky hero with a heart of gold to hold it all together. And Cast really does hold the story together. Her enthusiasm for learning and her love of helping people are infectious, and I was cheering for her the whole way through. Her teacher Ms. Clock is a delightful enigma, equal parts proper and sinister, with some of the coolest panels in the whole book. Clock Striker's first volume covers a lot of ground, often using interwoven storylines and flashbacks to get to the meat of the plot faster. The fast pace means world building isn't as in depth as it could be, but I suspect we'll get a lot more detail in the future, especially with an incredible end of book stinger (be sure to read past the credits!). Art is equally excellent. Character designs are consistent, with clean line art, strong expressions, and dynamic fight scenes, making this a very easy read. Strong recommend for anyone who likes shonen manga.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

tl;dr
An equally balanced duo takes the lead on a very modern take on the spy genre full of tech-y gadgets and a twisty secret mission.

Thoughts
Give me a lady who can kill paired with a dude who can lie, and I'll show up. Seriously, I've started building a shelf to hold my favorite plot conceit of all time. The thing about the shelf is that it's mostly fantasy novels with very few modern additions (to date). Stars and Smoke is a much more modern (maybe even slightly futuristic) take, with internet viral videos, global news, and hyper advanced spy gadgets all featuring heavily. The plot takes full advantage of this setting and time period, relying on tech and the power of the internet for several of its many juicy twists. Other markers from the spy genre are also present - clandestine parties, car chases, mysterious organizations, and a deadly chemical compound with a confusing name that is never fully explained (I am aware this is a personal hangup, but darn if I'm not hung up on it).

The two leads are both given equal attention, with strong back stories and fleshed out personalities, and I immediately found myself caring for both of them. Although they snipe at each other at the beginning, there's also a fairly immediate attraction between the two that leads to plenty of steamy thoughts, but no overt spice. I prefer my romances to move at a slower pace, but the endgame for our heroes absolutely sticks the landing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Roaring Book Press for an advance copy! All thoughts here are my own.

tl;dr
Fans of the first book will be excited to see some great character growth along with hints of a larger plot at play.

Thoughts
I have a confession to make. I'm more a David than a Winnie. Between the energetic girl who tries to life hack her way out of piano practice, and the uptight overachiever who would never skip class, I definitely sit on the never skip class end of the gradient. Which means I spent a good deal of the first book disappointed that Winnie backed down from a challenge so quickly because she didn't believe in herself. I'm pleased to say I had no such feelings in book two. Winnie's back with her (literally) magic baking and a new horde of spirits to take down. And while she still maintains her energy, she's also grown to believe in herself more, and what a growth it is! Stronger communication skills, self-advocacy, and even more baking. Like the first book, plot balances really evenly between Winnie's home/school life, and her work life. That means action scenes can be sparse, but I again appreciated the time spent on her relationship with her sister. The ending has a very "book two" vibe, where the enemy is vanquished, leaving behind an ominous statement and more questions than answers. And of course recipes are again included. Almond cookies are a really easy go-to recipe for beginning bakers, and I imagine that adding chocolate chips like Winnie did will probably be great too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's for an advance copy! All thoughts here are my own.

tl;dr
Devastatingly accurate reflection of the diaspora experience, and the trials and tribulations of middle school.

Thoughts
Just the other day, my mom called to inform me that the guy who beat me in every piano competition of my childhood (over ten years ago) has now released his own album. So what I am saying is, 100 points for accuracy here. Thanks for all the flashbacks. Winnie certainly got into baking sooner than I did, though. Mooncakes are not easy to make! My journey through middle grade mythology novels continues with Winnie Zeng, a modern adventure based on Chinese folklore and starring a pop culture-loving girl who is just trying to make it through middle school. Middle school heroes seem to be spending less and less time in school these days (when the world needs saving, who has time for algebra?), so it was an interesting twist to see Winnie doing her best to maintain her grades alongside the world saving. She's a complicated and flawed hero with a lot of internal struggles, and I appreciated the very human aspect to her character. I also appreciated the time spent on the complexities of her relationship with her sister. Food descriptions abound, with recipes in the back for people to try. (If you've never had a red bean brownie, you should.) I think the only thing that I wish I could have more of is the shaman side of things. Very little is explained about her powers, and as a fellow anime fan, I don't actually mind a training arc. As a quick read, it's a fun start to what looks to be a fun series.

tl;dr
Loosely based on Arthurian legend and featuring an exceedingly pragmatic main character, this book takes a bit to get going, but doesn't let up once it does.

Thoughts
I stayed up way later than I expected finishing this (oops). The opening of this book was, for me, a bit slow. It took some time to get all the world building and the main plot moving, but just as I was getting used to the pace, it took off at a run and never stopped. And WOW! What a run. This tale is inspired by Arthurian legend, but it takes the pieces and creates its own story full of plot twists that kept me guessing the whole way through. Tamsin is a difficult main character. On the one hand, I appreciate not having an eternally hopeful ray of sunshine who always believes the best in people. Sometime a girl's gotta be pragmatic. But there were times when her jaded worldview got in her way, which I probably hate because it's a little too relatable. Thankfully some of the other characters balance out her (mostly) warranted cynicism, with Neve the energetic sorceress being a standout favorite. And speaking of other characters, there's the start of what might be an enemies to lovers romance, with a fade to black-style night spent together (how far they went is unclear). Emrys is as complicated as Tamsin, and I really like how their relationship has progressed so far, but his motives a very unclear, so now I must await book two for answers.

Edit: I must no longer await! My review of the second book is here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an advance copy. All thoughts here are my own.