The premise is amazing - a land where royalty are given titles such as poet kings and queens. The title hooked me right away. However, the worldbuilding felt minimalistic and basic. The characters arecopycats from World of Warcraft and there was nothing to set them apart from medieval fiction stereotypes. The characters read too powerfully and superhuman that it was impossible to relate to them. Of course, if you're the type of reader that doesn't need to relate to characters, then you will likely enjoy this book.



The few female characters were barely present. I struggled to remember their names because they were infrequently featured. The villain queen was well-written, I'll give her that. She was properly scary. She gave me goosebumps and I looked forward to her scenes.



This was a wonderful concept and the premise was amazing, but the plot was loosely constructed. There were too many alliances and feuds to keep track of. This is a small detail, but I disliked having a character named Marlen who was the magical court guy. Um, sound familiar? He is exactly like Merlin from the King Arthur legends! If this book had drawn less from the King Arthur stories, I would have enjoyed it much more. The evil queen felt like Morgana trying to corrupt Arthur and all the soldiers were similar to knights of the round table. I wanted more descriptions of the magic and the beauty of the lands. I hope more edits are made before this book is published.

A solid 3 stars but I almost gave it 2. Then I remebered that, if I had been a few years younger, I would've enjoyed this story with more energy. If you're new to the young adult genre, this book is a great starter. There's no clear sexual material. The most the characters ever do is kiss. So, for a young adult romance, this is very tame. This is perfect for ages 13 to 15 but that's about it. While the main character is book smart, she is emotionally immature and she acts like a child. It was difficult for me to relate to a character with such a young, naiive personality.



While Mary is meant to be written as a modern day Elizabeth Bennet heroine, her actions are decidedly not Elizabeth-like. She's impulsive and acts more selfishly as the book progresses. I relate to some of her experiences, such as getting ditched by friends at school, and I felt for her in that moment. However, does she have to quote classic novels all the time? I quote novels but I don't do it all the time. When I say Mary quotes books constantly, I mean I couldn't find a single line of dialogue where she expresses her own thoughts. This makes Mary's character out to be the opposite of unique, a character with nothing new to offer. Her personality is entirely borrowed from other people and fictional characters. She had such promise, it's a real shame.



My main issue with the plot is the love story between Alex and Mary. Alex Ritter is barely in the book. Sometimes his name comes up, but only for Mary and her friends to insult him. He appears at the beginning of the story, then in the last 20 pages. I honestly forgot about him. The romance felt forced or at least rushed. If Alex was featured more in the book, I would have liked him. But as is, Alex doesn't spend enough time with the reader. The premise of this book is exciting and lovely, but the plot is one dimensional, perhaps fitting for a beach read.

A scrummy murder mystery that takes the reader from a college campus in America to the resorts of Sicily. The complex characters, riveting plot and beautiful cover make for an interesting novel. I adored the Agatha Christie premise and I was immediately hooked when the main character was signed up for a Christie college course! However, even though this was a fascinating plot line, it didn't go anywhere. The main character does all this research on Christie to learn nothing. She does learn a few things, but nothing important to the plot. She goes on a wild goose chase trying to solve the mystery of her lover's death and how her favorite professor is involved in it. Ultimately I was disappointed with the anti-climatic conclusion.



The book had a heavy build up that went nowhere. This story had such promise but it went downhill the moment the action moved away from the school. Plus, Lorna's ending in particular was so strange! It was unfulfilling and boring. I spent all this time getting attached to these characters and invested in their lives for the story to go nowhere. The final chapter was just the main character's inner monologue as she stood in water. If you're someone who enjoyed "Gone Girl" and Agatha Christie's work and the tv show "How to Get Away with Murder," then this is the perfect read for you. Just be prepared for the ending to surprise you.

"He closed the garden door behind her and gestured toward the Elm Walk. She pulled her shawl close and drank a deep draft of the new, green air. The year was 1795, and the day seemed to assume itself to be the first of that spring." ~ "Miss Austen"



Finally a novel about Cassandra Austen! While I love Jane, I've always wanted to know more about Cassandra's life. Jane overshadows her sister in history, even though ironically it was Cassandra who took great pains to preserve her sister's memory. This delightful little books pays tribute to that friendship, that sisterhood. I love how the author makes it clear that if Cassandra hadn't worked so diligently to preserve her sister's work, we as readers wouldn't know as much detail about Jane Austen today.



The premise is lovely. Cassandra reconnects with distant relatives in order to find more letters and writings belonging to her sister. Cassandra works to protect her sister's writing no matter what. Cassandra is a noble, though distant heroine in this book. I applaud her efforts, but Cassandra is a stagnant and emotionless narrator. She's so honorable that she seems to have no flaws. This made it difficult for me to connect with her at all. Cassandra's love for her sister borders on adoration in this depiction. It is a one-sided relationship, since Jane is dead during the current events of the story, so it's difficult to get a sense of their relationship especially if this is the first time a reader has learned about the Austens.



The idea behind this book is stellar. It's a new twist on the typical Jane Austen retelling, but I wanted Cassandra to have agency outside of her relationship with her sister. She's so focused on Jane's legacy that she disregards her own. I know the point of Cassandra's character is that she's meant to take care of others, but that's a lonely heroine to read about. I was looking forward to Cassandra taking charge of her story! I had hoped for a less stale ending. Specifically, since this was a historical fiction novel, the story had room to be spontaneous and fun. It didn't have to stick to the real facts of Cassandra's life. Ultimately this was a historical fiction novel that could've taken advantage of its genre, but it didn't.

"I may be only twenty-three years old to Winston’s thirty-four , without the education, accomplishments, or nobility of my intended, but my life will not serve solely as the invisible source of “sympathy and devotion” for my husband. Indeed, I want to write my own chapter, and I say a silent prayer that Winston will hand me the pen." - "Lady Clementine"



One of the greatest historical fiction novels I've ever had the pleasure to read. Marie Benedict brings Clementine Churchill to life in a beautiful rendition of her story. I am here for the headstrong, bold and brave Clementine! Her relationship with Winston is the definition of #couplegoals. Sure they have their faults, but the Winston Churchill in this novel is a feminist before his time and I love that. He is used to having women in the home, but he's open to Clementine's ideas and work and always supports her when it counts. Benedict doesn't depict their marriage as perfect, but instead she makes it realistic. There was a natural strain on this famous couple's love, but they are also well-suited to each other. While reading, sometimes I wanted to throw the book against the wall and yell at Churchill to trust his wife, but it's important to remember that both Clementine and him were going through trying times of war.



I never knew about Clementine's involvement in the war effort. It was amazing and inspiring to read about how she went right into the thick of things, speaking to British subjects and petitioning politicans to give aid to victims of bombings. Of course Benedict could have speculated on this, but I'm sure there's at least some truth to it. This is a historical fiction novel so Benedict has full rights to write anything she wants. I do wish she would've included some references and research in the back of the book.



My favorite part of the book was near the end when Clementine met Eleanor Roosevelt. Their relationship progresses in a lovely and supportive way. Distance separted them, but I love how Clementine thought of Eleanor often. When Eleanor's husband died, it was sweet how Clementine worried for her friend immediately. I'd love to see letters, if the pair ever exchanged any. This is a wonderful early example of women supporting women!



This novel stands out for its mature and diverting language and detailed depiction of historical settings. I could picture Clementine's home and trip to Bali so clearly! I can't wait to read more work by Benedict.

"'Pirates were outlawed ten years ago,' she answered smartly.
'Yes, but nobody told them.'"



A fantastical fusion of the future and the past. Sci-fi melds together with historical royal themes in this story. I can't believe how perfect the world building is. Everything is precisely plotted and choreographed into a dance across the pages. I couldn't get enough of Delia's world! Speaking of Delia, she's AMAZING! She's a spunky heroine with good old-fashioned gumption. Despite being a princess of a futuristic society, Delia is somehow relatable. Her feelings and self-conscious thoughts are something every teen will relate to. She's tough while still being gentle, smart but doesn't hesitate to ask for help, also a loyal sister and friend. Delia sets a new standard for diverse female heroes.



This book will keep you guessing until the very end! I couldn't stop reading and that's why I devoured this book in two days. The plot slowly builds up to the final couple epic scenes. It's intricate and lovely in its use of details, dialogue and character development. Specifically, I didn't expect to get so many wonderful moments with the suitors and moments shared between Delia and her sister. This made Delia an even more likable heroine because we had these moments where she was very human and relatable.



The only critique I have is that I wish the reader shared more moments with Aidan. He becomes one of the main characters but his chapters aren't nearly as interesting as Delia's. He's so mysterious that it makes his interactions with others confusing. Maybe a few more clues should be shared about his eventual identity reveal? Anyway, he's still a fascinating character because thankfully he's more than just a male love interest. Ultimately this is gonna be one of the best young adult novels of 2020, I can just see it now. It has so much going for it in terms of memorable characters and unique settings.

I couldn't keep track of the story because of the numerous points of view. There were too many characters to remember and the story moved too quickly through time and space. Pacing was poor and more complicated than it needed to be.

"The ache that stirs from the idea of leaving surprises me. I wish there were enough time for me to sink into a barrel of mead and fill my body with a hundred more lavish petit cakes. To chat with Ikaeans about silly things like fashion and trends." ~ "All the Stars and Teeth"



This replesedent ya adventure is fast-paced and tons of fun. The backstories and character development are carefully crafted, so detailed and it makes the characters feel more real. My favorite chapter is where we learn Cato and Sira's backstories. The storytelling is so vibrant and it makes Amora's story stand out even more than it already does.



I love the dynamic between the crew members of the Keel Haul. Amora, Bastian, Kerrick and Vataea have amazing friendship chemistry. They balance out each other's strengths and weaknesses and their bond is so strong. It's impressive that Adalyn Grace didn't fall into the overdone trap of love triangles. I really expected Amora, Bastian and Ferrick to be fighting all the time, but luckily that didn't happen! I was going to rate this book for 3 stars, but the lack of an annoying love triangle is enough to make me appreciate this story.



The lack of a love triangle doesn't harm the plot whatsoever. There's definitely some steamy romance, but all the characters manage to stay true to their friendships and loyal ties. Romance is never put before family or friendship, a fresh twist for a ya fantasy story. The concepts of pirate curses, multiple magics, queens in charge and mermaid scars are original and daring enough to make this story stand out. I hope this book is the first in a long line detailing Amora's fantastical adventures!

"Pushed, she said a woman’s constitutional right exists until a child is born, since the Constitution gives rights only once one is born."



A vital and necessary read for any adult of the modern day. There is no more comprehensive history of women's healthcare and reproductive rights than in this book. It's full of important court cases, testimonies and personal opinions on equal rights. This book is informational and is necessary for any women's studies courses. The material is a little dry, which is to be expected of any nonfiction book. The prolonged court cases were difficult to read, but try to stick in there. This history can't afford to be forgotten!



This book reflects on both the past, present and possible future of women's reproductive rights. I have very little critiques, only that I wish there hadn't been a sudden leap from the 1970s to current day. I would've loved more detail on the 1980s, another crucial period. All in all a fantastic and worthwhile read!