Rating: 5/5

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 14+ (some violence & gore)

Pages: 277

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I received this book for free through KidLitExchange and the publishing company. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Peasant. Pauper. Savior. Nova left the Kingdom of Sterling before she could crawl-- now that she's returned with her father to rescue her orphaned cousin, it's nothing short of a nightmare. Magic is used to control the people, and the monarchy is a dictatorship. Within the kingdom, Nova is hunted for a power she doesn't even know she has... yet.

Princess. Royal. Prisoner. Jade is the heir to the throne, but her mother, the Queen, isn't willing to give up her title-- ever. Queen Katrina doesn't see her daughter as her legacy, but as a threat that has to be stopped. Jade has never left the palace, and is trapped inside its boundaries... but she wonders if the walls are meant to keep her safe, or keep her imprisoned.

One boy will intertwine their lives-- or tear them apart. Chael is the secretive and handsome royal guard that might have the answers to save both girls, but he's hiding something dark. An ally with questionable motives, both Nova and Jade have no choice but to trust Chael... and to fall for him.

But the lengths the Queen will employ to secure her crown are unforgivable. In the Kingdom of Sterling, the only thing more powerful than betrayal is magic.


While I’m not a huge fan of these types of fantasy books (after having been burned a lot from them) I thought this one was pretty good. The world building was fantastically well done, the plot was intriguing and kept me interested, it was an original story instead of one that has been recycled quite a bit, and for the most part the characters were really well done.

However, I did feel that the relationships were all off. Like there was something missing. It also felt like there would be a love triangle in the next book which is something I honestly hate in books now.

Verdict: An unique and wonderful tale that any fantasy lover should read!

Rating: 3/5

Genre: YA Dystopian

Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, some gore, end of the world jazz)

Pages: 318

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: None, I got this book in an OwlCrate sub box that I bought with my own money.

Synopsis: Worlds collide in debut author Jennifer Wilson's graphic dystopian series where Divergent meets Mad Max. Since witnessing her parents' murders at the age of eleven, Phoenix's only purpose in life has been to uphold her mother's dying words - to be strong and survive. But surviving outside of The Walls - outside of The Sanctuary - is more like a drawn-out death sentence. A cruel and ruthless city, Tartarus is run by the Tribes whose motto is simple, "Join or die."

Refusing to join and determined to live, Phoenix fights to survive in this savage world.

But who can she trust, when no one can be trusted? Not even herself...

The first of a trilogy, New World Rising is an epic tale of survival, instinct, trauma, and the extraordinary power of human connection.

Another dystopian, another day. This one I wanted to try out because I heard such good things about it, but personally I had some issues with it. The book was decent overall. I felt that the character development was really good and the storyline was interesting. Unfortunately these were the only things I liked.

I felt that while the pacing was okay, the beginning of the story dragged on really slow. Nothing really was interesting until over 50 pages into the book. I felt while the world building was really well done, I was left with more questions than answers about why we were in this world and what was happening. I also noticed some plot holes throughout the book. Also insta-love and cliffhangers.

Verdict: Overall, this book was good on the surface but when I started digging around the book I felt that this book had a lot of things left to explain.

Rating: 3.5/5

Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling

Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, fantasy worlds, and evil witches)

Pages: 335

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Blaze Publishing and I’m a rep for them. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the great battle that left Wonderland in ruins, Crescenzo DiLegno and his two best friends have reunited with their families in Florindale, but the war wages on in every kingdom. The Order of the Bell is scattered, presumably left to the mercy of Queen Avoria, whose grip on the New World grows tighter every day. Cities have already fallen, the shadows have spread, and a fortress of nightmares has appeared in the heart of New York City.

Determined to take back his home and restore order to the worlds, Crescenzo must rally all the people he's met from his adventures, from the troubled prince to the rebellious Lost Boys, and storm Avoria's castle of illusion. The Carver's war against the wicked Ivory Queen brews to an explosive finale, but dark secrets about her true nature have yet to emerge, and not everybody will be prepared to survive them.

Another conclusion to a much loved series and I had the feels yet again. The characters were richly developed and their struggles and emotions made me feel too. The pacing was well done and it didn’t feel like the story was too fast or too slow. In short it was an amazing ending for this amazing series.

However, I felt really confused throughout the book. There’s a ton of plot points in the book and it just feels overwhelming for the reader. I had to reread some parts in order to remember or make sense of what was happening in the book. I also feel that some of the world building could have been better. I didn’t feel like I knew the worlds I visited well enough and I’d like to know more about them and what they looked like.

Verdict: If you like Once Upon A Time then you’ll love this series!

Rating: 3/5

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: can’t rate, DNFed

Pages:706

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: None, I got this book from my husband!

Synopsis: Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger.

Will the king’s dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .


I tried guys, I tried! I just can’t with this series anymore. Maybe I’ll return to it like I did Eragon, but I can’t at the moment. It took almost 200 pages for the book to even get remotely interesting for me (except for Roran’s parts which I loved) and I just couldn’t read anymore of Eragon’s neverending journey to the Elf kingdom and then his wandering around. I’m sorry, but my tolerance for Eragon apparently only lasts so long.

Verdict: Read in small chunks.

Rating: 4.5/5

Genre: YA Romance/Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (some violence and slight sexual content)

Pages: 192

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: After her mother’s death, eighteen-year-old Katie finds herself in a town she never thought she'd see again. Lost in turmoil and sadness, hope surfaces when she comes face to face with Julian for the first time in years.
However, he isn’t the same boy she left behind. Reserved and covered in bruises, everyone in River Valley avoids him. Rumors of his activities run rampant.

Julian is barely keeping it together. He’s the sole provider for his family after his dad leaves. His dreams to go to college are ruined. Even his relationship with his older brother leaves its mark.

Can Katie and Julian find hope and love in each other, or will the struggle to survive their desperate situations prove too much?

All The Things We Lost is a young adult contemporary romance perfect for both teens and adults. It is the first in a series of books, each revolving around a different couple living in the same, small town.

After the slew of fantasy and sci-fi reads I have waded through this month I just HAD to stop and read this cute little teen romance story and I didn’t regret it. It was charming and delightful. The characters were very well developed, their struggles felt real, and I cried. Like ugly cried. The world building was decent for this type of book and the pacing is well done. I also thought for the most part that the plot was good and it did keep me interested in reading the rest of the book.

The only slightly off-putting thing about this book is that it’s sometimes cliché and some of the things that happen in the book are a bit predictable. However, that doesn’t detract from how well written and interesting the book is. It’s also great for a good cry.

Verdict: If you like teen romance books, this is your new favorite series!

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Thriller

Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, slight sexual content)

Pages: 252

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free courtesy of the author for my review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: In the Belly of Jonah is a fast-paced mystery with a likable protagonist and an intricately woven narrative brimming with bizarre yet believable twists. The first in a series, the book expertly lays the groundwork for Liv Bergen, amateur sleuth, and her love interest, FBI Agent Streeter Pierce. Liv becomes involved in the investigation of the murder of Jill Brannigan, a summer intern at the limestone mine Liv manages near Fort Collins, Colorado (a breathtaking setting that unwittingly becomes an accessory to crime). In doing so, she inadvertently puts her friends, her family, and herself at risk of being swallowed in the belly of a madman bloated with perverse appetites for women, surrealistic art, and renown.

As the gripping plot of In the Belly of Jonah unfolds, Liv Bergen takes her place alongside the best female crime-solvers as a woman with smarts, self-confidence, and intuitive savvy.

Another relief from the multitude of YA Fantasies and YA Sci-Fi and it was well received. I adored this thriller and it really made me rediscover the love I have for this genre. I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was intriguing. I also thought the pacing was really well done and I thought the evil villain was pretty unique. All in all this was an excellent thriller.

However, I did guess the villain within the first few pages of the book and I thought there was some cliché insta-love. Those were my only complaints with this book though!

Verdict: If you like mysteries and don’t mind knowing the villain, then this book is for you!

Rating: 4.5/5

Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Dystopian

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore)

Pages: 467

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: None! I got this book in my Blu’s Bookish Bag!

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Ana is a scoundrel by nurture and an outlaw by nature. Found as a child drifting through space with a sentient android called D09, Ana was saved by a fearsome space captain and the grizzled crew she now calls family. But D09—one of the last remaining illegal Metals—has been glitching, and Ana will stop at nothing to find a way to fix him.
Ana’s desperate effort to save D09 leads her on a quest to steal the coordinates to a lost ship that could offer all the answers. But at the last moment, a spoiled Ironblood boy beats Ana to her prize. He has his own reasons for taking the coordinates, and he doesn’t care what he’ll sacrifice to keep them.
When everything goes wrong, she and the Ironblood end up as fugitives on the run. Now their entire kingdom is after them—and the coordinates—and not everyone wants them captured alive.
What they find in a lost corner of the universe will change all their lives—and unearth dangerous secrets. But when a darkness from Ana’s past returns, she must face an impossible choice: does she protect a kingdom that wants her dead or save the Metal boy she loves?


I’ve heard a rumor in St. Petersburg that this book was a journey to the past, a retelling of Anatasia in space. I couldn’t contain my excitement and read this as soon as I received it! Once upon a December, or in the dark of the night since this is set in space, a young girl and a robot were found floating in space and they floated their way into my heart throughout this story. But the crew they found themselves with are into the whole Firefly thing so they learn to do it too. Anyways, as a retelling I was really surprised how accurate it stayed to the cartoon and legend of Anatasia. It even had a whole “Paris holds the key to your heart” element to the story. But at the beginning of the story you can definitely tell this is an unique story that can hold its own. The book did very well with the character development and the plot. The book never felt stale and the pacing keep the book moving at a well timed speed. The book is in multiple POV, but that let the characters have their own exemplary development.

However, the book did have a couple of downfalls. A prologue would have been great in this book and the nightmare of this book was all the spelling errors found on simple words. The book will kidnap and reunion you with its fast paced scene and character changes and the part where the Ana is reminiscing with Grandma isn’t what I expected, but the finale is what makes this book wonderful and it’s worth a read.

Verdict: If you didn’t realize what I did there then make sure to read very slowly, maybe with a song or two playing in the background.

Rating: 5/5

Genre: YA Dystopian

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, suicide trigger warning)

Pages: 435

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: None, I bought my own copy!

Synopsis: Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award–winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.

Meet the book that made me run out and buy a robe and sickle. I am now a Scythe (in my mind) and I will glean without bias and malice. Seriously though this book was written so intelligently. The characters were amazing and well developed. The plot and pacing were awesome. I can’t recommend this book enough if you love dystopians. I can’t think of anything else to describe how amazing this book was and how beautiful it fits into the dystopian world along side of classics like The Hunger Games and Divergent.

However, I do have to say that the book does have some big ex machina moments that made some of the more unbelievable moments in the book solvable out of the blue. However, if you don’t mind these types of things then this book is an enjoyable read.

Verdict: Glean without malice and bias. Also go read this amazing book.

Rating: 5/5

Genre: YA Dystopian/Post Apocalyptic

Recommended Age: 16+ (gore, disaster, death, trigger warning for sexual and physical assault)

Pages: 308

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: None, I bought my own copy!

Synopsis: Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event—an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.
With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

While the first book in this series took place from the viewpoint of Miranda, in this book we’re introduced to Alex who also has to make hard decisions, especially in the wake of great family tragedy. The story takes place in New York, which we were told in the first book was massively devastated when the moon was knocked closer to Earth. The book is not so much a sequel to the first book, but more of a companion as it takes place at the same time as the events in the first book. I thought the characters were wonderfully well developed, even down to some of the minute side characters. The plot development and pacing were so well done. I finished the book in a matter of days and I craved more from the book. You can tell the author is also a master at words as she was able to make the book, in the same format as the first, sound so much different but still entertaining at the same time.

The only thing I felt was weird was that while the book was still in diary format, the book was not. Alex didn’t journal and the book was from third person perspective, but the diary format in the first book was from first person perspective. It made the book a little funny to read, but it was great to follow along the days that way. I got used to the format after awhile as it didn’t have any real impact on the writing overall.

Verdict: If you like dystopian/post-apocalyptic books then this is a must-read for you.

Rating: 4/5

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 15+ (underage alcohol usage, sex, trigger warnings for suicide)

Pages: 416

Author Website

Amazon Link

Disclaimer: I got this book through KidLitExchange. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: It’s Kind of a Funny Story meets Daria in the darkly hilarious tale of a teen’s attempt to remake her public image and restore inner peace through reality TV. The only thing 17-year-old Jane Sinner hates more than failure is pity. After a personal crisis and her subsequent expulsion from high school, she’s going nowhere fast. Jane’s well-meaning parents push her to attend a high school completion program at the nearby Elbow River Community College, and she agrees, on one condition: she gets to move out.

Jane tackles her housing problem by signing up for House of Orange, a student-run reality show that is basically Big Brother, but for Elbow River Students. Living away from home, the chance to win a car (used, but whatever), and a campus full of people who don't know what she did in high school… what more could she want? Okay, maybe a family that understands why she’d rather turn to Freud than Jesus to make sense of her life, but she'll settle for fifteen minutes in the proverbial spotlight.

As House of Orange grows from a low-budget web series to a local TV show with fans and shoddy T-shirts, Jane finally has the chance to let her cynical, competitive nature thrive. She'll use her growing fan base, and whatever Intro to Psychology can teach her, to prove to the world—or at least viewers of substandard TV—that she has what it takes to win.

I am not a fan of YA Contemporary and honestly I didn’t remember ordering this book from KLE. So when it arrived I was not excited to read it. Then I read it. The book isn’t a normal contemporary. It’s darkly funny like Daria and the main character feels genuine. The author included some diverse characters in it, including a bisexual best friend and a love interest who suffers from what appears to be suffering from OCD. The main character herself suffers from clinical depression. The plot and pacing are very well done and I loved the diary format of the book. I seem to be loving these of late.

However, I did feel that the book didn’t focus on some of the side characters enough. They aren’t very well developed in comparison to Jane. The father is mentioned to have certain traits and some of the housemates are too, but beyond that they aren’t very well developed and the ending is a little ambiguous for everyone. While I liked that type of ending, I know a lot of others really won’t.

Verdict: If you like dark humor you’ll love this book.