Disclaimer: I received this book from Algonquin Young Readers. Thanks! All opinions are my own.



Rating: 4/5



Publication Date: January 29, 2019



Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction



Recommended Age: 12+ (themes of racism in a historical context, some violence, and hope)



Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers



Pages: 304



Amazon Link



Synopsis: Convicted of thievery and transported from England to America, Oliver Cromwell Pitts, shackled to his fellow prisoners, endures inedible food, filthy conditions, and deadly storms on his voyage across the Atlantic. But the hazardous shipboard journey is nothing compared to the peril that waits for him on the colonial shores.

In Annapolis, Oliver’s indentured servitude is purchased by the foul, miserly Fitzhugh, who may have murdered another servant. On Fitzhugh’s isolated tobacco farm, Oliver’s only companion is an enslaved boy named Bara. Oliver and Bara become fast friends with one powerful goal: to escape Fitzhugh. Oliver hopes he can find his sister, Charity, brought somewhere in the colonies on a different ship. Bara dreams of reaching a community of free black people in the cypress swamp who may help him gain his liberty. But first the boys must flee Fitzhugh’s plantation and outrun their brutal pursuer and the dangers that lurk in the swamp.



Review: So I haven't read the other book about Oliver Cromwell Pitts, and I think that while the other book could have helped, but the book read excellently as a stand alone. The events were explained and the book doesn't depend on previous knowledge to know what all is going on. The book is well written and the plot moves along as a good pace. The book isn't too fast or slow and it takes care to make sure sensitive topics are explained well in my opinion. 



However, the book ended very abruptly and didn't fit into the rest of the book. I think the book could have better wrote out and an ending better teased out.



Verdict: A well written book for middle graders learning colonial time periods.

Disclaimer: I bought this book! Yay me!



Rating: 5/5



Publication Date: September 20, 2016



Genre: YA Thriller



Recommended Age: 15+ (dead bodies, autopsy, violence, murder, stealing kisses in back alleyways, and "unbecoming activity")



Publisher: Jimmy Patterson



Pages: 337



Amazon Link



Synopsis: Presented by James Patterson's new children's imprint, this deliciously creepy horror novel has a storyline inspired by the Ripper murders and an unexpected, blood-chilling conclusion...

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling, #1 New York Times bestselling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.



Review: Holy shit why have I waited so long to read this book?! It's absolutely marvelous! I loved every second of this mystery thriller! The main character was all I ever wanted to be, the character development was amazing, the book was well written, the pacing wasn't too fast or too slow, and I loved the twists and turns. I was guessing the killer, and while I got it right it wasn't without several doubts.



My only complaint is that the book wrapped up a bit too quickly in the end and the aftermath wasn't really discussed. How everything was handled at the end is a mystery.



Verdict: A thriller worth the read!

Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own. Yay me!



Rating: 5/5



Publication Date: September 19, 2017



Genre: YA Thriller



Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, death, dead bodies, copious amounts of blood, mature scenes)



Publisher: Jimmy Patterson



Pages: 434



Amazon Link



Synopsis: In this New York Times bestselling sequel to Kerri Maniscalco's haunting #1 debut Stalking Jack the Ripper, bizarre murders are discovered in the castle of Prince Vlad the Impaler, otherwise known as Dracula. Could it be a copycat killer...or has the depraved prince been brought back to life?

Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper's true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe's best schools of forensic medicine...and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life's dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school's forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.



Review: The awesomeness continues in this book! I loved how the development of both characters did not stop with the first book. The book explored a new area wonderfully and the world building was marvelous. I loved how much more we got to know about Thomas and how well written this book was. I definitely didn't guess this ending!



I do have a complaint about Audrey and Thomas not being the ones to stop the reign of terror and I didn't like how the events of the ending were kinda forced and sudden, but other than that I really enjoyed this book!



Verdict: Thrill seekers read!

Disclaimer: I received this book from Disney Books and Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: February 5, 2019

Genre: Comic Book/Collectors Book

Recommended Age: 10+ (some intense discussion about personal struggles)

Publisher: Disney Books/Marvel Press

Pages: 144

Amazon Link

Synopsis: This is the Marvel Universe. Where the personalities, powers, and straight-up legends of countless heroic women have captured readers for generations.
This unique book is the perfect start-or addition-to any Marvel fan's collection! Using her in-depth knowledge and passion for Super Heroes, Lorraine Cink explores the lives of the exceptional and diverse women of the Marvel Universe. Filled with inspirational lessons and clever observations, each section digs into what these relatable women can teach us all about growth, bravery, and the true meaning of strength. Paired with over one hundred original, vibrant, and emotive illustrations from the talented Alice X. Zhang, this book balances the responsibility and the fun the comes with being a hero.

Review: I have always been a DC kind of girl, but I can’t help but notice how much the women of Marvel kick ass. They’re not only amazing in their powers, but they’re very diverse too. I loved that this book highlighted not only the most known women of Marvel, but the new or unknown women as well! This book didn’t disappoint with the nostalgia and it introduced me to new women to read about! While the book doesn’t cover all of the women of Marvel, it covers 65 noteworthy ones. Some notable ones included were America Chavez, Valkyrie, Ironheart, Moon Girl, Squirrel Girl, Ms. Marvel, and Ghost Spider. All of these women are different from each other, but similar in one way: they’re all kick-ass females! Definitely a must read for anyone. More people should know about these heroes!

The only issue I had was that I wish that the book was longer! I wanted to know more about these heroes and now I want all of the comics!! Definitely go to a comic store after reading this book!

Verdict: A coffee book I’d actually read!

Disclaimer: I bought this book on my own (as a way to meet the author!). All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5

Publication Date: September 18, 2018

Genre: YA Suspense/Thriller

Recommended Age: 15+ (gore, death, murder, assault, ship sailing, and blackmail)

Publisher: Jimmy Patterson

Pages: 434

Amazon Link

Synopsis: In this third installment in the #1 bestselling Stalking Jack the Ripper series, a luxurious ocean liner becomes a floating prison of scandal, madness, and horror when passengers are murdered one by one…with nowhere to run from the killer. .

Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?

Review: I really liked the return to Audrey Rose and Thomas. I thought that the pacing was great and the plot was interesting. I feel that the writing was really well done as well and the setting and world building was well done!

However, I feel like Audrey Rose had took a step back as a character and the development we had in book 2 was gone. Audrey’s character was kind of a 180 from what we saw in book 1 and 2 and I absolutely hated her line of thinking and how she treated Thomas. I feel enraged that her *spoiler* was just swept aside and not a big deal for Thomas and how they just made up in the end. We didn’t get a lot of Thomas in this book and I feel that the books strong points come from them being together. They have a unique dynamic and without it the book doesn’t feel right.

Verdict: A decent book, but it’s just a pit stop on the way to book 4!

Disclaimer: I received this book from Parliament House and Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: January 29, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (vivid death scenes, violence, gore, nightmares)

Publisher: Parliament House

Pages: 288

Amazon Link

Synopsis: The Sandman is seventeen-year-old Nora’s closest friend and best-kept secret. He has to be, if she doesn’t want a one-way ticket back to the psychiatrist. It took her too long to learn not to mention the hooded figure in her dreams to her mother, who still watches Nora as if she’ll crack. So when Nora’s friends start mysteriously dying gruesome deaths in their sleep, she isn’t altogether surprised when the police direct their suspicion at her. The Sandman is the only one she can turn to for answers. But the truth might be more than she bargained for…

For the last five years, the Sandman has spent every night protecting Nora. When he hid the secret to the Nightmare Lord’s escape inside her dreams, he never expected to fall in love with her. Neither did he think his nemesis would find her so quickly, but there’s no mistaking his cruel handiwork. The Nightmare Lord is tired of playing by the rules and will do anything to release his deadly nightmares into the world, even if that means tormenting Nora until she breaks.

When the Nightmare Lord kidnaps Nora’s sister, Nora must enter enemy territory to save her. The Sandman is determined to help, but if Nora isn’t careful, she could lose even more than her family to the darkness.

Review: I really liked this book! I thought it was very well written and the plot was interesting throughout the book. I was intrigued the whole time and I thought the characters were all well developed. I got a bit of Freddy vibes too, which is always a plus to me!

However, I do feel that the love was kind of out of place and weird. Just something about it made me feel weird. The book was also way too short and I feel like there was a lot of stuff crammed into a small amount of space. The death scenes are also horrific and vivid, so definitely not for the faint of heart!

Verdict: Don’t go to sleep!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5/5

Publication Date: September 9, 2018

Genre: Fantasy

Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, gore)

Publisher: None

Pages: 283

Amazon Link

Synopsis: The first of a series of dystopian thrillers - Set in a 22nd century London, after the fall of the internet; the division of society; the decimation of culture; the destruction of history. After the Great Cyber War and the rise of the White Arrow Party. London has changed.

Arthur cleans the streets of Whitechapel by day and reads illegal journals by night. After discovering the remains of a woman's mutilated body he notices the similarities between this new killer and the infamous Jack The Ripper. But how will a pacifist deal with a violent psychopath?

Tina, an eighteen-year-old assassin of the famous Ruh Guild, moves to Whitechapel with the hopes of enjoying a quiet time away from her disturbing past. But as her path intertwines with Arthur's, her duty as a Peacekeeper is forced into the fray.

Together can they stop history from repeating itself?

Review: I really liked this book. I thought it was a good mix of fantasy and dystopian. I liked the world building and the character development. I thought that the book was really well written! The author has a great talent with writing, he even breathes life into the minor characters!

However, I do feel that the pacing was a bit wonky in some parts. It felt like it was fast and slow a lot.

Verdict: I need the paperback!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5

Publication Date: October 2, 2018

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 12+ (love and fantasy)

Publisher: Clean Reads

Pages: 261

Amazon Link

Synopsis: A beast that can’t change. A girl fighting to stay human.

CAMILLE DREES is determined to find her biological mother’s killer and put her genetic past behind her. Not easy to do under the radar when you’re the new girl in school and the only albino. After falling victim to a prank, she is forced to be friends with the same girls who tricked her, while at the same time finds herself placed under the wing of a mysterious and elite organization.

Frenemies are one thing, but bizarre visions and the attention of a hot stranger another. When she realizes her new friends and murdered mother were all involved with the same organization now grooming them for some future destiny, she can’t lose the opportunity to gain information.

With the help of another classmate who shares her quest for the truth, they discover a world where angels and mermaids aren’t myths and evil exists. Now another life beckons to her, so it’s a race to find the killer before she’s the next victim or worse—becomes a monster herself.

An Urban Fantasy with Christian themes inspired by Beauty and the Beast. This is a stand-alone in the Kings of Renown Series.

Review: This book was really good in the fantasy field. The settings were rich and the detail was on point. The pacing is slowish but picks up speed as you go through the book. It was enjoyable for the most part.

However, I do feel that the book was kinda everywhere and I have concerns about the relationships in the book. It could be a bad influence to younger readers.

Verdict: Enjoyable Beauty and the Beast Retelling.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3/5

Publication Date: October 1, 2018

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (death, alcohol, gambling, racial slurs, sexism, misogyny, trigger warnings for domestic violence.)

Publisher: KDP

Pages: 259

Amazon Link

Synopsis: A GRANDFATHER CLOCK. A GLASS LOCKET. A POWERFUL CURSE UNLEASHED ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

Twelve-year-old Kitty Wigeon can't wait for Christmas at St Flurries, a grand old manor house in the countryside, until one chilly night she vanishes without a trace.

One hundred years later… Still grieving over the death of their mother, Kes Bunting and his younger sister Star, are sent to live at St Flurries. They find a house steeped in mystery and brimming with secrets.

Who, or what, is making footprints in the snow?

And what evil force is taking a cold grip on Star?

Wrap up warm as you join Kes, and a cast of eccentric snow creatures, in a race against time to solve a hundred-year-old curse. Will he succeed? Or will the fate of his sister be decided by a shivery kiss from… the Snow Witch?

Review: I thought this book was good. The characters were enjoyable and developed. The world was interesting and intriguing. It would be a good winter read.

However, the writing was a bit weird. The dialogue was off and didn’t flow naturally. The ending was rushed and the pacing was off throughout the book. I also didn’t like that the book used the word gypsy as a slur and that there were so many stereotypes throughout the book. The book seemed to perpetuate myths that the Romani people want to dispel and I feel that the characters that were made out to be these stereotypes could have easily been written otherwise. These can be offensive to people and I wouldn’t want my child to think that all Romani people were evil and/or exotic.

Verdict: I wish it had less slurs, especially for a middle grade book.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.5/5

Publication Date: February 13, 2018

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 14+ (language, slight violence, horrible illness)

Publisher: Sara Camilli Literary Agency

Pages: 252

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Silver Abelli’s life has been as tumultuous as the punk rock she was raised on. Her divorced parents just don’t get along, even though they’re both musicians who stubbornly spurn the mainstream but secretly crave the limelight. Silver has always lived with her mom, Nicola, but when Nicola is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she must go to live with her obnoxious, hard-partying father, Renz. Because her family is so traumatized by Nicola’s condition, Silver doesn’t know where to turn when she suffers her own trauma. Will the truth set her free, or will it only make a bad situation worse? Find out in this story of family, friends, and young love.

Review: I felt that this was a great book. I loved how it openly discussed the issues of divorce and how to live with a dysfunctional family. I loved the plot and how it didn’t hold back to show how a serious illness effects more than just the ill person. While the person being ill is horrible enough, there’s always a ripple effect with those who are close to the ill person. The book was amazingly sweet and touching. The characters were very realistic and the writing was well done.

However, I do feel that the characters could have used more backstory and I felt the pacing was a bit wonky in places. For the most part though I really enjoyed the book!

Verdict: An emotional roller coaster!