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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Kate Williams
Book Series: The Babysitters Coven Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 17, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (some sex references, including to Harvey Weinstein, and some depression comments that might be a little triggering.)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it's kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Besides, Esme likes babysitting, and she's good at it.
And lately Esme needs all the cash she can get, because it seems like destruction follows her wherever she goes. Let's just say she owes some people a new tree.
Enter Cassandra Heaven. She's Instagram-model hot, dresses like she found her clothes in a dumpster, and has a rebellious streak as gnarly as the cafeteria food. So why is Cassandra willing to do anything, even take on a potty-training two-year-old, to join Esme's babysitters club?
The answer lies in a mysterious note Cassandra's mother left her: "Find the babysitters. Love, Mom."
Turns out, Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they think, and they're about to discover what being a babysitter really means: a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from seriously terrifying evil. And all before the parents get home.
Review: Oh Lordy I loved this book! This was such a fun treat of a book! It had a fast pace and never a dull moment. The links/callbacks to the original babysitters club books were amazing, the characters were all wonderfully well developed, and the story was so unique! I loved the Buffy twist on babysitting and I can’t wait for the second book! Seriously, one of my favorite series of 2019!
My downside? I need book 2 NOW. Cliffhanger ending, I need more, I need to know what’s going to happen!
Verdict: GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!
Author: Kate Williams
Book Series: The Babysitters Coven Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: September 17, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (some sex references, including to Harvey Weinstein, and some depression comments that might be a little triggering.)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it's kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Besides, Esme likes babysitting, and she's good at it.
And lately Esme needs all the cash she can get, because it seems like destruction follows her wherever she goes. Let's just say she owes some people a new tree.
Enter Cassandra Heaven. She's Instagram-model hot, dresses like she found her clothes in a dumpster, and has a rebellious streak as gnarly as the cafeteria food. So why is Cassandra willing to do anything, even take on a potty-training two-year-old, to join Esme's babysitters club?
The answer lies in a mysterious note Cassandra's mother left her: "Find the babysitters. Love, Mom."
Turns out, Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they think, and they're about to discover what being a babysitter really means: a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from seriously terrifying evil. And all before the parents get home.
Review: Oh Lordy I loved this book! This was such a fun treat of a book! It had a fast pace and never a dull moment. The links/callbacks to the original babysitters club books were amazing, the characters were all wonderfully well developed, and the story was so unique! I loved the Buffy twist on babysitting and I can’t wait for the second book! Seriously, one of my favorite series of 2019!
My downside? I need book 2 NOW. Cliffhanger ending, I need more, I need to know what’s going to happen!
Verdict: GO READ THIS BOOK NOW!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publishing house. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: J.T. Ellison
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: December 31, 2019
Genre: YA Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, some mature content, and murderrrrr)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Goode girls don’t lie…
Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.
In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide.
But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.
Review: I liked the book pretty good. I used to enjoy reading boarding school books and this was right up the alley of them. The book had the annoying gossip that we all secretly crave and the characters were fairly well developed. The story was intriguing enough to keep my interesting and the pacing was spot on.
However, I did feel like there were too many tangents and not enough of a cohesive story. The book also focused a lot on the gossip and I think for a boarding school book you gotta show the balance of school and backstabbing equally.
Verdict: It was a decent thriller!
Author: J.T. Ellison
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: December 31, 2019
Genre: YA Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, some mature content, and murderrrrr)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Goode girls don’t lie…
Perched atop a hill in the tiny town of Marchburg, Virginia, The Goode School is a prestigious prep school known as a Silent Ivy. The boarding school of choice for daughters of the rich and influential, it accepts only the best and the brightest. Its elite status, long-held traditions and honor code are ideal for preparing exceptional young women for brilliant futures at Ivy League universities and beyond. But a stranger has come to Goode, and this ivy has turned poisonous.
In a world where appearances are everything, as long as students pretend to follow the rules, no one questions the cruelties of the secret societies or the dubious behavior of the privileged young women who expect to get away with murder. But when a popular student is found dead, the truth cannot be ignored. Rumors suggest she was struggling with a secret that drove her to suicide.
But look closely…because there are truths and there are lies, and then there is everything that really happened.
Review: I liked the book pretty good. I used to enjoy reading boarding school books and this was right up the alley of them. The book had the annoying gossip that we all secretly crave and the characters were fairly well developed. The story was intriguing enough to keep my interesting and the pacing was spot on.
However, I did feel like there were too many tangents and not enough of a cohesive story. The book also focused a lot on the gossip and I think for a boarding school book you gotta show the balance of school and backstabbing equally.
Verdict: It was a decent thriller!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: J.W. Golan
Book Series: Stormfall Chronicles Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: January 19, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, mature scenes, some gore)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 237
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A peasant girl who dreams of becoming a sorceress, a boy who imagines himself a knight – trailed by a ruthless mercenary armed with an ancient sword.
All Lynette wanted was to leave her boring village life – to attend the Fae Academy and become a Druid priestess like her teacher before her. Her clumsy attempts at magic are a reminder of how much she has yet to learn. But if they would only accept her, if the Fae Kingdom – closed to human visitors for centuries now – would only just open its doors, she is certain she could become a master of the magical arts.
Yet her journey puts her on a collision course with a reawakened evil – offering a king’s ransom for the recovery of a long-lost relic. Treasure hunters of every variety – werewolves, mercenaries, common thieves and undead alike – are soon locked in pursuit of its promised riches. Together with Baxter, a young squire who fled his own kingdom, and Eirlon, a gnome who trades in rare antiquities, Lynette is drawn unwillingly into the hunt for the elusive relic.
Hounded by goblins, ogres – and darker things – Baxter carries his own burdens: secrets that have made him the enemy of the crown. And then there is Garth, the mysterious mercenary who both frightens and intrigues Lynette: the weapons-master armed with an ancient blade – snatched from the hand of a long-vanished fae prince.
Willingly or not, Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon must together solve the riddles behind the relic – and stay one step ahead of the ruthless killers that pursue them.
Review: The book was pretty good! I loved the setting and the epic fantasy feel of this book. I liked the pacing of this book and the overarching story seems really interesting.
However, this is the first book and the book has a lot of introductions to make, which makes the reading a bit difficult in some spots. The POV changes a lot and without a lot of notice, so it’s a bit hard to follow in some spots too. The name dropping was kinda chaotic too. I think I need a map now, but other than that it was really good.
Verdict: I decent start to an epic fantasy!
Author: J.W. Golan
Book Series: Stormfall Chronicles Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: January 19, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, mature scenes, some gore)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 237
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A peasant girl who dreams of becoming a sorceress, a boy who imagines himself a knight – trailed by a ruthless mercenary armed with an ancient sword.
All Lynette wanted was to leave her boring village life – to attend the Fae Academy and become a Druid priestess like her teacher before her. Her clumsy attempts at magic are a reminder of how much she has yet to learn. But if they would only accept her, if the Fae Kingdom – closed to human visitors for centuries now – would only just open its doors, she is certain she could become a master of the magical arts.
Yet her journey puts her on a collision course with a reawakened evil – offering a king’s ransom for the recovery of a long-lost relic. Treasure hunters of every variety – werewolves, mercenaries, common thieves and undead alike – are soon locked in pursuit of its promised riches. Together with Baxter, a young squire who fled his own kingdom, and Eirlon, a gnome who trades in rare antiquities, Lynette is drawn unwillingly into the hunt for the elusive relic.
Hounded by goblins, ogres – and darker things – Baxter carries his own burdens: secrets that have made him the enemy of the crown. And then there is Garth, the mysterious mercenary who both frightens and intrigues Lynette: the weapons-master armed with an ancient blade – snatched from the hand of a long-vanished fae prince.
Willingly or not, Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon must together solve the riddles behind the relic – and stay one step ahead of the ruthless killers that pursue them.
Review: The book was pretty good! I loved the setting and the epic fantasy feel of this book. I liked the pacing of this book and the overarching story seems really interesting.
However, this is the first book and the book has a lot of introductions to make, which makes the reading a bit difficult in some spots. The POV changes a lot and without a lot of notice, so it’s a bit hard to follow in some spots too. The name dropping was kinda chaotic too. I think I need a map now, but other than that it was really good.
Verdict: I decent start to an epic fantasy!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Katya de Becerra
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, some gore, some mature scenes, nothing you see is real)
Publisher: MacMillan
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The oasis saved them. But who will save them from the oasis?
Alif had exciting summer plans: working on her father’s archaeological dig site in the desert with four close friends . . . and a very cute research assistant. Then the sandstorm hit.
With their camp wiped away, Alif and the others find themselves lost on the sands, seemingly doomed . . . until they find the oasis. It has everything they need: food, water, shade—and mysterious ruins that hide a deadly secret. As reality begins to shift around them, they question what’s real and what’s a mirage.
The answers turn Alif and her friends against one another, and they begin to wonder if they’ve truly been saved. And while it was easy to walk into the oasis, it may be impossible to leave . . .
Review: For the most part this was an interesting book. The setting was really cool and the plot was intriguing. The book was well written as well.
However, the characters just felt really flat for me. There wasn’t much about them that I liked and I just couldn’t root for any of them. They also didn’t really engage me as a reader.
Verdict: A pretty good fantasy from an archeology site!
Author: Katya de Becerra
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, some gore, some mature scenes, nothing you see is real)
Publisher: MacMillan
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The oasis saved them. But who will save them from the oasis?
Alif had exciting summer plans: working on her father’s archaeological dig site in the desert with four close friends . . . and a very cute research assistant. Then the sandstorm hit.
With their camp wiped away, Alif and the others find themselves lost on the sands, seemingly doomed . . . until they find the oasis. It has everything they need: food, water, shade—and mysterious ruins that hide a deadly secret. As reality begins to shift around them, they question what’s real and what’s a mirage.
The answers turn Alif and her friends against one another, and they begin to wonder if they’ve truly been saved. And while it was easy to walk into the oasis, it may be impossible to leave . . .
Review: For the most part this was an interesting book. The setting was really cool and the plot was intriguing. The book was well written as well.
However, the characters just felt really flat for me. There wasn’t much about them that I liked and I just couldn’t root for any of them. They also didn’t really engage me as a reader.
Verdict: A pretty good fantasy from an archeology site!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Geoffrey Simpson
Book Series: The Three Hares Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: June 1, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some scary moments and some violence)
Publisher: thewordverve inc
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Adventure of a Lifetime . . .
Ethan Drake is a living legend.
If only his late father had mentioned it.
Ethan and his friends decode a series of cryptic riddles from an ancient treasure map. Their discovery entangles them in a centuries-old struggle between warring secret societies.
It soon becomes clear that Ethan is not just an adventurous teen who accidentally stumbles upon a shadowy world.
He is a catalyst…
a spark which ignites the resurgence.
The Three Hares is a smart, twisty adventure mystery, one that will keep you reading until the remarkable end.
Review: This book is amazing. I loved the story, especially the riddles and plot. The book is super intriguing and the main character is amazingly well developed. I also loved the writing in general, it was very easy to read and it is perfect for young readers in my opinion.
However, I felt like the other characters in the book weren’t as developed as they could have been and I feel like they could have been better. I also feel like the setting and world building could have been better built up too.
Verdict: It was a fantastic read! Definitely worth it.
Author: Geoffrey Simpson
Book Series: The Three Hares Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: June 1, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (some scary moments and some violence)
Publisher: thewordverve inc
Pages: 318
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The Adventure of a Lifetime . . .
Ethan Drake is a living legend.
If only his late father had mentioned it.
Ethan and his friends decode a series of cryptic riddles from an ancient treasure map. Their discovery entangles them in a centuries-old struggle between warring secret societies.
It soon becomes clear that Ethan is not just an adventurous teen who accidentally stumbles upon a shadowy world.
He is a catalyst…
a spark which ignites the resurgence.
The Three Hares is a smart, twisty adventure mystery, one that will keep you reading until the remarkable end.
Review: This book is amazing. I loved the story, especially the riddles and plot. The book is super intriguing and the main character is amazingly well developed. I also loved the writing in general, it was very easy to read and it is perfect for young readers in my opinion.
However, I felt like the other characters in the book weren’t as developed as they could have been and I feel like they could have been better. I also feel like the setting and world building could have been better built up too.
Verdict: It was a fantastic read! Definitely worth it.
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc copy of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Author: Rebecca McLaughlin
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, gore, and tattoos)
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.
It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, dozens of us have been going missing for months and no one seems to care.
But there's no denying the tattoo emblazoned on my arm. I am queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?
Review: This book draws you in and refuses to let you go! I loved the setting and how the world was built throughout the novel. The book did excellent to convey the underlying message about poverty and how we create these social classes out of a need to be above someone else. The book also did well with character development and creation. There was also absolutely no romance in this book and, honestly, that's a huge breath of fresh air in the YA genre.
My only issues are that the book had a bit of a clunky ending. It's a bit rushed and I think it could be fleshed out a bit more but dang it was a great book! What a fantastic first January 2020 read for me! Rebecca McLaughlin, we need another one!
Verdict: Definitely worth your while to get this one!
Author: Rebecca McLaughlin
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, gore, and tattoos)
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Everyone expected the king's daughter would inherit the throne. No one expected me.
It shouldn't even be possible. I'm Nameless, a class of citizens so disrespected, we don't even get names. Heck, dozens of us have been going missing for months and no one seems to care.
But there's no denying the tattoo emblazoned on my arm. I am queen. In a palace where the corridors are more dangerous the streets, though, how could I possibly rule? And what will become of the Nameless if I don't?
Review: This book draws you in and refuses to let you go! I loved the setting and how the world was built throughout the novel. The book did excellent to convey the underlying message about poverty and how we create these social classes out of a need to be above someone else. The book also did well with character development and creation. There was also absolutely no romance in this book and, honestly, that's a huge breath of fresh air in the YA genre.
My only issues are that the book had a bit of a clunky ending. It's a bit rushed and I think it could be fleshed out a bit more but dang it was a great book! What a fantastic first January 2020 read for me! Rebecca McLaughlin, we need another one!
Verdict: Definitely worth your while to get this one!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Scavenge the Stars
Author: Tara Sim
Book Series: Scavenge the Stars Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: POC and LGBT characters!
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, suicide TW, child slavery TW, human trafficking TW, gambling, and abuse TW)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide.
Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…
Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.
Review: So I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo and as of right now I don’t have the desire but DANG I was in a mood to read it while I was reading this book. This book was highly imaginative and it set the sails high (get it? Get it?... okay fine). I loved the pirate setting and I loved how fierce the main character was. She wasn’t like other girls (no seriously, not a meme this time), she was already self assured in her own body and identity, she didn’t need to discover who she truly was on the inside… just what the heck happened to her a long long time ago. I also liked how the book didn’t shy away from hard topics. The characters were all really well developed and the world building was absolutely amazing. And all jokes aside, while the book isn’t strictly a pirate book, it does have a lot of high seas elements in it that it did satisfy my need for more pirates. I even listened to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack while reading this book!
The only downside I had of the book is that some of the sections are a bit slower, as the POV switches between two characters, and all of the names and such can be a bit confusing at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this swashbuckling read! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!
Book: Scavenge the Stars
Author: Tara Sim
Book Series: Scavenge the Stars Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: POC and LGBT characters!
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (Language, suicide TW, child slavery TW, human trafficking TW, gambling, and abuse TW)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 336
Amazon Link
Synopsis: When Amaya rescues a mysterious stranger from drowning, she fears her rash actions have earned her a longer sentence on the debtor ship where she’s been held captive for years. Instead, the man she saved offers her unimaginable riches and a new identity, setting Amaya on a perilous course through the coastal city-state of Moray, where old-world opulence and desperate gamblers collide.
Amaya wants one thing: revenge against the man who ruined her family and stole the life she once had. But the more entangled she becomes in this game of deception—and as her path intertwines with the son of the man she’s plotting to bring down—the more she uncovers about the truth of her past. And the more she realizes she must trust no one…
Packed with high-stakes adventure, romance, and dueling identities, this gender-swapped retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo is the first novel in an epic YA fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo.
Review: So I’ve never read The Count of Monte Cristo and as of right now I don’t have the desire but DANG I was in a mood to read it while I was reading this book. This book was highly imaginative and it set the sails high (get it? Get it?... okay fine). I loved the pirate setting and I loved how fierce the main character was. She wasn’t like other girls (no seriously, not a meme this time), she was already self assured in her own body and identity, she didn’t need to discover who she truly was on the inside… just what the heck happened to her a long long time ago. I also liked how the book didn’t shy away from hard topics. The characters were all really well developed and the world building was absolutely amazing. And all jokes aside, while the book isn’t strictly a pirate book, it does have a lot of high seas elements in it that it did satisfy my need for more pirates. I even listened to the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack while reading this book!
The only downside I had of the book is that some of the sections are a bit slower, as the POV switches between two characters, and all of the names and such can be a bit confusing at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this swashbuckling read! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Deep
Author: Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: LGBT friendly! Main ff romance, mm side romance, intersex, gender fluidity, they/them pronouns! Everyone in this book is Black!
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 17+ (slavery, death, violence, suicide attempt TW, suicide mentions TW, remembering)
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 176
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Yetu holds the memories for her people—water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one—the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.
Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities—and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.
Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past—and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are.
Review: This book is super unique! I loved how the book was told and I love the premise of this book. It’s a great read and I loved how LGBT friendly this book was! The writing is amazing and it really draws emotions out of you.
However, I did feel like the world building could have been better and that the pacing was very slow. Not necessarily bad things, just things not for me.
Verdict: Definitely recommend this read!
Book: The Deep
Author: Rivers Solomon, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, Jonathan Snipes
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: LGBT friendly! Main ff romance, mm side romance, intersex, gender fluidity, they/them pronouns! Everyone in this book is Black!
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 17+ (slavery, death, violence, suicide attempt TW, suicide mentions TW, remembering)
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 176
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Yetu holds the memories for her people—water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one—the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.
Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities—and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.
Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past—and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are.
Review: This book is super unique! I loved how the book was told and I love the premise of this book. It’s a great read and I loved how LGBT friendly this book was! The writing is amazing and it really draws emotions out of you.
However, I did feel like the world building could have been better and that the pacing was very slow. Not necessarily bad things, just things not for me.
Verdict: Definitely recommend this read!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Pride and Prejudicial
Author: Danica Dawn
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 25, 2019
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, legal jargon, some mature scenes)
Publisher: Indie Published!
Pages: 256
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a law degree, significant student debt, and a crippling fear of blind dates must be in want of a husband.
False.
For Liza Bennett, finding a husband is the last thing on her mind. Unfortunately for her, it is the very first thing on her mother’s.
This time, the failed matchmaking attempt just so happens to be with the richest, most arrogant, most handsome lawyer in the country, Will Darcy. Even worse, Liza has vowed to hate Will for all of eternity.
When Liza’s plans for her father’s law firm crumble, and her family’s legacy is threatened, it is Will Darcy who steps in to save the failing firm. More than numbers are analyzed as deals are struck and feelings are thrown into the mix.
Saving the family business is complicated when her heart is part of the bottom line.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought it was super cute and a great romance book. The book kept in line with the original Pride and Prejudice tale and the author did amazing to modernize it. I work in the criminal justice field and I thought the story was interesting from a legal perspective. The book had great writing and great world building. The characters were very developed and the story was intriguing from start to finish!
My only issue is that I thought the book was very slow in certain places (like the original novel) but that didn’t last for long. I also thought the book was a bit too quick in some areas and they could have been slowed down to better absorb the reader into the world.
Verdict: A very sweet and cute book! Definitely recommend!
Book: Pride and Prejudicial
Author: Danica Dawn
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: October 25, 2019
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, legal jargon, some mature scenes)
Publisher: Indie Published!
Pages: 256
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a law degree, significant student debt, and a crippling fear of blind dates must be in want of a husband.
False.
For Liza Bennett, finding a husband is the last thing on her mind. Unfortunately for her, it is the very first thing on her mother’s.
This time, the failed matchmaking attempt just so happens to be with the richest, most arrogant, most handsome lawyer in the country, Will Darcy. Even worse, Liza has vowed to hate Will for all of eternity.
When Liza’s plans for her father’s law firm crumble, and her family’s legacy is threatened, it is Will Darcy who steps in to save the failing firm. More than numbers are analyzed as deals are struck and feelings are thrown into the mix.
Saving the family business is complicated when her heart is part of the bottom line.
Review: I really liked this book! I thought it was super cute and a great romance book. The book kept in line with the original Pride and Prejudice tale and the author did amazing to modernize it. I work in the criminal justice field and I thought the story was interesting from a legal perspective. The book had great writing and great world building. The characters were very developed and the story was intriguing from start to finish!
My only issue is that I thought the book was very slow in certain places (like the original novel) but that didn’t last for long. I also thought the book was a bit too quick in some areas and they could have been slowed down to better absorb the reader into the world.
Verdict: A very sweet and cute book! Definitely recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Real Pigeons Fight Crime
Author: Andrew McDonald
Illustrator: Ben Wood
Book Series: Real Pigeons Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Children’s Comic/Mystery
Recommended Age: 10+ (mysteries and crime stopping pigeons)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 208
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ever wonder why pigeons always act so weird? It’s because they’re out there chasing the bad guys and saving your butts!
Did you know your city is protected by a secret squad of crime-fighting pigeons? It's true! With master of disguise Rock Pigeon, bendy Tumbler, strong Frillback and super-finder Homey, the REAL PIGEONS will solve any mystery and fight any bad guy to keep the city safe!
Perfect for fans of Aaron Blabey's Bad Guys and Dav Pilkey's Dog Man books, the Real Pigeons series is a hilariously silly and highly visual introduction to the joys of reading and crime-fighting for readers 6+.
In Real Pigeons Fight Crime, Rock and his mystery-solving friends will tackle their first caseload: Why have all the breadcrumbs disappeared? Who on earth is kidnapping bats? And can the pigeons avert a dinner disaster??
Review: Oh my goodness this book is such a fun read! It’s great for younger kids and it’s so clever with the little mysteries! Definitely a great starter read if your little one is inquisitive and intuitive. The book is very graphic heavy, which is great for beginning chapter readers and reluctant ones too. This book is also hilarious and it has a great conclusion to it as well.
Verdict: Definitely a must read for younger mystery lovers!
Book: Real Pigeons Fight Crime
Author: Andrew McDonald
Illustrator: Ben Wood
Book Series: Real Pigeons Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Genre: Children’s Comic/Mystery
Recommended Age: 10+ (mysteries and crime stopping pigeons)
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 208
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ever wonder why pigeons always act so weird? It’s because they’re out there chasing the bad guys and saving your butts!
Did you know your city is protected by a secret squad of crime-fighting pigeons? It's true! With master of disguise Rock Pigeon, bendy Tumbler, strong Frillback and super-finder Homey, the REAL PIGEONS will solve any mystery and fight any bad guy to keep the city safe!
Perfect for fans of Aaron Blabey's Bad Guys and Dav Pilkey's Dog Man books, the Real Pigeons series is a hilariously silly and highly visual introduction to the joys of reading and crime-fighting for readers 6+.
In Real Pigeons Fight Crime, Rock and his mystery-solving friends will tackle their first caseload: Why have all the breadcrumbs disappeared? Who on earth is kidnapping bats? And can the pigeons avert a dinner disaster??
Review: Oh my goodness this book is such a fun read! It’s great for younger kids and it’s so clever with the little mysteries! Definitely a great starter read if your little one is inquisitive and intuitive. The book is very graphic heavy, which is great for beginning chapter readers and reluctant ones too. This book is also hilarious and it has a great conclusion to it as well.
Verdict: Definitely a must read for younger mystery lovers!