Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: Raging Sea
Author: Michael Buckley
Book Series: Undertow Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, some sexual content,
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the first book of Michael Buckley’s Undertow trilogy, the Alpha arrived and the world was never the same. At the start of the second book, most of south Brooklyn is in ruins and the nation is terrified. Nearly everyone that Lyric Walker loves is either missing or presumed dead, including the mesmerizing prince Fathom. It’s up to Lyric to unite the Alpha before the second wave of a cataclysmic invasion wipes out mankind for good.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good sequel! It kept me on my toes and it kept up the terror from the end of the first book. The introduction of the previous characters were well done and it was well summed up and helped me remember what the first book was about. The writing was also well done and the world building was amazing as well.
However, I do think that the pacing waned here and there and that the book had maybe too many plot twists, as sometimes I got whiplash and had to think about what I was reading. Also, I do have to complain about some parts of this book. At one point of the book it uses colors to talk about race (it was a small part, where the author through the main character talks about people of all races and creeds being in a room and in danger) and I felt uncomfortable when that happened. The other part is the pinching of the nose and tilting up the head to cure a nosebleed. That’s not accurate and the nurse should have known better, but the nurse was an awful person so maybe that’s why she did that wrong lol.
Verdict: It was good! Definitely recommend this series.
Book: Raging Sea
Author: Michael Buckley
Book Series: Undertow Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, some sexual content,
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the first book of Michael Buckley’s Undertow trilogy, the Alpha arrived and the world was never the same. At the start of the second book, most of south Brooklyn is in ruins and the nation is terrified. Nearly everyone that Lyric Walker loves is either missing or presumed dead, including the mesmerizing prince Fathom. It’s up to Lyric to unite the Alpha before the second wave of a cataclysmic invasion wipes out mankind for good.
Review: I thought this was a pretty good sequel! It kept me on my toes and it kept up the terror from the end of the first book. The introduction of the previous characters were well done and it was well summed up and helped me remember what the first book was about. The writing was also well done and the world building was amazing as well.
However, I do think that the pacing waned here and there and that the book had maybe too many plot twists, as sometimes I got whiplash and had to think about what I was reading. Also, I do have to complain about some parts of this book. At one point of the book it uses colors to talk about race (it was a small part, where the author through the main character talks about people of all races and creeds being in a room and in danger) and I felt uncomfortable when that happened. The other part is the pinching of the nose and tilting up the head to cure a nosebleed. That’s not accurate and the nurse should have known better, but the nurse was an awful person so maybe that’s why she did that wrong lol.
Verdict: It was good! Definitely recommend this series.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and Fantastic Flying Book Club. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Elysium Girls
Author: Kate Pentecost
Book Series: Standalone?
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: LGBT f/f moments
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, romance, magic, and dust)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In this sweeping Dust Bowl-inspired fantasy, a ten-year game between Life and Death pits the walled Oklahoma city of Elysium-including a girl gang of witches and a demon who longs for humanity-against the supernatural in order to judge mankind.
When Sal is named Successor to Mother Morevna, a powerful witch and leader of Elysium, she jumps at the chance to prove herself to the town. Ever since she was a kid, Sal has been plagued by false visions of rain, and though people think she's a liar, she knows she's a leader. Even the arrival of enigmatic outsider Asa-a human-obsessed demon in disguise-doesn't shake her confidence in her ability. Until a terrible mistake results in both Sal and Asa's exile into the Desert of Dust and Steel.
Face-to-face with a brutal, unforgiving landscape, Sal and Asa join a gang of girls headed by another Elysium exile-and young witch herself-Olivia Rosales. In order to atone for their mistake, they create a cavalry of magic powered, scrap metal horses to save Elysium from the coming apocalypse. But Sal, Asa, and Olivia must do more than simply tip the scales in Elysium's favor-only by reinventing the rules can they beat the Life and Death at their own game.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. The characters were complex and well developed. The author did great to include diversity in her novel and make the content LGBT friendly. And the book had a good pacing. The story was also intriguing and there was a great voice that the author had when speaking through the main character.
However, I had a lot of issues with the novel. The plot was confusing and there was very little world building. The magic system (yes there’s magic, it didn’t seem like there would be when I picked this book up) wasn’t explained fully and it didn’t really fit in with the world that I understood it to be. The history and background information was muddied and unexplained, which made it really hard to understand where the characters were coming from and how they were coming to the conclusions that they did. The romance also felt forced to me, like it just felt really off. There was also POV switching, which I don’t mind, but the tenses did change and that also made for a confusing read on my end.
Verdict: Overall, I think the book is good and interesting, but I think it definitely needed another round of edits. However, I did have an ARC so it should have went through another round or so before final printing. Hopefully, the issues have been ironed out in it.
Book: Elysium Girls
Author: Kate Pentecost
Book Series: Standalone?
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: LGBT f/f moments
Publication Date: April 14, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, romance, magic, and dust)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In this sweeping Dust Bowl-inspired fantasy, a ten-year game between Life and Death pits the walled Oklahoma city of Elysium-including a girl gang of witches and a demon who longs for humanity-against the supernatural in order to judge mankind.
When Sal is named Successor to Mother Morevna, a powerful witch and leader of Elysium, she jumps at the chance to prove herself to the town. Ever since she was a kid, Sal has been plagued by false visions of rain, and though people think she's a liar, she knows she's a leader. Even the arrival of enigmatic outsider Asa-a human-obsessed demon in disguise-doesn't shake her confidence in her ability. Until a terrible mistake results in both Sal and Asa's exile into the Desert of Dust and Steel.
Face-to-face with a brutal, unforgiving landscape, Sal and Asa join a gang of girls headed by another Elysium exile-and young witch herself-Olivia Rosales. In order to atone for their mistake, they create a cavalry of magic powered, scrap metal horses to save Elysium from the coming apocalypse. But Sal, Asa, and Olivia must do more than simply tip the scales in Elysium's favor-only by reinventing the rules can they beat the Life and Death at their own game.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. The characters were complex and well developed. The author did great to include diversity in her novel and make the content LGBT friendly. And the book had a good pacing. The story was also intriguing and there was a great voice that the author had when speaking through the main character.
However, I had a lot of issues with the novel. The plot was confusing and there was very little world building. The magic system (yes there’s magic, it didn’t seem like there would be when I picked this book up) wasn’t explained fully and it didn’t really fit in with the world that I understood it to be. The history and background information was muddied and unexplained, which made it really hard to understand where the characters were coming from and how they were coming to the conclusions that they did. The romance also felt forced to me, like it just felt really off. There was also POV switching, which I don’t mind, but the tenses did change and that also made for a confusing read on my end.
Verdict: Overall, I think the book is good and interesting, but I think it definitely needed another round of edits. However, I did have an ARC so it should have went through another round or so before final printing. Hopefully, the issues have been ironed out in it.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Light It Up
Author: Kekla Magoon
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: African American main character and characters.
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed, but this does talk about an officer involved shooting of a young child (13).
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Told in a series of vignettes from multiple viewpoints, Kekla Magoon's Light It Up is a powerful, layered story about injustice and strength—as well as an incredible follow-up to the highly acclaimed novel How It Went Down.
A girl walks home from school. She's tall for her age. She's wearing her winter coat. Her headphones are in. She's hurrying.
She never makes it home.
In the aftermath, while law enforcement tries to justify the response, one fact remains: a police officer has shot and killed an unarmed thirteen-year-old girl. The community is thrown into upheaval, leading to unrest, a growing movement to protest the senseless taking of black lives, and the arrival of white supremacist counter demonstrators.
Review: This book was really good for the most part, but it got to a point where it got really confusing for me. There were a lot of narrators and it didn’t feel like there was any character development. Also, I felt like most of the book was about the romance rather than the murder, which I thought would be the focal point of the book. I made it pretty far, 76%, but I had to DNF it unfortunately. I would recommend this book for people who love books that touch on the reality of our unfair world involving race and racism and I commend the author on writing such a hard book!
Verdict: It wasn’t for me, but might be for you!
Book: Light It Up
Author: Kekla Magoon
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Diversity: African American main character and characters.
Publication Date: October 22, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed, but this does talk about an officer involved shooting of a young child (13).
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Told in a series of vignettes from multiple viewpoints, Kekla Magoon's Light It Up is a powerful, layered story about injustice and strength—as well as an incredible follow-up to the highly acclaimed novel How It Went Down.
A girl walks home from school. She's tall for her age. She's wearing her winter coat. Her headphones are in. She's hurrying.
She never makes it home.
In the aftermath, while law enforcement tries to justify the response, one fact remains: a police officer has shot and killed an unarmed thirteen-year-old girl. The community is thrown into upheaval, leading to unrest, a growing movement to protest the senseless taking of black lives, and the arrival of white supremacist counter demonstrators.
Review: This book was really good for the most part, but it got to a point where it got really confusing for me. There were a lot of narrators and it didn’t feel like there was any character development. Also, I felt like most of the book was about the romance rather than the murder, which I thought would be the focal point of the book. I made it pretty far, 76%, but I had to DNF it unfortunately. I would recommend this book for people who love books that touch on the reality of our unfair world involving race and racism and I commend the author on writing such a hard book!
Verdict: It wasn’t for me, but might be for you!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Twisted Fate
Author: Dana Miller
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 30, 2018
Genre: Humor
Recommended Age: 17+ (humor, mental illness TW, sexual content)
Publisher: Northampton House Press
Pages: 252
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Laina Jorden’s Shakespeare-themed Staten Island bookstore is on the brink of failure. She can barely drag herself out of bed before lunch. She rarely picks up after herself, and she’s lost her belief in fate ever since her childhood sweetheart moved away, leaving her broken-hearted. Any man she meets is quickly kicked to the curb; they can’t compare to Jared.But when Laina’s zany roommate forces her to attend his cousin’s wedding, she finds herself walking down the aisle as an emergency bridesmaid in a dress meant for a woman nine months pregnant. Even after drinking too much and setting her dress on fire, Laina manages to catch Mason’s eye. But a few months later, while she’s meeting his family in the Bahamas, Laina realizes that Mason’s stepbrother, JP, is none other than her old flame Jared. Is it too late to untangle the web she’s twisted in? Determined to find true happiness, Laina must uncover secrets and balance friendship against love as she fights to regain her destiny.
Review: Overall, this was a very enjoyable book! I loved the character development and world building. I thought the writing was well done overall and the plot was interesting and intrigued me from start to finish. The pacing was also very effortless and the book flowed so well.
However, I did feel like the ending was a bit cliché and the decisions some of these characters made… it made me question my love for them.
Verdict: A great book!
Book: Twisted Fate
Author: Dana Miller
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: November 30, 2018
Genre: Humor
Recommended Age: 17+ (humor, mental illness TW, sexual content)
Publisher: Northampton House Press
Pages: 252
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Laina Jorden’s Shakespeare-themed Staten Island bookstore is on the brink of failure. She can barely drag herself out of bed before lunch. She rarely picks up after herself, and she’s lost her belief in fate ever since her childhood sweetheart moved away, leaving her broken-hearted. Any man she meets is quickly kicked to the curb; they can’t compare to Jared.But when Laina’s zany roommate forces her to attend his cousin’s wedding, she finds herself walking down the aisle as an emergency bridesmaid in a dress meant for a woman nine months pregnant. Even after drinking too much and setting her dress on fire, Laina manages to catch Mason’s eye. But a few months later, while she’s meeting his family in the Bahamas, Laina realizes that Mason’s stepbrother, JP, is none other than her old flame Jared. Is it too late to untangle the web she’s twisted in? Determined to find true happiness, Laina must uncover secrets and balance friendship against love as she fights to regain her destiny.
Review: Overall, this was a very enjoyable book! I loved the character development and world building. I thought the writing was well done overall and the plot was interesting and intrigued me from start to finish. The pacing was also very effortless and the book flowed so well.
However, I did feel like the ending was a bit cliché and the decisions some of these characters made… it made me question my love for them.
Verdict: A great book!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Whisper Man
Author: Alex North
Book Series: The Whisper Man
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (murder, gore, violence)
Publisher: Celadon Books
Pages: 355
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.
After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.
But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed "The Whisper Man," for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.
Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter's crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.
And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window...
Review: If you like Hannibal Lector then you’ll like this! I got so many Hannibal vibes from this! It was great overall. The characters were well developed, the plot was so interesting and unique from start to finish. The writing was amazing and I loved the underlying message, that our every action has ripples that we might not realize until it spirals into a whirlpool or hurricane.
My only issue is that sometimes the pacing was too slow for my taste, but overall it was a great novel!
Verdict: If you like thrillers this is your man!
Book: The Whisper Man
Author: Alex North
Book Series: The Whisper Man
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: August 20, 2019
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (murder, gore, violence)
Publisher: Celadon Books
Pages: 355
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In this dark, suspenseful thriller, Alex North weaves a multi-generational tale of a father and son caught in the crosshairs of an investigation to catch a serial killer preying on a small town.
After the sudden death of his wife, Tom Kennedy believes a fresh start will help him and his young son Jake heal. A new beginning, a new house, a new town. Featherbank.
But the town has a dark past. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and murdered five residents. Until Frank Carter was finally caught, he was nicknamed "The Whisper Man," for he would lure his victims out by whispering at their windows at night.
Just as Tom and Jake settle into their new home, a young boy vanishes. His disappearance bears an unnerving resemblance to Frank Carter's crimes, reigniting old rumors that he preyed with an accomplice. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis must find the boy before it is too late, even if that means Pete has to revisit his great foe in prison: The Whisper Man.
And then Jake begins acting strangely. He hears a whispering at his window...
Review: If you like Hannibal Lector then you’ll like this! I got so many Hannibal vibes from this! It was great overall. The characters were well developed, the plot was so interesting and unique from start to finish. The writing was amazing and I loved the underlying message, that our every action has ripples that we might not realize until it spirals into a whirlpool or hurricane.
My only issue is that sometimes the pacing was too slow for my taste, but overall it was a great novel!
Verdict: If you like thrillers this is your man!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hook & Crown
Author: Nicole Knapp
Book Series: Part of an unnamed duology
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: June 11, 2019
Genre: YA Retelling
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Parliament House Press
Pages: 212
Amazon Link
Synopsis: You've heard of Neverland and its inhabitants... Fairies, pirates, mermaids and a boy who didn't want to grow up. But you can't always believe the stories.
Elena Hart arrives in London, bound for a new boarding school operated by her estranged uncle. A fresh start is exactly what she needs. But when strange things begin happening, things she can't explain, she begins to wonder if she has lost her mind.
Until the night a strange girl appears in her room, claiming to be a fairy from Neverland, come to take her to the fantasy world at the request of its ruler.
Skeptical, Elena refuses. But the following night, a young man with strange green eyes appears, and though she tries to resist his charms, something about him draws her in and Elena is whisked away from the world she knows, to a world she always thought was make believe.
But when she arrives in Neverland, it is nothing like the stories and Elena realizes that she must figure out for herself who the true heroes and villains are.
Review: I had to DNF this book just at 51%. The book was incredibly slow and way too descriptive. Like, think of Stephen King and when he goes on rants sometimes in his books. That slow and too descriptive. The book didn’t capture me, the main character showered a lot. Like… she’s part fish I think. The characters aren’t well developed, the romance is off and forced, and I just felt like it didn’t vibe with me.
Verdict: It’s a cool concept, but not for me.
Book: Hook & Crown
Author: Nicole Knapp
Book Series: Part of an unnamed duology
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: June 11, 2019
Genre: YA Retelling
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Parliament House Press
Pages: 212
Amazon Link
Synopsis: You've heard of Neverland and its inhabitants... Fairies, pirates, mermaids and a boy who didn't want to grow up. But you can't always believe the stories.
Elena Hart arrives in London, bound for a new boarding school operated by her estranged uncle. A fresh start is exactly what she needs. But when strange things begin happening, things she can't explain, she begins to wonder if she has lost her mind.
Until the night a strange girl appears in her room, claiming to be a fairy from Neverland, come to take her to the fantasy world at the request of its ruler.
Skeptical, Elena refuses. But the following night, a young man with strange green eyes appears, and though she tries to resist his charms, something about him draws her in and Elena is whisked away from the world she knows, to a world she always thought was make believe.
But when she arrives in Neverland, it is nothing like the stories and Elena realizes that she must figure out for herself who the true heroes and villains are.
Review: I had to DNF this book just at 51%. The book was incredibly slow and way too descriptive. Like, think of Stephen King and when he goes on rants sometimes in his books. That slow and too descriptive. The book didn’t capture me, the main character showered a lot. Like… she’s part fish I think. The characters aren’t well developed, the romance is off and forced, and I just felt like it didn’t vibe with me.
Verdict: It’s a cool concept, but not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Parting Shadows
Author: Kate Sheeran Swed
Book Series: Toccata System Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press
Pages: 139
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.
After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.
When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.
Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.
Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.
Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.
Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.
Verdict: I loved this book!
Book: Parting Shadows
Author: Kate Sheeran Swed
Book Series: Toccata System Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Murderous/Heartsick AI
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death (lots of it in detail), some sexual content, murderous AI TW)
Publisher: Spells & Spaceships Press
Pages: 139
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Raised by a heartsick AI, she’s programmed to kill. And desperate to flee.
After growing up on an isolated space station, Astra dreams of solid ground. But with an AI guardian plugged into her head--and her nervous system--it’s not like she’s flush with choices. In fact, she’s got just one: use her training to carry out the rogue AI’s revenge. Her first mission? Assassination.
When her target flashes a jamming device that would guarantee her escape from the AI’s grasp, Astra sets out to steal it. But the AI’s plans are more dangerous than she suspected. Corrupted by heartbreak, the wayward computer is determined to infect the star system with a new order of digital tyranny.
Astra’s been raised to care for no one but herself. Now she’ll have to decide if she’s willing to trade the star system’s freedom for her own.
Parting Shadows is a far-future take on Estella Havisham’s journey in Great Expectations, and the first installment in Kate Sheeran Swed’s Toccata System novella trilogy.
Review: Overall, this is a great book! The characters are super complex and the writing is amazing. This is probably one of the best written sci-fis I’ve ever read and one of the most unique! The AI in this book has more emotion than AIDAN and it honestly terrifies me. The author nails the atmosphere and she does well to make the pacing very fast and easy to follow.
Overall, the plot is a bit confusing. We’re just thrown into the book and it takes awhile for the events to be explained. This works for the book, but it threw my brain for a loop after being handheld in a previous book lol. I also wanted a bit more world building, but that’s just me and my love of stars.
Verdict: I loved this book!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Echoes of War
Author: Cheryl Campbell
Book Series: Echoes Trilogy
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT moments and characters!
Publication Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, language, gore, slight sexual content)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Decades of war started by a genocidal faction of aliens threatens the existence of any human or alien resisting their rule on Earth. Dani survives by scavenging enough supplies to live another day while avoiding the local military and human-hunting Wardens. But then she learns that she is part of the nearly immortal alien race of Echoes—not the human she’s always thought herself to be—and suddenly nothing in her life seems certain.
Following her discovery of her alien roots, Dani risks her well-being to save a boy from becoming a slave—a move that only serves to make her already-tenuous existence on the fringes of society in Maine even more unstable, and which forces her to revisit events and people from past lives she can’t remember. Dani believes the only way to defeat the Wardens and end their dominance is to unite the Commonwealth’s military and civilians, and she becomes resolved to play her part in this battle. Her attempts to change the bleak future facing the humans and Echoes living on Earth suffering under the Wardens will lead her to clash with a tyrant determined to kill her and all humankind—a confrontation that even her near-immortal heritage may not be able to help her survive.
Review: I thought this was an amazing read! The detail and world building in this novel was out of the solar system! There’s a fine line between just the right amount of detail and too much detail, one which Stephen King himself falls over at all the time, but this book managed to succeed it! The characters were also compelling and well developed. The pacing was also well done and I’m so happy that a romance isn’t the focal point in this.
The only issue I really had with the book is that you are thrown straight into the novel and it can really throw you off for a few chapters. Hang in there, it gets better.
Verdict: Worth the read.
Book: Echoes of War
Author: Cheryl Campbell
Book Series: Echoes Trilogy
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT moments and characters!
Publication Date: September 10, 2019
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, language, gore, slight sexual content)
Publisher: SparkPress
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Decades of war started by a genocidal faction of aliens threatens the existence of any human or alien resisting their rule on Earth. Dani survives by scavenging enough supplies to live another day while avoiding the local military and human-hunting Wardens. But then she learns that she is part of the nearly immortal alien race of Echoes—not the human she’s always thought herself to be—and suddenly nothing in her life seems certain.
Following her discovery of her alien roots, Dani risks her well-being to save a boy from becoming a slave—a move that only serves to make her already-tenuous existence on the fringes of society in Maine even more unstable, and which forces her to revisit events and people from past lives she can’t remember. Dani believes the only way to defeat the Wardens and end their dominance is to unite the Commonwealth’s military and civilians, and she becomes resolved to play her part in this battle. Her attempts to change the bleak future facing the humans and Echoes living on Earth suffering under the Wardens will lead her to clash with a tyrant determined to kill her and all humankind—a confrontation that even her near-immortal heritage may not be able to help her survive.
Review: I thought this was an amazing read! The detail and world building in this novel was out of the solar system! There’s a fine line between just the right amount of detail and too much detail, one which Stephen King himself falls over at all the time, but this book managed to succeed it! The characters were also compelling and well developed. The pacing was also well done and I’m so happy that a romance isn’t the focal point in this.
The only issue I really had with the book is that you are thrown straight into the novel and it can really throw you off for a few chapters. Hang in there, it gets better.
Verdict: Worth the read.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ages of Entanglement
Author: R.L. Jackson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: January 13, 2020
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 15+ (searching for a utopia in a dystopian)
Publisher: lulu.com
Pages: 346
Amazon Link
Synopsis: SAMSON HAS LOST ALL HOPE.
Three decades have passed since a mysterious illness brought on by quantum entanglement suddenly decimated the human population. By harnessing quantum entanglement mankind had tapped into a dangerous power able to alter the very matter of our existence.
Samson long ago gave up searching for his family and now wanders the earth with no purpose and avoiding entanglement with other souls. But then he meets Selene—an orphaned, but strong and independent girl. She sees in him what he has forgotten. They journey together toward a utopian island only rumored to exist. Along the way they meet others also seeking to overcome the obstacles of the age, but in their own way.
Will Samson help Selene to make her way in this dangerous world, and will she help him to find his lost humanity? Or is Samson already too far gone, a relic of the previous age?
Review: Okay so overall this book was good. I liked the writing, it was easy to follow and it invoked some great questions that one needs to ask themselves. It was unique and the characters were compelling and complex. The book was also well paced.
However, I couldn’t get into it. I finished the book but never felt invested in the story. Like, it felt forced in a way, it didn’t flow well. The world building could have also been better in my opinion.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Ages of Entanglement
Author: R.L. Jackson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: January 13, 2020
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 15+ (searching for a utopia in a dystopian)
Publisher: lulu.com
Pages: 346
Amazon Link
Synopsis: SAMSON HAS LOST ALL HOPE.
Three decades have passed since a mysterious illness brought on by quantum entanglement suddenly decimated the human population. By harnessing quantum entanglement mankind had tapped into a dangerous power able to alter the very matter of our existence.
Samson long ago gave up searching for his family and now wanders the earth with no purpose and avoiding entanglement with other souls. But then he meets Selene—an orphaned, but strong and independent girl. She sees in him what he has forgotten. They journey together toward a utopian island only rumored to exist. Along the way they meet others also seeking to overcome the obstacles of the age, but in their own way.
Will Samson help Selene to make her way in this dangerous world, and will she help him to find his lost humanity? Or is Samson already too far gone, a relic of the previous age?
Review: Okay so overall this book was good. I liked the writing, it was easy to follow and it invoked some great questions that one needs to ask themselves. It was unique and the characters were compelling and complex. The book was also well paced.
However, I couldn’t get into it. I finished the book but never felt invested in the story. Like, it felt forced in a way, it didn’t flow well. The world building could have also been better in my opinion.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: All-American Muslim Girl
Author: Nadine Jolie Courtney
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Muslim main character and family!!
Publication Date: November 12, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, racism, and self discovery)
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 415
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Allie Abraham has it all going for her—she's a straight-A student, with good friends and a close-knit family, and she's dating cute, popular, and sweet Wells Henderson. One problem: Wells's father is Jack Henderson, America's most famous conservative shock jock...and Allie hasn't told Wells that her family is Muslim. It's not like Allie's religion is a secret, exactly. It's just that her parents don't practice and raised her to keep her Islamic heritage to herself. But as Allie witnesses ever-growing Islamophobia in her small town and across the nation, she begins to embrace her faith—studying it, practicing it, and facing hatred and misunderstanding for it. Who is Allie, if she sheds the façade of the "perfect" all-American girl? What does it mean to be a "Good Muslim?" And can a Muslim girl in America ever truly fit in?
ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRL is a relevant, relatable story of being caught between two worlds, and the struggles and hard-won joys of finding your place.
Review: I really loved this sweet book. It was an amazing book full of self discovery and how to deal with racism and people’s incorrect views on you and your religion/culture/skin color. I thought the characters were well developed, the romance was sweet and well paced, and the world building amazing. I loved how the author opened up with a racist event between Allie’s father on a plane… and while it was cringe worthy the book demanded that you face it as Allie and Muslims have to everyday. Definitely one of the most important books I’ve read in 2020.
The only issue I had, since I have to point out one to keep all of my reviews fair, is that the pacing did feel a bit slow in places and it dragged in a couple of tiny spots, but overall an amazingly well done novel!
Verdict: Worth the read!
Book: All-American Muslim Girl
Author: Nadine Jolie Courtney
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Muslim main character and family!!
Publication Date: November 12, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, racism, and self discovery)
Publisher: Farrer, Straus, and Giroux
Pages: 415
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Allie Abraham has it all going for her—she's a straight-A student, with good friends and a close-knit family, and she's dating cute, popular, and sweet Wells Henderson. One problem: Wells's father is Jack Henderson, America's most famous conservative shock jock...and Allie hasn't told Wells that her family is Muslim. It's not like Allie's religion is a secret, exactly. It's just that her parents don't practice and raised her to keep her Islamic heritage to herself. But as Allie witnesses ever-growing Islamophobia in her small town and across the nation, she begins to embrace her faith—studying it, practicing it, and facing hatred and misunderstanding for it. Who is Allie, if she sheds the façade of the "perfect" all-American girl? What does it mean to be a "Good Muslim?" And can a Muslim girl in America ever truly fit in?
ALL-AMERICAN MUSLIM GIRL is a relevant, relatable story of being caught between two worlds, and the struggles and hard-won joys of finding your place.
Review: I really loved this sweet book. It was an amazing book full of self discovery and how to deal with racism and people’s incorrect views on you and your religion/culture/skin color. I thought the characters were well developed, the romance was sweet and well paced, and the world building amazing. I loved how the author opened up with a racist event between Allie’s father on a plane… and while it was cringe worthy the book demanded that you face it as Allie and Muslims have to everyday. Definitely one of the most important books I’ve read in 2020.
The only issue I had, since I have to point out one to keep all of my reviews fair, is that the pacing did feel a bit slow in places and it dragged in a couple of tiny spots, but overall an amazingly well done novel!
Verdict: Worth the read!