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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from my mother. Thank you mom! All opinions are my own.
Book: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: September 16, 2006
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, death)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 652
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.
And yet . . .
As in all wars, life goes on. The Weasley twins expand their business. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate - and lose a few eyebrows in the process. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, through Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.
So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complete story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort - and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.
Review: Overall, I really liked this book! I loved the continued development of the trio and I loved seeing the relationships form. I loved the world building and the writing was pretty well done. The plot also kept me intrigued throughout the book.
However, I didn’t like this one as much as others. I loved to see the start of the horcruxes, but I think that this book could have been written better. I think that a duel POV with Harry and Draco would have been better and would have saved the word vomit at the end of the book explaining everything that happened. The ending of the book was also chaotic and the beginning was super slow.
Verdict: It was decent.
Book: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Author: J.K. Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: September 16, 2006
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence, gore, death)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 652
Amazon Link
Synopsis: The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggle governments are noticing. Ron scans the obituary pages of the Daily Prophet, looking for familiar names. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses.
And yet . . .
As in all wars, life goes on. The Weasley twins expand their business. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate - and lose a few eyebrows in the process. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, through Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.
So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Here at Hogwarts, Harry will search for the full and complete story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort - and thereby find what may be his only vulnerability.
Review: Overall, I really liked this book! I loved the continued development of the trio and I loved seeing the relationships form. I loved the world building and the writing was pretty well done. The plot also kept me intrigued throughout the book.
However, I didn’t like this one as much as others. I loved to see the start of the horcruxes, but I think that this book could have been written better. I think that a duel POV with Harry and Draco would have been better and would have saved the word vomit at the end of the book explaining everything that happened. The ending of the book was also chaotic and the beginning was super slow.
Verdict: It was decent.
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Star Mother
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Book Series: Star Mother Book 1
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: science fiction, romance, fantasy, time travel
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (sexual content, grief, pregnancy, slight miscarriage mention, slight pregnancy death mention, attempted sexual assault, violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: The book had some sexual content and contains a pregnancy storyline, with some small mentions of miscarriage and death by pregnancy. There is some violence and gore and an attempted sexual assault.
Publisher: 47North
Pages: 268
Synopsis: A woman’s heart proves as infinite as the night sky in a breathtaking fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.
When a star dies, a new one must be born.
The Sun God chooses the village of Endwever to provide a mortal womb. The birthing of a star is always fatal for the mother, and Ceris Wenden, who considers herself an outsider, sacrifices herself to secure her family’s honor and take control of her legacy. But after her star child is born, Ceris does what no other star mother has: she survives. When Ceris returns to Endwever, however, it’s not nine months later—it’s seven hundred years later. Inexplicably displaced in time, Ceris is determined to seek out her descendants.
Being a woman traveling alone brings its own challenges, until Ceris encounters a mysterious—and desperate—godling. Ristriel is incorporeal, a fugitive, a trickster, and the only being who can guide Ceris safely to her destination. Now, as Ceris traverses realms both mortal and beyond, her journey truly begins.
Together, pursued across the Earth and trespassing the heavens, Ceris and Ristriel are on a path to illuminate the mysteries that bind them and discover the secrets of the celestial world.
Review: This is an ok book, but unfortunately I don’t have a lot of good to say about it. The book has an interesting story and the magic system is equally as interesting. I liked the god/goddess/solar system aspect and I felt like the author did well on the world building.
However, the book was not for me. The book is very fast paced and it feels like I was running to keep up with it. The love triangle is weird and unexpected. The characters weren’t developed, especially our main character, and her motives were just “I want to bone the Sun for attention” and “this other dude hot tho” and “woo is me”. She was super annoying and I quickly wanted to punch her in the face. The plot dragged in the middle and the book was just so difficult to get and stay into.
Verdict: It was not for me, but maybe for you!
Book: Star Mother
Author: Charlie N. Holmberg
Book Series: Star Mother Book 1
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: science fiction, romance, fantasy, time travel
Publication Date: November 1, 2021
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (sexual content, grief, pregnancy, slight miscarriage mention, slight pregnancy death mention, attempted sexual assault, violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: The book had some sexual content and contains a pregnancy storyline, with some small mentions of miscarriage and death by pregnancy. There is some violence and gore and an attempted sexual assault.
Publisher: 47North
Pages: 268
Synopsis: A woman’s heart proves as infinite as the night sky in a breathtaking fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.
When a star dies, a new one must be born.
The Sun God chooses the village of Endwever to provide a mortal womb. The birthing of a star is always fatal for the mother, and Ceris Wenden, who considers herself an outsider, sacrifices herself to secure her family’s honor and take control of her legacy. But after her star child is born, Ceris does what no other star mother has: she survives. When Ceris returns to Endwever, however, it’s not nine months later—it’s seven hundred years later. Inexplicably displaced in time, Ceris is determined to seek out her descendants.
Being a woman traveling alone brings its own challenges, until Ceris encounters a mysterious—and desperate—godling. Ristriel is incorporeal, a fugitive, a trickster, and the only being who can guide Ceris safely to her destination. Now, as Ceris traverses realms both mortal and beyond, her journey truly begins.
Together, pursued across the Earth and trespassing the heavens, Ceris and Ristriel are on a path to illuminate the mysteries that bind them and discover the secrets of the celestial world.
Review: This is an ok book, but unfortunately I don’t have a lot of good to say about it. The book has an interesting story and the magic system is equally as interesting. I liked the god/goddess/solar system aspect and I felt like the author did well on the world building.
However, the book was not for me. The book is very fast paced and it feels like I was running to keep up with it. The love triangle is weird and unexpected. The characters weren’t developed, especially our main character, and her motives were just “I want to bone the Sun for attention” and “this other dude hot tho” and “woo is me”. She was super annoying and I quickly wanted to punch her in the face. The plot dragged in the middle and the book was just so difficult to get and stay into.
Verdict: It was not for me, but maybe for you!
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author for review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Wedding Tail
Author: Casey Griffin
Book Series: A Rescue Dog Romance
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Diversity: Japanese American MC and Japanese character
Recommended For...: romance, murder mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Genre: Romance Murder Mystery
Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, bullying, harassment, violence, gore, attempted murder, animal abandonment, romance, sexual content, death, grief, anxiety)
Explanation of Above: The book is a murder mystery, so there is some murder mentioned, an attempted murder shown, violence shown, and gore shown. There is also death mentioned and grief shown in the book. The book also shows some bullying and harassment towards the MC and there is one scene that shows animal abandonment at a shelter. The book is also a romance and shows romance and some sexual content, but the smut is fade to black for the most part. There is also mentions and showing of anxiety. I also want to note that I did have a note for “historical terms relating to Black people” and while I’m not 100% sure what I meant (I picked this book up off and on for 2 weeks), I believe it’s referring to some sort of old décor that was used at the first wedding shown in the book. The rest of the book does not mention those terms or any terms of offense that I know about currently, but if anyone sees some and it’s brought to my attention I will update this review to reflect that correction.
Publisher: Charming Frog Publishing
Pages: 366
Synopsis: Wedding planner Zoe Plum will never risk love again. But when her latest meticulously organized event implodes, the dog-loving gal’s hopes for financial independence and the down payment on a house go up in smoke. And things only get worse when she’s forced to work with an overly laid-back wedding singer who just rolled out of bed.
Levi Dolson works hard to live up to his phony rock ’n’ roll charisma. So when he lands a gig that will put him side by side with the one woman who’s managed to resist his appeal, he vows to charm her into a sexy duet. And he certainly won’t stand by and watch her life snowball into a series of disasters, so he leaps at the chance to prove he’s better than advertised.
Dogged by inexplicable attempts on her life and a shadowy enemy, Zoe realizes Levi’s unwavering support is tempting her to end her six-year-long dry spell. But Levi’s persistence has its limits, and he’s prepared to hit the road if he can’t melt her heart.
Can the unlikely match drop their masks, survive the saboteur, and quench their own desires?
Review: Overall, I liked this book and I’m excited for the next one. I loved Zoe and I felt empathetic towards her plight. The romance was really well done and the character development was well done as well. I also really liked the wedding planner/rock band singer romance set-up and while it’s weird it worked really well. There are a lot of mentions of animals in the book as well, with most of the focus on dogs, and I loved seeing Zoe’s character development as she adopted and cared for Frankie. The world building was also well done and overall I really enjoyed this book.
However, if you’re going into this book looking for the sexual/smut content, this is not the book for you. The book focuses on the set up of the romance and the more emotional connection. The smut did not start until 76% into the book and, as my husband put it, “it’s like edging but in book form”.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: A Wedding Tail
Author: Casey Griffin
Book Series: A Rescue Dog Romance
Rating: 4/5
Spice: 1/5
Diversity: Japanese American MC and Japanese character
Recommended For...: romance, murder mystery, thriller
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Genre: Romance Murder Mystery
Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, bullying, harassment, violence, gore, attempted murder, animal abandonment, romance, sexual content, death, grief, anxiety)
Explanation of Above: The book is a murder mystery, so there is some murder mentioned, an attempted murder shown, violence shown, and gore shown. There is also death mentioned and grief shown in the book. The book also shows some bullying and harassment towards the MC and there is one scene that shows animal abandonment at a shelter. The book is also a romance and shows romance and some sexual content, but the smut is fade to black for the most part. There is also mentions and showing of anxiety. I also want to note that I did have a note for “historical terms relating to Black people” and while I’m not 100% sure what I meant (I picked this book up off and on for 2 weeks), I believe it’s referring to some sort of old décor that was used at the first wedding shown in the book. The rest of the book does not mention those terms or any terms of offense that I know about currently, but if anyone sees some and it’s brought to my attention I will update this review to reflect that correction.
Publisher: Charming Frog Publishing
Pages: 366
Synopsis: Wedding planner Zoe Plum will never risk love again. But when her latest meticulously organized event implodes, the dog-loving gal’s hopes for financial independence and the down payment on a house go up in smoke. And things only get worse when she’s forced to work with an overly laid-back wedding singer who just rolled out of bed.
Levi Dolson works hard to live up to his phony rock ’n’ roll charisma. So when he lands a gig that will put him side by side with the one woman who’s managed to resist his appeal, he vows to charm her into a sexy duet. And he certainly won’t stand by and watch her life snowball into a series of disasters, so he leaps at the chance to prove he’s better than advertised.
Dogged by inexplicable attempts on her life and a shadowy enemy, Zoe realizes Levi’s unwavering support is tempting her to end her six-year-long dry spell. But Levi’s persistence has its limits, and he’s prepared to hit the road if he can’t melt her heart.
Can the unlikely match drop their masks, survive the saboteur, and quench their own desires?
Review: Overall, I liked this book and I’m excited for the next one. I loved Zoe and I felt empathetic towards her plight. The romance was really well done and the character development was well done as well. I also really liked the wedding planner/rock band singer romance set-up and while it’s weird it worked really well. There are a lot of mentions of animals in the book as well, with most of the focus on dogs, and I loved seeing Zoe’s character development as she adopted and cared for Frankie. The world building was also well done and overall I really enjoyed this book.
However, if you’re going into this book looking for the sexual/smut content, this is not the book for you. The book focuses on the set up of the romance and the more emotional connection. The smut did not start until 76% into the book and, as my husband put it, “it’s like edging but in book form”.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Crimson Summer
Author: Heather Graham
Book Series: Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: mystery, murder mystery, thriller, suspense
Publication Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, death, violence, gore, language)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of murder and death in this book, along with violence and gore. There is also cursing in this book.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 384
Synopsis: They're not going down without a fight.
When FDLE special agent Amy Larson discovers a small horse figurine amid the bloody aftermath of a gang massacre in the Everglades, she recognizes it immediately. The toy is the calling card of the apocalypse cult that Amy and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, have been investigating, and it can only mean one thing: this wasn’t an isolated skirmish—it was the beginning of a war.
As tensions between rival gangs rise, so does the body count, and Amy and Hunter’s investigation leads them to a violent, far-right extremist group who are in no hurry to quell the civil unrest. With a deadly puppet master working to silence their every lead, it’s a race against the clock to figure out who’s been pulling the strings and put a stop to the escalating cartel turf war before the Everglades run red.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The premise is interesting and it kept my interest throughout the book. The characters were fairly well developed and the world building was ok. I also liked the mystery aspect and thought it was intriguing.
However, I feel like the book didn’t execute well and the dialogue was just really weird. The book had a lot of repetition and the book also was weirdly paced. I also feel like some of the backstory was in the synopsis.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: Crimson Summer
Author: Heather Graham
Book Series: Amy Larson & Hunter Forrest FBI Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: mystery, murder mystery, thriller, suspense
Publication Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Age Relevance: 18+ (murder, death, violence, gore, language)
Explanation of Above: There is a lot of murder and death in this book, along with violence and gore. There is also cursing in this book.
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 384
Synopsis: They're not going down without a fight.
When FDLE special agent Amy Larson discovers a small horse figurine amid the bloody aftermath of a gang massacre in the Everglades, she recognizes it immediately. The toy is the calling card of the apocalypse cult that Amy and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, have been investigating, and it can only mean one thing: this wasn’t an isolated skirmish—it was the beginning of a war.
As tensions between rival gangs rise, so does the body count, and Amy and Hunter’s investigation leads them to a violent, far-right extremist group who are in no hurry to quell the civil unrest. With a deadly puppet master working to silence their every lead, it’s a race against the clock to figure out who’s been pulling the strings and put a stop to the escalating cartel turf war before the Everglades run red.
Review: Overall, this was an ok book. The premise is interesting and it kept my interest throughout the book. The characters were fairly well developed and the world building was ok. I also liked the mystery aspect and thought it was intriguing.
However, I feel like the book didn’t execute well and the dialogue was just really weird. The book had a lot of repetition and the book also was weirdly paced. I also feel like some of the backstory was in the synopsis.
Verdict: It was ok.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Loteria
Author: Karla Valenti
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magical realism, Mexican mythology and lore
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 8+ (poisoning, scary moments, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The MC is poisoned by a scorpion at one point in the book, but is ok. The book shows a character’s death and the grief after it. There are also some scary moments, including a moment with a spider.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.
Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, travelling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
Review: I loved this book! It was a fun read that reminded me a lot of Coco. The book is Mexican Mythology and Lore inspired and had so much culture in it as well. The book is also very informative and offers a ton of information in the back about the card game that is played throughout. The book is also very adventurous and younger children who are just beginning their fantasy reading journey would love this book. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that the POV switching was a bit confusing for me as the voices were not that different, but it was still a fun read.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: Loteria
Author: Karla Valenti
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magical realism, Mexican mythology and lore
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 8+ (poisoning, scary moments, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The MC is poisoned by a scorpion at one point in the book, but is ok. The book shows a character’s death and the grief after it. There are also some scary moments, including a moment with a spider.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.
Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, travelling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
Review: I loved this book! It was a fun read that reminded me a lot of Coco. The book is Mexican Mythology and Lore inspired and had so much culture in it as well. The book is also very informative and offers a ton of information in the back about the card game that is played throughout. The book is also very adventurous and younger children who are just beginning their fantasy reading journey would love this book. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that the POV switching was a bit confusing for me as the voices were not that different, but it was still a fun read.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: True Teryn
Author: S.G. Blaise
Book Series: The Last Lumenian Book 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction, romance, fantasy
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: There is some violence and gore in this book. There is also a lot of romance.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 247
Synopsis: ALL BEGINNINGS COME AT A PRICE. ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY IT?
Lilla must recruit the biggest and most dangerous army in the Seven Galaxies, but the Teryn emperor will not comply unless Lilla earns the blessing of the Teryn Guardian Goddess Laoise.
Dealing with gods is never easy. Guardian Goddess Laoise’s condition for bestowing her blessing is for Lilla to bring her the mysterious Heart Amulet. Now Lilla is trapped in a strange place with no way out, no idea where to go or how to find the amulet.
The only way for Lilla to complete her mission is to uncover the biggest secret of all Teryns. Will she survive discovering the secret of what it means to be a True Teryn?
Review: Overall, this went better than the first book. I had some context as to what was going on and who these characters were. The book had a lot of promise and the plot was decent enough to keep me reading the book. I also thought the author did a bit better explaining the magic system in this one.
However, I still had issues with this book. It was still as confusing as the first book and the fast pacing had me racing to figure out what was going on in this book. The characters are still not fully developed in my opinion and I still think that the world building could be better.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: True Teryn
Author: S.G. Blaise
Book Series: The Last Lumenian Book 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, science fiction, romance, fantasy
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, violence, gore)
Explanation of CWs: There is some violence and gore in this book. There is also a lot of romance.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 247
Synopsis: ALL BEGINNINGS COME AT A PRICE. ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY IT?
Lilla must recruit the biggest and most dangerous army in the Seven Galaxies, but the Teryn emperor will not comply unless Lilla earns the blessing of the Teryn Guardian Goddess Laoise.
Dealing with gods is never easy. Guardian Goddess Laoise’s condition for bestowing her blessing is for Lilla to bring her the mysterious Heart Amulet. Now Lilla is trapped in a strange place with no way out, no idea where to go or how to find the amulet.
The only way for Lilla to complete her mission is to uncover the biggest secret of all Teryns. Will she survive discovering the secret of what it means to be a True Teryn?
Review: Overall, this went better than the first book. I had some context as to what was going on and who these characters were. The book had a lot of promise and the plot was decent enough to keep me reading the book. I also thought the author did a bit better explaining the magic system in this one.
However, I still had issues with this book. It was still as confusing as the first book and the fast pacing had me racing to figure out what was going on in this book. The characters are still not fully developed in my opinion and I still think that the world building could be better.
Verdict: It was ok.
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Uncharted
Author: Alli Temple
Book Series: The Pirate and Her Princess Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Smut: 1.5/5
Diversity: Sapphic, Lesbian MC and LI, non-binary side character, POC side characters
Recommended For...: fantasy, romance, pirates, LGBT, Sapphic
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (homophobia, sexism, violence, gore, death, grief, language, panic attack, alcoholism, sexual assault, rape, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, sexual content, romance, abuse)
Explanation of Above: The book has scenes of violence and gore in it, including death and grief. There are some homophobia and sexism in the book, as well as abuse. Sexual assault and rape are mentioned and attempted sexual assault is shown. There is some cursing and a panic attack shown. There is some mentions of alcoholism and there is a kidnapping shown. There is some small sexual content and romance in the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 350
Synopsis: In a world of arrogant nobles and their punishing laws, Georgina will be hanged if anyone discovers she is a spy. But when the wicked prince proposes marriage, Georgina must accept. Refusing would expose the secrets she has delivered to a hidden resistance and forfeit her life. With her wedding day looming ever closer, salvation comes from an unlikely source.
Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinder’s kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georgina’s own history than either of them expect.
Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The prince’s unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinder’s past threatens to drag them both to the deep.
Review: I was absolutely blown away by this book. I thought the book was well written and it was an amazing pirate adventure with a Sapphic romance! I loved the premise, the story was well done, and the character development was amazing. The story is amazing and I can’t wait for the next installment.
However, I did think that the world building needed to be a bit more developed and I wanted to see more of character development for the MC, but overall I highly enjoyed it.
Verdict: It was amazing!!
Book: Uncharted
Author: Alli Temple
Book Series: The Pirate and Her Princess Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Smut: 1.5/5
Diversity: Sapphic, Lesbian MC and LI, non-binary side character, POC side characters
Recommended For...: fantasy, romance, pirates, LGBT, Sapphic
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (homophobia, sexism, violence, gore, death, grief, language, panic attack, alcoholism, sexual assault, rape, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, sexual content, romance, abuse)
Explanation of Above: The book has scenes of violence and gore in it, including death and grief. There are some homophobia and sexism in the book, as well as abuse. Sexual assault and rape are mentioned and attempted sexual assault is shown. There is some cursing and a panic attack shown. There is some mentions of alcoholism and there is a kidnapping shown. There is some small sexual content and romance in the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 350
Synopsis: In a world of arrogant nobles and their punishing laws, Georgina will be hanged if anyone discovers she is a spy. But when the wicked prince proposes marriage, Georgina must accept. Refusing would expose the secrets she has delivered to a hidden resistance and forfeit her life. With her wedding day looming ever closer, salvation comes from an unlikely source.
Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinder’s kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georgina’s own history than either of them expect.
Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The prince’s unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinder’s past threatens to drag them both to the deep.
Review: I was absolutely blown away by this book. I thought the book was well written and it was an amazing pirate adventure with a Sapphic romance! I loved the premise, the story was well done, and the character development was amazing. The story is amazing and I can’t wait for the next installment.
However, I did think that the world building needed to be a bit more developed and I wanted to see more of character development for the MC, but overall I highly enjoyed it.
Verdict: It was amazing!!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Girl Overboard
Author: Sandra Block
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Queer side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, cruise ship, travel
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 16+ (suicide, underage alcohol consumption, language, sexting, drug use, poisoning, kidnapping, rape)
Explanation of Above: Suicide is mentioned as a possibility a few times in the book. There is alcohol consumption by minors mentioned, not shown in the book. There is some slight sexting shown in the book and drug use is mentioned by adults. There is a poisoning scene shown and kidnapping is also shown. Rape is also mentioned.
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Izzy is reaching peak boredom on a cruise with her parents until she meets daring new friend Jade, with whom Izzy can barely keep up. But a shock wave runs through the cruise ship when Jade goes missing in the middle of the night, leaving behind a cryptic note.
Izzy digs deeper into Jade’s disappearance, but someone doesn’t want to find the truth. And if she’s not careful, Izzy might not get off this ship alive . . .
Review: For the most part I thought the book was really good. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and I thought it was a well thought-out plot with a lot of good twists. The book had a great moment that showed the incompetence of cops, showing that a well known trope is not factual at all which is very important for teens to learn nowadays. I also liked how the book didn’t have the typical romance aspect and it really focused on the tight friendship the girls develop with each other in the span of a couple of days, also I love the girl helping girl message behind the book. The book had a great premise and the story kept me hooked until the end. The book had great character development and world building as well.
However, the most random thing of the book is what keeps me from making this a 5/5. I thought it was so strange that the book had so many days at sea. Why are there so many days at sea in this book for it to be set in the Caribbean on a cruise ship? Like… I feel like I missed something but at the same time I don’t. There were only 2 days at port… for a cruise ship… in the Caribbean. I felt like the real mystery of this book is why the cruise ship captain keeps sailing around in what appears to be circles. Maybe that was a hint as to the twist at the end but it was very weird choice and makes me think that the book wasn’t as well developed as I thought. I also felt the book was super fast paced and while it was a great read, I thought it could have been slowed down for a bit.
Verdict: It’s great!
Book: Girl Overboard
Author: Sandra Block
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Queer side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, mystery, cruise ship, travel
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Mystery
Age Relevance: 16+ (suicide, underage alcohol consumption, language, sexting, drug use, poisoning, kidnapping, rape)
Explanation of Above: Suicide is mentioned as a possibility a few times in the book. There is alcohol consumption by minors mentioned, not shown in the book. There is some slight sexting shown in the book and drug use is mentioned by adults. There is a poisoning scene shown and kidnapping is also shown. Rape is also mentioned.
Publisher: Underlined
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Izzy is reaching peak boredom on a cruise with her parents until she meets daring new friend Jade, with whom Izzy can barely keep up. But a shock wave runs through the cruise ship when Jade goes missing in the middle of the night, leaving behind a cryptic note.
Izzy digs deeper into Jade’s disappearance, but someone doesn’t want to find the truth. And if she’s not careful, Izzy might not get off this ship alive . . .
Review: For the most part I thought the book was really good. I liked the mystery aspect of the book and I thought it was a well thought-out plot with a lot of good twists. The book had a great moment that showed the incompetence of cops, showing that a well known trope is not factual at all which is very important for teens to learn nowadays. I also liked how the book didn’t have the typical romance aspect and it really focused on the tight friendship the girls develop with each other in the span of a couple of days, also I love the girl helping girl message behind the book. The book had a great premise and the story kept me hooked until the end. The book had great character development and world building as well.
However, the most random thing of the book is what keeps me from making this a 5/5. I thought it was so strange that the book had so many days at sea. Why are there so many days at sea in this book for it to be set in the Caribbean on a cruise ship? Like… I feel like I missed something but at the same time I don’t. There were only 2 days at port… for a cruise ship… in the Caribbean. I felt like the real mystery of this book is why the cruise ship captain keeps sailing around in what appears to be circles. Maybe that was a hint as to the twist at the end but it was very weird choice and makes me think that the book wasn’t as well developed as I thought. I also felt the book was super fast paced and while it was a great read, I thought it could have been slowed down for a bit.
Verdict: It’s great!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Before Takeoff
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Latinx MC, French Thai Switz character, Black characters, Buddhist character, Asian character, Latinx queen character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, romance, contemporary, magical realism
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (cursing, terrorism, deportation, cancer, racism, sexual content, panic attack, religion, HP content, romance, death)
Explanation of Above: There is some cursing in the book. There are mentions of terrorism, deportation, cancer, and racism. There is some sexual content and romance mentioned in the book and some slightly shown. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is religion that is mentioned very briefly in the book. There is death shown in the book. There is one HP mention in the book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting. The book is set in the Atlanta airport and if there wasn’t COVID in the air I’d go there and read this book to experience everything firsthand. The book is an interesting case study on how people would handle unexpected or cataclysmic events. The world building was good and the story keeps you on your toes for sure. I’d say that I liked the premise of the book and what it was wanting to offer to me.
However, I had a lot of negatives about this book. The book is weirdly told and it’s very clearly not very well plotted. The character descriptions are lazy, it took me until the near the end of the book that the MC was Latinx, and not well formed. There is a part in the book where a queer character, of unknown age but is clearly older because they work for TSA, is crushing on a freshly 18 year old girl and it gives all the ick vibes but also gives the impression that the queer character is acting that way because they’re queer, which is a no go during Pride month. The only reason I’m not 1 starring this book is because I feel like that was an oversight considering the overall writing of the book. The writing is just bad and this book is not a fun read. I also hated the HP reference in this book and, since this is 2022 and the HP author’s transphobic nature is widely known, there is no excuse for it and a point has been deducted from the book’s rating overall.
Verdict: It’s good, but there’s so many issues that I think a few more rough drafts and rounds of editing could solve.
Book: Before Takeoff
Author: Adi Alsaid
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Latinx MC, French Thai Switz character, Black characters, Buddhist character, Asian character, Latinx queen character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, thriller, romance, contemporary, magical realism
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Genre: YA Thriller Romance
Age Relevance: 15+ (cursing, terrorism, deportation, cancer, racism, sexual content, panic attack, religion, HP content, romance, death)
Explanation of Above: There is some cursing in the book. There are mentions of terrorism, deportation, cancer, and racism. There is some sexual content and romance mentioned in the book and some slightly shown. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is religion that is mentioned very briefly in the book. There is death shown in the book. There is one HP mention in the book.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: James and Michelle find themselves in the Atlanta airport on a layover. They couldn't be more different, but seemingly interminable delays draw them both to a mysterious flashing green light--and each other.
Where James is passive, Michelle is anything but. And she quickly discovers that the flashing green light is actually... a button. Which she presses. Which may or may not unwittingly break the rules of the universe--at least as those rules apply to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta.
Before they can figure up from down, strange, impossible things start happening: snowstorms form inside the B terminal; jungles sprout up in the C terminal; and earthquakes split the ground apart in between. And no matter how hard they try, it seems no one can find a way in or out of the airport. James and Michelle team up to find their families and either escape the airport, or put an end to its chaos--before it's too late.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting. The book is set in the Atlanta airport and if there wasn’t COVID in the air I’d go there and read this book to experience everything firsthand. The book is an interesting case study on how people would handle unexpected or cataclysmic events. The world building was good and the story keeps you on your toes for sure. I’d say that I liked the premise of the book and what it was wanting to offer to me.
However, I had a lot of negatives about this book. The book is weirdly told and it’s very clearly not very well plotted. The character descriptions are lazy, it took me until the near the end of the book that the MC was Latinx, and not well formed. There is a part in the book where a queer character, of unknown age but is clearly older because they work for TSA, is crushing on a freshly 18 year old girl and it gives all the ick vibes but also gives the impression that the queer character is acting that way because they’re queer, which is a no go during Pride month. The only reason I’m not 1 starring this book is because I feel like that was an oversight considering the overall writing of the book. The writing is just bad and this book is not a fun read. I also hated the HP reference in this book and, since this is 2022 and the HP author’s transphobic nature is widely known, there is no excuse for it and a point has been deducted from the book’s rating overall.
Verdict: It’s good, but there’s so many issues that I think a few more rough drafts and rounds of editing could solve.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Violet Made of Thorns
Author: Gina Chen
Book Series: Violet Made of Thorns Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Lesbian character, f/f romance alluded to
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, magic, high fantasy
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 17+ (death, sexual content, gore, cursing, abelist language, romance, alcohol consumption, war, violence, blood magic)
Explanation of Above: There is some sexual content in this book, but nothing too graphic and what does take place is a little vague. There is death shown and mentioned in the book and there is some gore involving blood and blood magic. War is also mentioned in this book a lot and there is some violence shown. There is some cursing in this book and there are two instances of abelist language being used (mad). This is a romance heavy book and the trope is enemies to lovers. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned as well.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.
But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.
Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.
Review: Overall, I loved this book! It’s tropey and predictable, but it’s very well written and well paced, also sometimes it’s nice to have something that you can predictably understand. The book did well with the tropes and predictability, and even had a bit of an unpredictable ending! The book also mentioned periods and contraceptives, which I thought was very good for young teens. The book definitely has an enemies to lovers trope and a besting each other trope going on. The character development is well done and the world building is good as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought the ending, while good, was a bit confusing especially the epilogue. I’m really confused as to what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue and I hope there’s a sequel in the works cause… I have questions…
Verdict: It’s very well done! I love it!
Book: Violet Made of Thorns
Author: Gina Chen
Book Series: Violet Made of Thorns Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Lesbian character, f/f romance alluded to
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, magic, high fantasy
Publication Date: July 26, 2022
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 17+ (death, sexual content, gore, cursing, abelist language, romance, alcohol consumption, war, violence, blood magic)
Explanation of Above: There is some sexual content in this book, but nothing too graphic and what does take place is a little vague. There is death shown and mentioned in the book and there is some gore involving blood and blood magic. War is also mentioned in this book a lot and there is some violence shown. There is some cursing in this book and there are two instances of abelist language being used (mad). This is a romance heavy book and the trope is enemies to lovers. There is some alcohol consumption mentioned as well.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Violet is a prophet and a liar, influencing the royal court with her cleverly phrased—and not always true—divinations. Honesty is for suckers, like the oh-so-not charming Prince Cyrus, who plans to strip Violet of her official role once he’s crowned at the end of the summer—unless Violet does something about it.
But when the king asks her to falsely prophesy Cyrus’s love story for an upcoming ball, Violet awakens a dreaded curse, one that will end in either damnation or salvation for the kingdom—all depending on the prince’s choice of future bride. Violet faces her own choice: Seize an opportunity to gain control of her own destiny, no matter the cost, or give in to the ill-fated attraction that’s growing between her and Cyrus.
Violet’s wits may protect her in the cutthroat court, but they can’t change her fate. And as the boundary between hatred and love grows ever thinner with the prince, Violet must untangle a wicked web of deceit in order to save herself and the kingdom—or doom them all.
Review: Overall, I loved this book! It’s tropey and predictable, but it’s very well written and well paced, also sometimes it’s nice to have something that you can predictably understand. The book did well with the tropes and predictability, and even had a bit of an unpredictable ending! The book also mentioned periods and contraceptives, which I thought was very good for young teens. The book definitely has an enemies to lovers trope and a besting each other trope going on. The character development is well done and the world building is good as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that I thought the ending, while good, was a bit confusing especially the epilogue. I’m really confused as to what happened between the last chapter and the epilogue and I hope there’s a sequel in the works cause… I have questions…
Verdict: It’s very well done! I love it!