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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the author and her team. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Best Man
Author: A.S. Kelly
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: May 25, 2020 (English translated version)
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance, sexual content)
Publisher: Amazon
Pages: 526
Amazon Link
Synopsis: I always turn up at just the wrong moment. I never know how to make the most of a situation; I don’t know the right thing to say, or when I should come or go.
Let’s just say I have really shit timing.
I’m not a smart guy. I don’t have great ideas.
I’m practical, a hard worker; someone who lives for his family, and for the air that she breathes.
It’s just a shame that the “she” in question never knew this. It’s a shame that I waited all these years to make my move. It’s useless to tell you, readers, that it was already too late; that I’d screwed everything up, once again. And, this time, my mistakes forced her to come home.
Except she didn’t want to stay.
And now she hates me – or maybe she doesn’t. I still haven’t worked out what’s going on between us, but like I said, I’m not the sharpest tool in the box. And even though this could be my last chance, I’m not going to be the one to ask her to stay. Not even if she turns out to be the one I’ve always waited for.
Because she doesn't belong in this place.
And she doesn't belong in my life.
My name is Alex Brennan, and this is my story: of how I realised I’d lost the most important person in my life, before I even had her.
Review: For the most part I thought this was a well done book. The characters were well developed and the world building was solid. I liked that the book for the most part and it did well to get your attention and not let go of it.
However, I did feel like the book did some questionable things with the plot and I didn’t understand why things were done. It felt like the characters weren’t that realistic, but it was still pretty good.
Verdict: It was pretty good and if you like romance books then this is the book for you!
Book: The Best Man
Author: A.S. Kelly
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Publication Date: May 25, 2020 (English translated version)
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance, sexual content)
Publisher: Amazon
Pages: 526
Amazon Link
Synopsis: I always turn up at just the wrong moment. I never know how to make the most of a situation; I don’t know the right thing to say, or when I should come or go.
Let’s just say I have really shit timing.
I’m not a smart guy. I don’t have great ideas.
I’m practical, a hard worker; someone who lives for his family, and for the air that she breathes.
It’s just a shame that the “she” in question never knew this. It’s a shame that I waited all these years to make my move. It’s useless to tell you, readers, that it was already too late; that I’d screwed everything up, once again. And, this time, my mistakes forced her to come home.
Except she didn’t want to stay.
And now she hates me – or maybe she doesn’t. I still haven’t worked out what’s going on between us, but like I said, I’m not the sharpest tool in the box. And even though this could be my last chance, I’m not going to be the one to ask her to stay. Not even if she turns out to be the one I’ve always waited for.
Because she doesn't belong in this place.
And she doesn't belong in my life.
My name is Alex Brennan, and this is my story: of how I realised I’d lost the most important person in my life, before I even had her.
Review: For the most part I thought this was a well done book. The characters were well developed and the world building was solid. I liked that the book for the most part and it did well to get your attention and not let go of it.
However, I did feel like the book did some questionable things with the plot and I didn’t understand why things were done. It felt like the characters weren’t that realistic, but it was still pretty good.
Verdict: It was pretty good and if you like romance books then this is the book for you!
Disclaimer: I bought this book because my friend @chaelcodes recommended it to me. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Not Even Bones
Author: Rebecca Schaeffer
Book Series: Market of Monsters Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Main character is at least half Latina
Recommended For…: those who want monsters and autopsies
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 17+ (animal abuse and death TW, parental abuse tw, human trafficking tw, child brothels mention tw, violence, gore, mutilation, cutting up dead bodies)
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Dexter meets This Savage Song in this dark fantasy about a girl who sells magical body parts on the black market — until she’s betrayed.
Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” But when her mom brings home a live specimen, Nita decides she wants out — dissecting living people is a step too far.
But when she tries to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold on the black market in his place — because Nita herself is a supernatural being. Now Nita is on the other side of the bars, and there is no line she won’t cross to escape and make sure no one can ever capture her again.
Nita did a good deed, and it cost her everything. Now she’s going to do a lot of bad deeds to get it all back.
Review: This book was a wild ride! I loved the dark and gritty take on monsters and human…. Err Monster trafficking. The book was well written and the plot did not disappoint me at any turn. The book had great character development and world building as well. While the book topics were very dark and sometimes very sad, the book did well to balance the book with humor at times and to be sensitive to sensitive topics, such as trafficking, genocide, and “racism” in the context of monsters versus humans.
The only down part I had about the book is that the author did tend to reuse the same scenery and I wished she expanded on the world a bit more. I wished to see more of the world and to see a more fair look at the South American countries as well.
Verdict: A well done book!
Book: Not Even Bones
Author: Rebecca Schaeffer
Book Series: Market of Monsters Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Main character is at least half Latina
Recommended For…: those who want monsters and autopsies
Publication Date: September 4, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 17+ (animal abuse and death TW, parental abuse tw, human trafficking tw, child brothels mention tw, violence, gore, mutilation, cutting up dead bodies)
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Dexter meets This Savage Song in this dark fantasy about a girl who sells magical body parts on the black market — until she’s betrayed.
Nita doesn’t murder supernatural beings and sell their body parts on the internet—her mother does that. Nita just dissects the bodies after they’ve been “acquired.” But when her mom brings home a live specimen, Nita decides she wants out — dissecting living people is a step too far.
But when she tries to save her mother’s victim, she ends up sold on the black market in his place — because Nita herself is a supernatural being. Now Nita is on the other side of the bars, and there is no line she won’t cross to escape and make sure no one can ever capture her again.
Nita did a good deed, and it cost her everything. Now she’s going to do a lot of bad deeds to get it all back.
Review: This book was a wild ride! I loved the dark and gritty take on monsters and human…. Err Monster trafficking. The book was well written and the plot did not disappoint me at any turn. The book had great character development and world building as well. While the book topics were very dark and sometimes very sad, the book did well to balance the book with humor at times and to be sensitive to sensitive topics, such as trafficking, genocide, and “racism” in the context of monsters versus humans.
The only down part I had about the book is that the author did tend to reuse the same scenery and I wished she expanded on the world a bit more. I wished to see more of the world and to see a more fair look at the South American countries as well.
Verdict: A well done book!
Disclaimer: I bought this book at an event when I met the author! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Gravemaidens
Author: Kelly Coon
Book Series: Gravemaidens Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For…: fantasy lovers who want sibling rivalries and dangerous secrets
Publication Date: October 29, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape mention tw, “underage” drinking, sexual assault scene tw, “suicide” tw, gore, violence, poisoning)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 416
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame.
When Alu's ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her.
But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence.
Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself.
Review: Holy cow this book was absolutely wonderful! I loved the unique and immersive world of Gravemaidens and I love the world building Kelly Coon put into this book! The characters were also compelling and well developed. The book definitely did not disappoint me and I anxiously await for the second book!
My only complaint is that sometimes the book was slow and I didn’t understand some of the words used outside of some context. There were also words used for queen, king, mother, father, etc. (the author did well to build what I assume is a made up language) but then substituted the “real” words in other parts of the book, making the book just slightly confusing at those points.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Gravemaidens
Author: Kelly Coon
Book Series: Gravemaidens Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For…: fantasy lovers who want sibling rivalries and dangerous secrets
Publication Date: October 29, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (rape mention tw, “underage” drinking, sexual assault scene tw, “suicide” tw, gore, violence, poisoning)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 416
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In the walled city-state of Alu, Kammani wants nothing more than to become the accomplished healer her father used to be before her family was cast out of their privileged life in shame.
When Alu's ruler falls deathly ill, Kammani’s beautiful little sister, Nanaea, is chosen as one of three sacred maidens to join him in the afterlife. It’s an honor. A tradition. And Nanaea believes it is her chance to live an even grander life than the one that was stolen from her.
But Kammani sees the selection for what it really is—a death sentence.
Desperate to save her sister, Kammani schemes her way into the palace to heal the ruler. There she discovers more danger lurking in the sand-stone corridors than she could have ever imagined and that her own life—and heart—are at stake. But Kammani will stop at nothing to dig up the palace’s buried secrets even if it means sacrificing everything…including herself.
Review: Holy cow this book was absolutely wonderful! I loved the unique and immersive world of Gravemaidens and I love the world building Kelly Coon put into this book! The characters were also compelling and well developed. The book definitely did not disappoint me and I anxiously await for the second book!
My only complaint is that sometimes the book was slow and I didn’t understand some of the words used outside of some context. There were also words used for queen, king, mother, father, etc. (the author did well to build what I assume is a made up language) but then substituted the “real” words in other parts of the book, making the book just slightly confusing at those points.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: Heart of the Storm
Author: Michael Buckley
Book Series: Undertow Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian lovers and mermaid lovers
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, teen pregnancy, genocide, slight sexual content)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 304
Synopsis: For three months, Lyric Walker has been trapped in the hunting grounds, the Alpha city at the bottom of the ocean. But Lyric Walker, Brooklyn girl, is not going down without a fight. She makes an unlikely alliance with her jailor, a Rusalka named Husk. Husk reveals the truth about what actually resides in the Great Abyss. The Great Abyss is not some Alpha god but belongs to an unknown clan of monsters, ones who think in a hive mentality and believe anyone who cannot hear their voice is broken and must be destroyed. And Lyric has just woken them.
After a death-defying escape, Lyric makes her journey back to the mainland to prepare humanity for another monster invasion. Once reunited with her parents, Bex, and hot-nerd-with-potential Riley, Lyric has to break the terrible truth.
Lyric was just a girl when the Alpha arrived in her hometown. She was a soldier in the second attack that saved her world. What will she have to become now, and who will she have to leave behind?
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The world building was the strongest part of this book and the plot was intriguing enough to keep my attention throughout the book. I appreciated a solid ending to the series as well. The book was also well paced.
However, I didn’t like how the book was told. The book is told in alternating periods of Lyric’s life and it bounces back and forth between present and three months ago, which makes it hard to get into the book in my opinion. The book also had weak character development and most of the characters who you came to love in Books 1 and 2 are barely in this book. The book also had a weird ending and I didn’t really appreciate how the main character was treated in the aftermath.
Verdict: It’s a decent and interesting series, just had some infuriating moments.
Book: Heart of the Storm
Author: Michael Buckley
Book Series: Undertow Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: dystopian lovers and mermaid lovers
Publication Date: February 7, 2017
Genre: YA Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, teen pregnancy, genocide, slight sexual content)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 304
Synopsis: For three months, Lyric Walker has been trapped in the hunting grounds, the Alpha city at the bottom of the ocean. But Lyric Walker, Brooklyn girl, is not going down without a fight. She makes an unlikely alliance with her jailor, a Rusalka named Husk. Husk reveals the truth about what actually resides in the Great Abyss. The Great Abyss is not some Alpha god but belongs to an unknown clan of monsters, ones who think in a hive mentality and believe anyone who cannot hear their voice is broken and must be destroyed. And Lyric has just woken them.
After a death-defying escape, Lyric makes her journey back to the mainland to prepare humanity for another monster invasion. Once reunited with her parents, Bex, and hot-nerd-with-potential Riley, Lyric has to break the terrible truth.
Lyric was just a girl when the Alpha arrived in her hometown. She was a soldier in the second attack that saved her world. What will she have to become now, and who will she have to leave behind?
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The world building was the strongest part of this book and the plot was intriguing enough to keep my attention throughout the book. I appreciated a solid ending to the series as well. The book was also well paced.
However, I didn’t like how the book was told. The book is told in alternating periods of Lyric’s life and it bounces back and forth between present and three months ago, which makes it hard to get into the book in my opinion. The book also had weak character development and most of the characters who you came to love in Books 1 and 2 are barely in this book. The book also had a weird ending and I didn’t really appreciate how the main character was treated in the aftermath.
Verdict: It’s a decent and interesting series, just had some infuriating moments.
Disclaimer: I still don’t support JK Rowling’s anti-trans statements, but I wanted to finish the series that I had purchased before her sentiments came to light.
Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
Author: JK Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 7
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: harry potter fans and those who like magic
Publication Date: July 21, 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, violence, torture TW, gore, death, animal death TW)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Pages: 759
Synopsis: Harry Potter is leaving Privet Drive for the last time. But as he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and they take to the skies, he knows Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be far behind.
The protective charm that has kept him safe until now is broken. But the Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything he loves. And he knows he can’t keep hiding.
To stop Voldemort, Harry knows he must find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.
Review: For the most part I adored this book! The plot was intriguing from start to finish and the characters were well developed. I loved how much more developed Ron was in this book as well. The book also did decent with the world building and the pacing.
However, I felt like the book had some unclear moments, especially during the fight scene. The writing was a bit unclear and not as well detailed as one would have liked. The book also had a lot of information coming at the reader and it takes a good deal of attention to detail to understand it all.
Verdict: It was a great ending to the series.
Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
Author: JK Rowling
Book Series: Harry Potter Book 7
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: harry potter fans and those who like magic
Publication Date: July 21, 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (war, violence, torture TW, gore, death, animal death TW)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
Pages: 759
Synopsis: Harry Potter is leaving Privet Drive for the last time. But as he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and they take to the skies, he knows Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be far behind.
The protective charm that has kept him safe until now is broken. But the Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything he loves. And he knows he can’t keep hiding.
To stop Voldemort, Harry knows he must find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.
Review: For the most part I adored this book! The plot was intriguing from start to finish and the characters were well developed. I loved how much more developed Ron was in this book as well. The book also did decent with the world building and the pacing.
However, I felt like the book had some unclear moments, especially during the fight scene. The writing was a bit unclear and not as well detailed as one would have liked. The book also had a lot of information coming at the reader and it takes a good deal of attention to detail to understand it all.
Verdict: It was a great ending to the series.
Disclaimer: I received this arc from a library sale. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Through the White Wood
Author: Jessica Leake
Book Series: Side book to the Through A Dark Wood series
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Slavic folklore
Recommended For...: dark fantasy and Elsa powers!
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, war, gore, innocent killings)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 416
Synopsis: Katya’s power to freeze anything she touches has made her an outcast in her isolated village. And when she loses control of her ability, accidentally killing several villagers, she is banished to the palace of the terrifying Prince Sasha in Kiev.
At the castle, though, she is surprised to find that Sasha is just like her—with his own strange talent, the ability to summon fire. Instead of punishment, Sasha offers Katya friendship, and the chance to embrace her power rather than fear it.
But outside the walls of Kiev, Sasha’s enemies have organized their own army of people who can control the very earth. Bent on taking over the entire world, they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed everything.
Katya and Sasha are desperate to stop the encroaching army, and together their powers are a fearsome weapon. But as their enemies draw nearer, leaving destruction in their wake, will fire and frost be enough to save the world? Or will they lose everything they hold dear?
Review: For the most part I thought this was a great book. I loved the magic system in it and I loved the use of Slavic folklore. The book had great character development and world building as well.
However, the book wasn’t that interesting in my opinion. It was a struggle to get through it. I had to keep picking it up and putting it down. The book didn’t seem to have anything unique or surprising about it.
Verdict: It was an ok book.
Book: Through the White Wood
Author: Jessica Leake
Book Series: Side book to the Through A Dark Wood series
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Slavic folklore
Recommended For...: dark fantasy and Elsa powers!
Publication Date: April 9, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, war, gore, innocent killings)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 416
Synopsis: Katya’s power to freeze anything she touches has made her an outcast in her isolated village. And when she loses control of her ability, accidentally killing several villagers, she is banished to the palace of the terrifying Prince Sasha in Kiev.
At the castle, though, she is surprised to find that Sasha is just like her—with his own strange talent, the ability to summon fire. Instead of punishment, Sasha offers Katya friendship, and the chance to embrace her power rather than fear it.
But outside the walls of Kiev, Sasha’s enemies have organized their own army of people who can control the very earth. Bent on taking over the entire world, they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed everything.
Katya and Sasha are desperate to stop the encroaching army, and together their powers are a fearsome weapon. But as their enemies draw nearer, leaving destruction in their wake, will fire and frost be enough to save the world? Or will they lose everything they hold dear?
Review: For the most part I thought this was a great book. I loved the magic system in it and I loved the use of Slavic folklore. The book had great character development and world building as well.
However, the book wasn’t that interesting in my opinion. It was a struggle to get through it. I had to keep picking it up and putting it down. The book didn’t seem to have anything unique or surprising about it.
Verdict: It was an ok book.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Heir of Ashes
Author: Jina S. Bazzar
Book Series: The Roxanne Fosch Files Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: dystopian and urban fantasy lovers
Publication Date: April 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, slight romance and sexual content)
Publisher: Creativia
Pages: 424
Synopsis: Roxanne Fosch had a perfectly normal life at the age of twelve. Cool, popular, pretty, smart. Her dreams of a perfect, successful and prosperous future seemed well within her grasp.
By the time she was twenty-two she had become a commodity. A fugitive. She was being hunted.
As Roxanne embarks on the dangerous quest to search for half-truths about her past, she discovers she’s not just an abnormal human, but a rarity even among her Fee peers.
She is hunted by scientists, keen to exploit her extraordinary abilities, as well as other beings far more dangerous whose plans for her she cannot fathom
Review: For the most part I liked this book. I thought this book had great writing for the most part and the world building was amazing. I liked the plot and the ending kept me wanting more. The book also did well to keep the twists and turns fresh and unexpected!
However, I did think that the character development could have been better, especially some of the romance. The book did well and I feel invested in these characters, but I would like more. The pacing was also slow in parts and it made it a little disjointed in reading it.
Verdict: This was a well done book and great beginning to the series!
Book: Heir of Ashes
Author: Jina S. Bazzar
Book Series: The Roxanne Fosch Files Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: dystopian and urban fantasy lovers
Publication Date: April 2018
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, slight romance and sexual content)
Publisher: Creativia
Pages: 424
Synopsis: Roxanne Fosch had a perfectly normal life at the age of twelve. Cool, popular, pretty, smart. Her dreams of a perfect, successful and prosperous future seemed well within her grasp.
By the time she was twenty-two she had become a commodity. A fugitive. She was being hunted.
As Roxanne embarks on the dangerous quest to search for half-truths about her past, she discovers she’s not just an abnormal human, but a rarity even among her Fee peers.
She is hunted by scientists, keen to exploit her extraordinary abilities, as well as other beings far more dangerous whose plans for her she cannot fathom
Review: For the most part I liked this book. I thought this book had great writing for the most part and the world building was amazing. I liked the plot and the ending kept me wanting more. The book also did well to keep the twists and turns fresh and unexpected!
However, I did think that the character development could have been better, especially some of the romance. The book did well and I feel invested in these characters, but I would like more. The pacing was also slow in parts and it made it a little disjointed in reading it.
Verdict: This was a well done book and great beginning to the series!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: T-Minus
Author: Shannon Greenland
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: thrill seekers and crime novel lovers
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Genre: YA Thriller
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Pages: 320
Synopsis: A terror with no answer needs a girl with no limits.
I am the daughter of the first female POTUS, and today is about to become the longest day of my life…
24 hours—that’s how much time I have to save my mother before terrorists assassinate her. But now my father and brother are missing, too. This goes deeper than anyone thinks. Only someone on the inside would know how to pull this off—how to make the entire First Family disappear.
I can’t trust anyone, so it’s up to me to uncover the conspiracy and stop these madmen. Because little do they know, they picked the wrong person to terrorize.
My name is Sophie Washington, and I will not be a victim. No one, I repeat no one, is taking me or my family down. But the clock is ticking…
Review: I had to DNF this book at 23%. I didn’t like how the CIA and secret service were portrayed (just some misinformation) and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Maybe I’ll come back to this one in the future.
Verdict: Not for me, but it sounds really good!
Book: T-Minus
Author: Shannon Greenland
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: thrill seekers and crime novel lovers
Publication Date: August 6, 2019
Genre: YA Thriller
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Pages: 320
Synopsis: A terror with no answer needs a girl with no limits.
I am the daughter of the first female POTUS, and today is about to become the longest day of my life…
24 hours—that’s how much time I have to save my mother before terrorists assassinate her. But now my father and brother are missing, too. This goes deeper than anyone thinks. Only someone on the inside would know how to pull this off—how to make the entire First Family disappear.
I can’t trust anyone, so it’s up to me to uncover the conspiracy and stop these madmen. Because little do they know, they picked the wrong person to terrorize.
My name is Sophie Washington, and I will not be a victim. No one, I repeat no one, is taking me or my family down. But the clock is ticking…
Review: I had to DNF this book at 23%. I didn’t like how the CIA and secret service were portrayed (just some misinformation) and I didn’t connect with any of the characters. Maybe I’ll come back to this one in the future.
Verdict: Not for me, but it sounds really good!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Out Now: Queer We Go Again!
Author: Saundra Mitchell, Eliot Schrefer, CB Lee, Mark Oshiro, Kosoko Jackson, Hilary Monahan, Candice Montgomery, Meredith Russo, Fox Benwell, Jessica Verdi, Tanya Boteju, Tara Sim, Julian Winters, Will Kostakis, Caleb Roehrig, Kate Hart, and Katherine Locke
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: LGBT friendly! m/m romances, f/f romances, bi, queer, trans, etc. Latinex, Chinese, Native American, etc. characters!
Recommended For...: anthology lovers and LGBT recs!
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
Genre: YA Anthology (Contemporary, Romance, Fantasy, all revolving around LGBT authors and stories)
Recommended Age: 15+ (homophobia, death, heterosexism, toxic relationships, catfishing, genocide, discrimination, substance abuse TW, child abuse TW, transphobia)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 416
Synopsis: QUEER WE GO AGAIN! A follow-up to the critically acclaimed All Out anthology, Out Now features seventeen new short stories from amazing queer YA authors. Vampires crash prom, aliens run from the government, a president’s daughter comes into her own, a true romantic tries to soften the heart of a cynical social media influencer, a selkie and the sea call out to a lost soul. Teapots and barbershops, skateboards and VW vans, Street Fighter and Ares’s sword: Out Now has a story for every reader and surprises with each turn of the page!
Review: I find it hard to review books with multiple authors sometimes because I like some stories and don’t others. For the most part though I really liked all of the stories in this book. The book had a variety of POVs and representation. I think all of the stories did well with character development and world building. The book will be something I remember for awhile.
The only thing I found “fault” with is that I thought the pacing in some of the books was a bit slower than what I wanted and the plot of some of the stories was not as interesting as others, but the great thing about this book is that you can pick and choose what you want to read!
Verdict: A definite recommended read!
Book: Out Now: Queer We Go Again!
Author: Saundra Mitchell, Eliot Schrefer, CB Lee, Mark Oshiro, Kosoko Jackson, Hilary Monahan, Candice Montgomery, Meredith Russo, Fox Benwell, Jessica Verdi, Tanya Boteju, Tara Sim, Julian Winters, Will Kostakis, Caleb Roehrig, Kate Hart, and Katherine Locke
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: LGBT friendly! m/m romances, f/f romances, bi, queer, trans, etc. Latinex, Chinese, Native American, etc. characters!
Recommended For...: anthology lovers and LGBT recs!
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
Genre: YA Anthology (Contemporary, Romance, Fantasy, all revolving around LGBT authors and stories)
Recommended Age: 15+ (homophobia, death, heterosexism, toxic relationships, catfishing, genocide, discrimination, substance abuse TW, child abuse TW, transphobia)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 416
Synopsis: QUEER WE GO AGAIN! A follow-up to the critically acclaimed All Out anthology, Out Now features seventeen new short stories from amazing queer YA authors. Vampires crash prom, aliens run from the government, a president’s daughter comes into her own, a true romantic tries to soften the heart of a cynical social media influencer, a selkie and the sea call out to a lost soul. Teapots and barbershops, skateboards and VW vans, Street Fighter and Ares’s sword: Out Now has a story for every reader and surprises with each turn of the page!
Review: I find it hard to review books with multiple authors sometimes because I like some stories and don’t others. For the most part though I really liked all of the stories in this book. The book had a variety of POVs and representation. I think all of the stories did well with character development and world building. The book will be something I remember for awhile.
The only thing I found “fault” with is that I thought the pacing in some of the books was a bit slower than what I wanted and the plot of some of the stories was not as interesting as others, but the great thing about this book is that you can pick and choose what you want to read!
Verdict: A definite recommended read!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Daughters of Smoke and Fire
Author: Ava Homa
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Kurdish characters and set in Iran!
Recommended For...: activism recs and fighting the system for adults
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, activism, torture TW, standing up for what you believe in)
Publisher: The Overlook Press
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Set in Iran, this extraordinary debut novel takes readers into the everyday lives of the Kurds. Leila dreams of making films to bring the suppressed stories of her people onto the global stage, but obstacles keep piling up. Leila’s younger brother Chia, influenced by their father’s past torture, imprisonment, and his deep-seated desire for justice, begins to engage with social and political affairs. But his activism grows increasingly risky and one day he disappears in Tehran. Seeking answers about her brother’s whereabouts, Leila fears the worst and begins a campaign to save him. But when she publishes Chia’s writings online, she finds herself in grave danger as well.
Daughters of Smoke and Fire is an evocative portrait of the lives and stakes faced by 40 million stateless Kurds and a powerful story that brilliantly illuminates the meaning of identity and the complex bonds of family, perfect for fans of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun
Review: I thought this was a tough book to get through, but also a beautiful one. The writing was well done and the author did well to tell a story that both rips your heart out and mends it with small gorgeous stitches. The characters were well developed and detailed. The world building was amazing and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish.
However, I did think that there were some scenes where the pacing slowed down a little too much and sometimes the writing felt a little awkward in some places.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Daughters of Smoke and Fire
Author: Ava Homa
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Kurdish characters and set in Iran!
Recommended For...: activism recs and fighting the system for adults
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Genre: Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, slight gore, activism, torture TW, standing up for what you believe in)
Publisher: The Overlook Press
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Set in Iran, this extraordinary debut novel takes readers into the everyday lives of the Kurds. Leila dreams of making films to bring the suppressed stories of her people onto the global stage, but obstacles keep piling up. Leila’s younger brother Chia, influenced by their father’s past torture, imprisonment, and his deep-seated desire for justice, begins to engage with social and political affairs. But his activism grows increasingly risky and one day he disappears in Tehran. Seeking answers about her brother’s whereabouts, Leila fears the worst and begins a campaign to save him. But when she publishes Chia’s writings online, she finds herself in grave danger as well.
Daughters of Smoke and Fire is an evocative portrait of the lives and stakes faced by 40 million stateless Kurds and a powerful story that brilliantly illuminates the meaning of identity and the complex bonds of family, perfect for fans of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun
Review: I thought this was a tough book to get through, but also a beautiful one. The writing was well done and the author did well to tell a story that both rips your heart out and mends it with small gorgeous stitches. The characters were well developed and detailed. The world building was amazing and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish.
However, I did think that there were some scenes where the pacing slowed down a little too much and sometimes the writing felt a little awkward in some places.
Verdict: Highly recommend!