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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: Akata Witch
Author: Nnedi Okorafor
Book Series: Akata Witch Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Nigerian characters, Black albino main character
Recommended For...: ownvoice, magic, murder mystery, finding your hidden power
Publication Date: April 14, 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, violence, sexism, slight emotional abuse TW, sexual mentions, teen pregnancy mention)
Publisher: Viking Children’s
Pages: 349
Synopsis: Akata Witch transports the reader to a magical place where nothing is quite as it seems. Born in New York, but living in Aba, Nigeria, twelve-year old Sunny is understandably a little lost. She is albino and thus, incredibly sensitive to the sun. All Sunny wants to do is be able to play football and get through another day of school without being bullied. But once she befriends Orlu and Chichi, Sunny is plunged in to the world of the Leopard People, where your worst defect becomes your greatest asset. Together, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi and Sasha form the youngest ever Oha Coven. Their mission is to track down Black Hat Otokoto, the man responsible for kidnapping and maiming children. Will Sunny be able to overcome the killer with powers stronger than her own, or will the future she saw in the flames become reality?
Review: Oh my goodness I loved this book so much! This book was an amazing ownvoices novel with a very unique magic system. I loved the character development and I loved seeing Chichi and Sunny’s friendship grow, along with Sasha and Orlu as well! I loved the world building and I thought this was the strongest part of the book. The pacing was right on key and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish.
The only issues I had was the pacing, which was a bit rushed in the middle of the book, and that the fighting scenes were a bit hard to follow along with. The book could have easily slowed down, added 200 pages to explain a bit more about what was going on, and I would have consumed it all the same.
Verdict: A well done book! Highly recommend!
Book: Akata Witch
Author: Nnedi Okorafor
Book Series: Akata Witch Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Nigerian characters, Black albino main character
Recommended For...: ownvoice, magic, murder mystery, finding your hidden power
Publication Date: April 14, 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, violence, sexism, slight emotional abuse TW, sexual mentions, teen pregnancy mention)
Publisher: Viking Children’s
Pages: 349
Synopsis: Akata Witch transports the reader to a magical place where nothing is quite as it seems. Born in New York, but living in Aba, Nigeria, twelve-year old Sunny is understandably a little lost. She is albino and thus, incredibly sensitive to the sun. All Sunny wants to do is be able to play football and get through another day of school without being bullied. But once she befriends Orlu and Chichi, Sunny is plunged in to the world of the Leopard People, where your worst defect becomes your greatest asset. Together, Sunny, Orlu, Chichi and Sasha form the youngest ever Oha Coven. Their mission is to track down Black Hat Otokoto, the man responsible for kidnapping and maiming children. Will Sunny be able to overcome the killer with powers stronger than her own, or will the future she saw in the flames become reality?
Review: Oh my goodness I loved this book so much! This book was an amazing ownvoices novel with a very unique magic system. I loved the character development and I loved seeing Chichi and Sunny’s friendship grow, along with Sasha and Orlu as well! I loved the world building and I thought this was the strongest part of the book. The pacing was right on key and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish.
The only issues I had was the pacing, which was a bit rushed in the middle of the book, and that the fighting scenes were a bit hard to follow along with. The book could have easily slowed down, added 200 pages to explain a bit more about what was going on, and I would have consumed it all the same.
Verdict: A well done book! Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher on Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Mirage
Author: Somaiya Daud
Book Series: Mirage Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: August 28, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 14+ (kidnapping, some violence, swapping places, trading names)
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.
As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.
Review: This book was a decent read. The book had a very intriguing premise and storyline. The world building was amazingly well done and the writing was gorgeous. I loved the space opera esque book and I could devour more of these in the future.
However, I do think that the book has bad character development. It’s really lacking and it could be better for a lot of the characters, the mains especially. I couldn’t really connect with them and that made this a hard read.
Verdict: Overall, a good read!
Book: Mirage
Author: Somaiya Daud
Book Series: Mirage Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: August 28, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 14+ (kidnapping, some violence, swapping places, trading names)
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 320
Amazon Link
Synopsis: In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.
But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.
As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection...because one wrong move could lead to her death.
Review: This book was a decent read. The book had a very intriguing premise and storyline. The world building was amazingly well done and the writing was gorgeous. I loved the space opera esque book and I could devour more of these in the future.
However, I do think that the book has bad character development. It’s really lacking and it could be better for a lot of the characters, the mains especially. I couldn’t really connect with them and that made this a hard read.
Verdict: Overall, a good read!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Court of Lions
Author: Somaiya Daud
Book Series: Mirage Book 2
Diversity: Moroccan based characters
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: kidnapping, switching places tales, Moroccan characters
Publication Date: August 6, 2020
Publisher: Hodder
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, some sexual content, violence, slight gore)
Synopsis: After being swept up into the brutal Vathek court, Amani, the ordinary girl forced to serve as the half-Vathek princess's body double, has been forced into complete isolation. The cruel but complex princess, Maram, with whom Amani had cultivated a tenuous friendship, discovered Amani's connection to the rebellion and has forced her into silence, and if Amani crosses Maram once more, her identity - and her betrayal - will be revealed to everyone in the court.
Amani is desperate to continue helping the rebellion, to fight for her people's freedom. But she must make a devastating decision: will she step aside, and watch her people suffer, or continue to aid them, and put herself and her family in mortal danger? And whatever she chooses, can she bear to remain separated, forever, from Maram's fiancé, Idris?
Review: Overall, I thought the series greatly improved from the first series. I loved the whole series and I love how much more developed the characters became in this book, especially Maram. I loved the duel POV and loved Maram’s scenes the best in the book. The world building continued to be grand and I loved the plot of this book.
However, the book is incredibly slow and the book does tend to slow down even more at random times, especially during Amani and Idris’ scenes.
Verdict: It’s a great duology! Definitely one that’s unique and will be rememberable.
Book: Court of Lions
Author: Somaiya Daud
Book Series: Mirage Book 2
Diversity: Moroccan based characters
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: kidnapping, switching places tales, Moroccan characters
Publication Date: August 6, 2020
Publisher: Hodder
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, some sexual content, violence, slight gore)
Synopsis: After being swept up into the brutal Vathek court, Amani, the ordinary girl forced to serve as the half-Vathek princess's body double, has been forced into complete isolation. The cruel but complex princess, Maram, with whom Amani had cultivated a tenuous friendship, discovered Amani's connection to the rebellion and has forced her into silence, and if Amani crosses Maram once more, her identity - and her betrayal - will be revealed to everyone in the court.
Amani is desperate to continue helping the rebellion, to fight for her people's freedom. But she must make a devastating decision: will she step aside, and watch her people suffer, or continue to aid them, and put herself and her family in mortal danger? And whatever she chooses, can she bear to remain separated, forever, from Maram's fiancé, Idris?
Review: Overall, I thought the series greatly improved from the first series. I loved the whole series and I love how much more developed the characters became in this book, especially Maram. I loved the duel POV and loved Maram’s scenes the best in the book. The world building continued to be grand and I loved the plot of this book.
However, the book is incredibly slow and the book does tend to slow down even more at random times, especially during Amani and Idris’ scenes.
Verdict: It’s a great duology! Definitely one that’s unique and will be rememberable.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: This Is My America
Author: Kim Johnson
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: BIPOC main character and side characters
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: BIPOC books, ownvoice novels, social justice books
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Pages: 416
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, police brutality TW, slight gore)
Synopsis: Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time—her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy’s older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a “thug” on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. But will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of the skeletons of their Texas town’s racist history that still haunt the present?
Fans of Nic Stone and Jason Reynolds won’t want to miss this provocative and gripping debut.
Review: This book was so fantastic! There’s a lot of components that are amazing about this book and I think that this should be taught in schools. The book did well to breakdown racism and how White people, across all mediums, do racist things subconsciously and intentionally. There was a news segment in which the main character broke down how the segment was racist in how it portrayed her brother. The news segment used a photo that made the brother look like a criminal rather than what news media uses for White people, which is usually a family photo or graduation photo, even if the White person did an unspeakable act and they don’t contest their guilt. The book also showed the bias reporting of media, showing that while Jackson Ridges was murdered by police when he resisted arrest, the news reported it as just that he died, implying he died by means other than police brutality. The book also showed trial bias and presented facts that Black Americans do not get a fair trial the majority of the time. The book showed her father being sentenced by an all-white jury, which should not have happened but unfortunately does, and shows how the court will unfavorably treat Black people in terms of the amount of evidence needed to be presented to concluded that a person is guilty. The book also had very accurate facts about prison systems, especially about private or for-profit prison systems and how they operate. Many prison systems have staff that will retaliate against an inmate’s family for things the inmate has done or the things that the family has spoken out about. The book was not only factual, but also gut wrenching. The scenes with police brutality, especially when Tracy, our main character, has a gun pointed at her when she is in an area the police are investigating, and with the racist actions of the towns people are devastating and hard to read, but are very important to read about. The author doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of what being Black in America really means in this book. This is a hard read, but a worthy read and should be taught in schools.
If I had to point out an issue, I’d say that, while not an issue, I would like to see the aftermath of what happens when an inmate is released from confinement and I would have liked to see how the family planned to sue the county for retribution from the grievance caused to them.
Verdict: A must read.
Book: This Is My America
Author: Kim Johnson
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: BIPOC main character and side characters
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: BIPOC books, ownvoice novels, social justice books
Publication Date: July 28, 2020
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Pages: 416
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, police brutality TW, slight gore)
Synopsis: Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time—her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy’s older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a “thug” on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. But will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of the skeletons of their Texas town’s racist history that still haunt the present?
Fans of Nic Stone and Jason Reynolds won’t want to miss this provocative and gripping debut.
Review: This book was so fantastic! There’s a lot of components that are amazing about this book and I think that this should be taught in schools. The book did well to breakdown racism and how White people, across all mediums, do racist things subconsciously and intentionally. There was a news segment in which the main character broke down how the segment was racist in how it portrayed her brother. The news segment used a photo that made the brother look like a criminal rather than what news media uses for White people, which is usually a family photo or graduation photo, even if the White person did an unspeakable act and they don’t contest their guilt. The book also showed the bias reporting of media, showing that while Jackson Ridges was murdered by police when he resisted arrest, the news reported it as just that he died, implying he died by means other than police brutality. The book also showed trial bias and presented facts that Black Americans do not get a fair trial the majority of the time. The book showed her father being sentenced by an all-white jury, which should not have happened but unfortunately does, and shows how the court will unfavorably treat Black people in terms of the amount of evidence needed to be presented to concluded that a person is guilty. The book also had very accurate facts about prison systems, especially about private or for-profit prison systems and how they operate. Many prison systems have staff that will retaliate against an inmate’s family for things the inmate has done or the things that the family has spoken out about. The book was not only factual, but also gut wrenching. The scenes with police brutality, especially when Tracy, our main character, has a gun pointed at her when she is in an area the police are investigating, and with the racist actions of the towns people are devastating and hard to read, but are very important to read about. The author doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of what being Black in America really means in this book. This is a hard read, but a worthy read and should be taught in schools.
If I had to point out an issue, I’d say that, while not an issue, I would like to see the aftermath of what happens when an inmate is released from confinement and I would have liked to see how the family planned to sue the county for retribution from the grievance caused to them.
Verdict: A must read.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Super Secret Book
Author: Tian En
Book Series: Standalone for now
Diversity: Singapore inspired characters
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: superheroes, middle grade, diverse reads
Publication Date: March 15, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 248
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, slight gore)
Synopsis: Violet Vivien is your not-so-typical seventeen-year-old girl. Better known as the sharpshooting superhero KOOLARA, she has dedicated her life to defending Diamond City alongside the city’s teenage crime-fighting team, the SUPER SECRET! These six young superheroes have always made taking down bad guys look like a breeze with their high-tech gadgets and unparalleled combat skills, but when a powerful, mysterious diamond falls into the hands of a vengeful supervillain, the Super Secret is forced into the biggest fight of their lives and must reconsider what it means to be a superhero before it's too late…
Review: Overall, I really liked this book! It was so cute and such a fun read! I loved the nods to Singapore and how the superheroes were incorporated. The book has a comic-book feel about it as well! The book had amazingly well done characters and the world building was great.
The only issue I had was that the first chapter was a bit choppy and hard to get into, but after that the book flew!
Verdict: Definitely a fun read!
Book: The Super Secret Book
Author: Tian En
Book Series: Standalone for now
Diversity: Singapore inspired characters
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: superheroes, middle grade, diverse reads
Publication Date: March 15, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 248
Recommended Age: 13+ (violence, slight gore)
Synopsis: Violet Vivien is your not-so-typical seventeen-year-old girl. Better known as the sharpshooting superhero KOOLARA, she has dedicated her life to defending Diamond City alongside the city’s teenage crime-fighting team, the SUPER SECRET! These six young superheroes have always made taking down bad guys look like a breeze with their high-tech gadgets and unparalleled combat skills, but when a powerful, mysterious diamond falls into the hands of a vengeful supervillain, the Super Secret is forced into the biggest fight of their lives and must reconsider what it means to be a superhero before it's too late…
Review: Overall, I really liked this book! It was so cute and such a fun read! I loved the nods to Singapore and how the superheroes were incorporated. The book has a comic-book feel about it as well! The book had amazingly well done characters and the world building was great.
The only issue I had was that the first chapter was a bit choppy and hard to get into, but after that the book flew!
Verdict: Definitely a fun read!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Lobizona
Author: Romina Garber
Book Series: Wolves of No World Book 1
Diversity: Argentina characters, lesbian couple
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Werewolves, witches, other planets, Argentinian characters And lore
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, drugging, drugs mentioned, rape mention)
Synopsis: Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.
Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.
Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.
As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.
Review: Overall, I thought the book was amazing. I loved the mythology and lore of Lobizones and Brujas (werewolves and witches basically). I liked how the author intermingled issues of ICE into this story and also sexism. The book had a well done story arc and plot and I loved the world building. Other things of note are that the book addresses sexism and homophobia and the menstrual cycle is important to the storyline.
However, I did think the pacing was a bit too fast for me and I think the book had a lot of characters that weren't fully developed.
Verdict: Recommended read! I can't wait for the next one!!
Book: Lobizona
Author: Romina Garber
Book Series: Wolves of No World Book 1
Diversity: Argentina characters, lesbian couple
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Werewolves, witches, other planets, Argentinian characters And lore
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, drugging, drugs mentioned, rape mention)
Synopsis: Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.
Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.
Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.
As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.
Review: Overall, I thought the book was amazing. I loved the mythology and lore of Lobizones and Brujas (werewolves and witches basically). I liked how the author intermingled issues of ICE into this story and also sexism. The book had a well done story arc and plot and I loved the world building. Other things of note are that the book addresses sexism and homophobia and the menstrual cycle is important to the storyline.
However, I did think the pacing was a bit too fast for me and I think the book had a lot of characters that weren't fully developed.
Verdict: Recommended read! I can't wait for the next one!!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ignite the Sun
Author: Hanna Howard
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, chosen ones
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, romance)
Publisher: Blink
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Sixteen year-old Siria Nightingale has never seen the sun. The light is dangerous, according to Queen Iyzabel, an evil witch who has shrouded the kingdom in shadow.
Siria has always hated the darkness and revels in the stories of the light-filled old days that she hears from her best friend and his grandfather. Besides them, nobody else understands her fascination with the sun, especially not her strict and demanding parents. Siria's need to please them is greater even than her fear of the dark. So she heads to the royal city--the very center of the darkness--for a chance at a place in Queen Iyzabel's court.
But what Siria discovers at the Choosing Ball sends her on a quest toward the last vestiges of the sun with a ragtag group of rebels who could help her bring back the Light ... or doom the kingdom to shadow forever.
Review: Overall, I really liked the book. The plot was intriguing and the book engaged me from beginning to end. The book was paced right and I really liked the world building that was done as well. The book is definitely rememberable and worth the read.
However, I did have a problem with the characters. There were a lot of problems for me. Some weren’t detailed enough, the romance felt forced, some characters did some things that were questionable and the constant questioning from our main character was really annoying to be honest. I think it would have been better if the author took time to develop the characters and have them grow.
Verdict: Worth the read!
Book: Ignite the Sun
Author: Hanna Howard
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, chosen ones
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, romance)
Publisher: Blink
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Sixteen year-old Siria Nightingale has never seen the sun. The light is dangerous, according to Queen Iyzabel, an evil witch who has shrouded the kingdom in shadow.
Siria has always hated the darkness and revels in the stories of the light-filled old days that she hears from her best friend and his grandfather. Besides them, nobody else understands her fascination with the sun, especially not her strict and demanding parents. Siria's need to please them is greater even than her fear of the dark. So she heads to the royal city--the very center of the darkness--for a chance at a place in Queen Iyzabel's court.
But what Siria discovers at the Choosing Ball sends her on a quest toward the last vestiges of the sun with a ragtag group of rebels who could help her bring back the Light ... or doom the kingdom to shadow forever.
Review: Overall, I really liked the book. The plot was intriguing and the book engaged me from beginning to end. The book was paced right and I really liked the world building that was done as well. The book is definitely rememberable and worth the read.
However, I did have a problem with the characters. There were a lot of problems for me. Some weren’t detailed enough, the romance felt forced, some characters did some things that were questionable and the constant questioning from our main character was really annoying to be honest. I think it would have been better if the author took time to develop the characters and have them grow.
Verdict: Worth the read!
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook download from Macmillan Audio. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: f/f romance, bisexual main character
Recommended For...: fantasy, mythology, Persian tales, fairytales
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, violence, gore, poison, kidnapping TW)
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 336
Synopsis: There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.
As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.
Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.
Review: Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book! The voice narration was spectacular and I loved how the narrator changed her voice for the different characters. It felt very much like sitting down around a fire and being told a campfire story. The characters were well detailed. The world building was amazing and I loved the bits of fairytales and Persian tales weaved into this unique story! The writing was well done and the twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat as I listened in agony to what would happen to Soraya!
The only thing I had to fault the book on was that I thought the book could have been a bit longer or perhaps two stories instead of one. The book does well to give you the story, but there’s a lot of scene changes and flipping between different places that it takes a bit to orient yourself.
Verdict: I highly recommend this!
Book: Girl, Serpent, Thorn
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: f/f romance, bisexual main character
Recommended For...: fantasy, mythology, Persian tales, fairytales
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, violence, gore, poison, kidnapping TW)
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pages: 336
Synopsis: There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.
As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.
Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.
Review: Oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book! The voice narration was spectacular and I loved how the narrator changed her voice for the different characters. It felt very much like sitting down around a fire and being told a campfire story. The characters were well detailed. The world building was amazing and I loved the bits of fairytales and Persian tales weaved into this unique story! The writing was well done and the twists and turns kept me at the edge of my seat as I listened in agony to what would happen to Soraya!
The only thing I had to fault the book on was that I thought the book could have been a bit longer or perhaps two stories instead of one. The book does well to give you the story, but there’s a lot of scene changes and flipping between different places that it takes a bit to orient yourself.
Verdict: I highly recommend this!
Disclaimer: I bought this book based on my friend @aparanormalromance recommendation!
Book: Amid Stars and Darkness
Author: Channi Lynn Feener
Book Series: The Xenith Trilogy
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Sci-fi, alien human romance, political intrigue
Publication Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 357
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, bombing TW, language, kidnapping TW, slight violence and gore)
Synopsis: Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.
Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.
No pressure or anything.
Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.
Review: I really loved this book! It was such a cool sci-fi romance and I instantly fell in love with the writing. The book did well with the character development and the world building. The book also was very well paced.
If I had to say a downside of this novel it would be that the book was a bit weird with the different time skips, but overall I really enjoyed it!
Verdict: Definitely recommend!
Book: Amid Stars and Darkness
Author: Channi Lynn Feener
Book Series: The Xenith Trilogy
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: Sci-fi, alien human romance, political intrigue
Publication Date: July 18, 2017
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 357
Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, bombing TW, language, kidnapping TW, slight violence and gore)
Synopsis: Delaney’s entire world is thrown into chaos after she is mistaken for Lissa Olena, an alien princess hiding out on Earth in order to escape an arranged marriage.
Kidnapped by the princess’s head bodyguard, Ruckus, and imprisoned in an alien palace, Delaney is forced to impersonate the princess until Olena can be found. If she fails, it will lead to an alien war and the eventual enslavement of the entire human race.
No pressure or anything.
Factor in Trystan, the princess’s terrifying betrothed who is intent on unraveling all her secrets, and her own growing feelings for Ruckus, and Delaney is in way over her head.
Review: I really loved this book! It was such a cool sci-fi romance and I instantly fell in love with the writing. The book did well with the character development and the world building. The book also was very well paced.
If I had to say a downside of this novel it would be that the book was a bit weird with the different time skips, but overall I really enjoyed it!
Verdict: Definitely recommend!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Sound of Stars
Author: Alechia Dow
Book Series: Standalone (so far??)
Diversity: biracial demisexual ace rep, the anxiety rep, the enby rep, and the bisexual rep
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: LGBT+, diverse reads, ownvoice readers, sci-fi lovers, dystopian lovers
Publication Date: February 25, 2020
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 419
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, death, hangings, suicide TW, racism, language)
Synopsis: Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world’s population.
Seventeen-year-old Janelle “Ellie” Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. Deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, humanity’s emotional transgressions are now grounds for execution. All art, books and creative expression are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.
Born in a lab, M0Rr1S (Morris) was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie’s illegal library, he’s duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They’re both breaking the rules for love of art—and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.
Ellie’s—and humanity’s—fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution—thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.
Review: Oh my goodness! This book combined two things I absolutely love: space vibes and dystopia. I loved the world building done in this book and honestly this seems to be a very plausible outcome for the world in dystopian terms (not like we're not already in one but whatever). The book has well done characters and I absolutely loved Janelle. I loved the biracial demisexual ace rep, the anxiety rep, the enby rep, and the bisexual rep. I also felt the pacing was very even and the book kept me hooked from beginning to end! I definitely need a sequel!
My only issue is that the book was a bit confusing with the aliens, but that's probably because between work and such it took me over a week to read and I forgot some details.
Verdict: Highly recommend!!!
Book: The Sound of Stars
Author: Alechia Dow
Book Series: Standalone (so far??)
Diversity: biracial demisexual ace rep, the anxiety rep, the enby rep, and the bisexual rep
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: LGBT+, diverse reads, ownvoice readers, sci-fi lovers, dystopian lovers
Publication Date: February 25, 2020
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 419
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, death, hangings, suicide TW, racism, language)
Synopsis: Two years ago, a misunderstanding between the leaders of Earth and the invading Ilori resulted in the deaths of one-third of the world’s population.
Seventeen-year-old Janelle “Ellie” Baker survives in an Ilori-controlled center in New York City. Deemed dangerously volatile because of their initial reaction to the invasion, humanity’s emotional transgressions are now grounds for execution. All art, books and creative expression are illegal, but Ellie breaks the rules by keeping a secret library. When a book goes missing, Ellie is terrified that the Ilori will track it back to her and kill her.
Born in a lab, M0Rr1S (Morris) was raised to be emotionless. When he finds Ellie’s illegal library, he’s duty-bound to deliver her for execution. The trouble is, he finds himself drawn to human music and in desperate need of more. They’re both breaking the rules for love of art—and Ellie inspires the same feelings in him that music does.
Ellie’s—and humanity’s—fate rests in the hands of an alien she should fear. M0Rr1S has a lot of secrets, but also a potential solution—thousands of miles away. The two embark on a wild and dangerous road trip with a bag of books and their favorite albums, all the while making a story and a song of their own that just might save them both.
Review: Oh my goodness! This book combined two things I absolutely love: space vibes and dystopia. I loved the world building done in this book and honestly this seems to be a very plausible outcome for the world in dystopian terms (not like we're not already in one but whatever). The book has well done characters and I absolutely loved Janelle. I loved the biracial demisexual ace rep, the anxiety rep, the enby rep, and the bisexual rep. I also felt the pacing was very even and the book kept me hooked from beginning to end! I definitely need a sequel!
My only issue is that the book was a bit confusing with the aliens, but that's probably because between work and such it took me over a week to read and I forgot some details.
Verdict: Highly recommend!!!