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popthebutterfly
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Book: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
Author: Junauda Petrus
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black MCs and side characters, lesbian and bisexual MCs, non-binary pronouns for side character, Trinidadian MC, MC with leukemia, f/f romance
Recommended For...: magical realism, romance, contemporaries
Publication Date: September 17, 2019
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Recommended Age: 16+ (domestic abuse TW, cancer TW, masturbation mentioned, suicide mentioned TW, romance, homophobia
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Pages: 312
Synopsis: Trinidad. Sixteen-year-old Audre is despondent, having just found out she’s going to be sent to live in America with her father because her strictly religious mother caught her with her secret girlfriend, the pastor’s daughter. Audre’s grandmother Queenie (a former dancer who drives a white convertible Cadillac and who has a few secrets of her own) tries to reassure her granddaughter that she won’t lose her roots, not even in some place called Minneapolis. “America have dey spirits too, believe me,” she tells Audre.
Minneapolis. Sixteen-year-old Mabel is lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out why she feels the way she feels–about her ex Terrell, about her girl Jada and that moment they had in the woods, and about the vague feeling of illness that’s plagued her all summer. Mabel’s reverie is cut short when her father announces that his best friend and his just-arrived-from-Trinidad daughter are coming for dinner.
Mabel quickly falls hard for Audre and is determined to take care of her as she tries to navigate an American high school. But their romance takes a turn when test results reveal exactly why Mabel has been feeling low-key sick all summer and suddenly it’s Audre who is caring for Mabel as she faces a deeply uncertain future.
Junauda Petrus’s debut brilliantly captures the distinctly lush and lyrical voices of Mabel and Audre as they conjure a love that is stronger than hatred, prison, and death and as vast as the blackness between the stars.
Review: Overall, I thought this was a well done book. I started it by reading and then finished it by listening to it on audiobook. The book has multiple POVs that all have distinct voices. I loved the character development of both of the main characters and I loved their relationship with each other. The book is beautifully wrote and incorporates magical realism in one of the best ways I’ve ever read. The book also has great world building and discusses a lot of real world topics.
However, the book has come under fire recently. Trinidadian reviewers state the book has bad representation of the Trinidad rep because of badly translated Creole and antiquated representation of what Trinidad is, so be mindful of that. I can’t speak for that but I will say to trust ownvoice reviewers and their interpretations. The book is also 10000x better in audiobook format and from what I’ve read the book is supposed to be told in oratory format.
Verdict: Recommend, but please be mindful of what Trinidadian reviewers say about the book.
Book: The Stars and the Blackness Between Them
Author: Junauda Petrus
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black MCs and side characters, lesbian and bisexual MCs, non-binary pronouns for side character, Trinidadian MC, MC with leukemia, f/f romance
Recommended For...: magical realism, romance, contemporaries
Publication Date: September 17, 2019
Genre: YA Magical Realism
Recommended Age: 16+ (domestic abuse TW, cancer TW, masturbation mentioned, suicide mentioned TW, romance, homophobia
Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
Pages: 312
Synopsis: Trinidad. Sixteen-year-old Audre is despondent, having just found out she’s going to be sent to live in America with her father because her strictly religious mother caught her with her secret girlfriend, the pastor’s daughter. Audre’s grandmother Queenie (a former dancer who drives a white convertible Cadillac and who has a few secrets of her own) tries to reassure her granddaughter that she won’t lose her roots, not even in some place called Minneapolis. “America have dey spirits too, believe me,” she tells Audre.
Minneapolis. Sixteen-year-old Mabel is lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling and trying to figure out why she feels the way she feels–about her ex Terrell, about her girl Jada and that moment they had in the woods, and about the vague feeling of illness that’s plagued her all summer. Mabel’s reverie is cut short when her father announces that his best friend and his just-arrived-from-Trinidad daughter are coming for dinner.
Mabel quickly falls hard for Audre and is determined to take care of her as she tries to navigate an American high school. But their romance takes a turn when test results reveal exactly why Mabel has been feeling low-key sick all summer and suddenly it’s Audre who is caring for Mabel as she faces a deeply uncertain future.
Junauda Petrus’s debut brilliantly captures the distinctly lush and lyrical voices of Mabel and Audre as they conjure a love that is stronger than hatred, prison, and death and as vast as the blackness between the stars.
Review: Overall, I thought this was a well done book. I started it by reading and then finished it by listening to it on audiobook. The book has multiple POVs that all have distinct voices. I loved the character development of both of the main characters and I loved their relationship with each other. The book is beautifully wrote and incorporates magical realism in one of the best ways I’ve ever read. The book also has great world building and discusses a lot of real world topics.
However, the book has come under fire recently. Trinidadian reviewers state the book has bad representation of the Trinidad rep because of badly translated Creole and antiquated representation of what Trinidad is, so be mindful of that. I can’t speak for that but I will say to trust ownvoice reviewers and their interpretations. The book is also 10000x better in audiobook format and from what I’ve read the book is supposed to be told in oratory format.
Verdict: Recommend, but please be mindful of what Trinidadian reviewers say about the book.
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Buy diversely!
Book: The Voting Booth
Author: Brandy Colbert
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: BIPOC ownvoice, mixed relationships
Recommended For...: voters, political issues, voting issues, romance, only one day
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (political issues, romance, drivebys mentioned TW, grief, cops TW, racism, colorism, language)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 297
Synopsis: Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?
Duke Crenshaw is do done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight.
Only problem? Duke can't vote.
When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.
Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can't sit around waiting for the world to change?but some things are just meant to be.
Review: I really loved this book! The book was really short and it makes for the perfect summer read. The book has great character development and the gem of this book is how it talks about so many issues in a concise yet persuasive manner. The book talks about colorism, prejudice, racism, racist actions of college, mixed relationships, abortion politics, gun control, voter suppression, voting issues, “the talk” about being pulled over and/or stopped by cops, and grief. The book does well to talk about all of these issues and more. I feel like I learned a whole lot about the electoral process in this book and I can’t wait to go vote on November 3!
However, I did think that the book was a bit too fast paced and the romance was kinda insta-love.
Verdict: Highly recommend and please remember to vote!
Book: The Voting Booth
Author: Brandy Colbert
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: BIPOC ownvoice, mixed relationships
Recommended For...: voters, political issues, voting issues, romance, only one day
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 14+ (political issues, romance, drivebys mentioned TW, grief, cops TW, racism, colorism, language)
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 297
Synopsis: Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?
Duke Crenshaw is do done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight.
Only problem? Duke can't vote.
When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.
Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can't sit around waiting for the world to change?but some things are just meant to be.
Review: I really loved this book! The book was really short and it makes for the perfect summer read. The book has great character development and the gem of this book is how it talks about so many issues in a concise yet persuasive manner. The book talks about colorism, prejudice, racism, racist actions of college, mixed relationships, abortion politics, gun control, voter suppression, voting issues, “the talk” about being pulled over and/or stopped by cops, and grief. The book does well to talk about all of these issues and more. I feel like I learned a whole lot about the electoral process in this book and I can’t wait to go vote on November 3!
However, I did think that the book was a bit too fast paced and the romance was kinda insta-love.
Verdict: Highly recommend and please remember to vote!
Disclaimer: I bought this ebook. Support your authors!
Book: Spellslinger
Author: Sebastian de Castell
Book Series: Spellslinger Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: magic
Publication Date: May 4, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Pages: 416
Synopsis: There are three things that earn you a man’s name among the Jan’Tep. The first is to demonstrate the strength to defend your family. The second is to prove you can perform the high magic that defines our people. The third is simply to reach the age of sixteen. I was a few weeks shy of my birthday when I learned that I wouldn’t be doing any of those things.
Magic is a con game.
Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone. As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path. Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...
Review: DNF at 30%. The writing is rich and so amazingly detailed and I could see myself loving this. It reminded me a lot of The Night Circus and Where Dreams Descend and I'd love to try to give it a go but for right now I'm not in the best mindset to do so. I will come back to this book but not right now.
Verdict: It’s a good book, but not for me right now.
Book: Spellslinger
Author: Sebastian de Castell
Book Series: Spellslinger Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: magic
Publication Date: May 4, 2017
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Pages: 416
Synopsis: There are three things that earn you a man’s name among the Jan’Tep. The first is to demonstrate the strength to defend your family. The second is to prove you can perform the high magic that defines our people. The third is simply to reach the age of sixteen. I was a few weeks shy of my birthday when I learned that I wouldn’t be doing any of those things.
Magic is a con game.
Kellen is moments away from facing his first mage's duel and the start of four trials that will make him a spellcaster. There's just one problem: his magic is gone. As his sixteenth birthday approaches, Kellen falls back on his cunning in a bid to avoid total disgrace. But when a daring stranger arrives in town, she challenges Kellen to take a different path. Ferius Parfax is one of the mysterious Argosi - a traveller who lives by her wits and the three decks of cards she carries. She's difficult and unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope...
Review: DNF at 30%. The writing is rich and so amazingly detailed and I could see myself loving this. It reminded me a lot of The Night Circus and Where Dreams Descend and I'd love to try to give it a go but for right now I'm not in the best mindset to do so. I will come back to this book but not right now.
Verdict: It’s a good book, but not for me right now.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Unbirthday
Author: Liz Braswell
Book Series: Twisted Tales Book 10
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: retelling fans, Alice in Wonderland
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Retelling
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 512
Synopsis: What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?
Alice is different than other eighteen-year-old ladies in Kexford, which is perfectly fine with her. She'd rather spend golden afternoons with her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian's lively salon, ignoring her sister's wishes that she stop all that "nonsense" and become a "respectable" member of society. Alice is happy to meander to Miss. Yao's teashop or to visit the children playing in the Square. She's also interested in learning more about the young lawyer she met there, but just because she's curious, of course, not because he was sweet and charming.
But when Alice develops photographs she has recently taken about town, familiar faces of old suddenly appear in the place of her actual subjects-the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar. There's something eerily off about them, even for Wonderland creatures. And as Alice develops a self-portrait, she finds the most disturbing image of all-a badly-injured dark-haired girl asking for Alice's help. Mary Ann.
Returning to the place of nonsense from her childhood, Alice finds herself on a mission to stop the Queen of Hearts' tyrannical rule and to find her place in both worlds. But will she able to do so . . . before the End of Time?
Review: DNFed at 20%. The beginning of this book is really discombobulated and confusing. The pacing is really slow as well and immediately you're greeted with a ton of characters. The book is also obviously not just using the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie (and live action ones) for context but I'm not sure what the other sources they're using (although I'm getting Alice the Madness Returns vibes). I'll definitely circle back to this book when I get the finished copy but for now I gotta mull on this one. There are also some Lewis Carroll references in this book and references to rape/child molestation (honestly, those are one in the same with Carroll).
Verdict: It’s good, but not for me right now.
Book: Unbirthday
Author: Liz Braswell
Book Series: Twisted Tales Book 10
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: retelling fans, Alice in Wonderland
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Retelling
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 512
Synopsis: What if Wonderland was in peril and Alice was very, very late?
Alice is different than other eighteen-year-old ladies in Kexford, which is perfectly fine with her. She'd rather spend golden afternoons with her trusty camera or in her aunt Vivian's lively salon, ignoring her sister's wishes that she stop all that "nonsense" and become a "respectable" member of society. Alice is happy to meander to Miss. Yao's teashop or to visit the children playing in the Square. She's also interested in learning more about the young lawyer she met there, but just because she's curious, of course, not because he was sweet and charming.
But when Alice develops photographs she has recently taken about town, familiar faces of old suddenly appear in the place of her actual subjects-the Queen of Hearts, the Mad Hatter, the Caterpillar. There's something eerily off about them, even for Wonderland creatures. And as Alice develops a self-portrait, she finds the most disturbing image of all-a badly-injured dark-haired girl asking for Alice's help. Mary Ann.
Returning to the place of nonsense from her childhood, Alice finds herself on a mission to stop the Queen of Hearts' tyrannical rule and to find her place in both worlds. But will she able to do so . . . before the End of Time?
Review: DNFed at 20%. The beginning of this book is really discombobulated and confusing. The pacing is really slow as well and immediately you're greeted with a ton of characters. The book is also obviously not just using the Disney Alice in Wonderland movie (and live action ones) for context but I'm not sure what the other sources they're using (although I'm getting Alice the Madness Returns vibes). I'll definitely circle back to this book when I get the finished copy but for now I gotta mull on this one. There are also some Lewis Carroll references in this book and references to rape/child molestation (honestly, those are one in the same with Carroll).
Verdict: It’s good, but not for me right now.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Somebody People
Author: Bob Proehl
Book Series: The Nobody People Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Heroes like story, sci-fi
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, some romance, dictatorships)
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Pages: 624
Synopsis: Fahima Deeb changed everything seven years ago when she triggered the Pulse, imbuing millions of people with otherworldly gifts like flight, telekinesis, or superhuman strength. She thought that would herald the end of the hostilities between those with abilities and those without, but it instead highlighted a new problem: There is someone behind the scenes, able to influence and manipulate these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Worse still, that shadowy figure is wearing the face of Fahima's oldest friend, Patrick Davenport. Fahima is horror-struck when she realizes that Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him.
With nowhere to turn and few she can trust, Fahima must rely on uncertain allies: Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima's reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe--and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time. Together, they might be able to topple Patrick's shadowy regime . . . though it may spell destruction for the entire world.
Review: The book is pretty good. It's a straight continuation of the first one. The book has good world building and good pacing. The plot of this one also kept me intrigued in the book. This is another book that will be great for tome topper as well!
Overall though, I don't think this book is as good as the first. The characters were a bit weirdly wrote and I can't fully describe it. The book had weird structure also and it didn't really grasp my attention. You also have to remember the last book and it would be best to read these back to back unlike what I did.
Verdict: It was good, but make sure to read book 1 first or you’ll be confused like me!
Book: The Somebody People
Author: Bob Proehl
Book Series: The Nobody People Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Heroes like story, sci-fi
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, some romance, dictatorships)
Publisher: Del Rey Books
Pages: 624
Synopsis: Fahima Deeb changed everything seven years ago when she triggered the Pulse, imbuing millions of people with otherworldly gifts like flight, telekinesis, or superhuman strength. She thought that would herald the end of the hostilities between those with abilities and those without, but it instead highlighted a new problem: There is someone behind the scenes, able to influence and manipulate these newly empowered people into committing horrible acts against their will. Worse still, that shadowy figure is wearing the face of Fahima's oldest friend, Patrick Davenport. Fahima is horror-struck when she realizes that Patrick has built an army entirely under his control to wipe out all who oppose him.
With nowhere to turn and few she can trust, Fahima must rely on uncertain allies: Carrie Norris, whose illusion of a normal life vanishes at Fahima's reappearance. Clay Weaver, a retired soldier fighting to keep his husband and son safe--and to keep Patrick from taking over his mind. And, finally, Emmeline Hirsch, adrift and untethered from her ability to travel through time. Together, they might be able to topple Patrick's shadowy regime . . . though it may spell destruction for the entire world.
Review: The book is pretty good. It's a straight continuation of the first one. The book has good world building and good pacing. The plot of this one also kept me intrigued in the book. This is another book that will be great for tome topper as well!
Overall though, I don't think this book is as good as the first. The characters were a bit weirdly wrote and I can't fully describe it. The book had weird structure also and it didn't really grasp my attention. You also have to remember the last book and it would be best to read these back to back unlike what I did.
Verdict: It was good, but make sure to read book 1 first or you’ll be confused like me!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Wayward Witch
Author: Zoraida Cordova
Book Series: Brooklyn Brujas Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: urban fantasy, paranormal, witches, magic
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she’s been feeling lost. She has brand-new powers she doesn’t understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father’s return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father’s memory loss has been a lie.
As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There, Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters.
But if Rose wants to return home so she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first.
Review: DNFed at 23%. While you can read this book as a standalone I kept getting the feeling that I should start at the beginning of this series instead..I blame netgalley again for not letting me know lol. The writing is great and the plot seems interesting but I kept getting tripped up on the details and characters. Will definitely try again in the future.
Verdict: It’s good, but I want to start at the beginning.
Book: Wayward Witch
Author: Zoraida Cordova
Book Series: Brooklyn Brujas Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: urban fantasy, paranormal, witches, magic
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she’s been feeling lost. She has brand-new powers she doesn’t understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father’s return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father’s memory loss has been a lie.
As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There, Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters.
But if Rose wants to return home so she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first.
Review: DNFed at 23%. While you can read this book as a standalone I kept getting the feeling that I should start at the beginning of this series instead..I blame netgalley again for not letting me know lol. The writing is great and the plot seems interesting but I kept getting tripped up on the details and characters. Will definitely try again in the future.
Verdict: It’s good, but I want to start at the beginning.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Song Below Water
Author: Bethany C. Morrow
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black main character and side characters!
Recommended For...: mermaid lovers, people who want commentary on racism and discrimination
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, slight gore, slight romance, fighting for justice, racism, police brutality)
Publisher: TorTeen
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Never mind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.
But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she's also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore—soon Portland won’t be either.
Review: I tried this book again and it was much better this time. I don't know if I'm just a mood reader now or not but it definitely effected my reading of this book on the first pass. The book was amazingly well detailed and I loved the world the author wove. The characters were also well done and developed. I also loved the incorporation of racism, police brutality, and the overall fight for justice!
However, I did think that there were some confusing moments and pacing issues. The pacing is a bit slow in places and it slows down randomly.
Verdict: I think it’s a good book, but it's hard to read in some spots.
Book: A Song Below Water
Author: Bethany C. Morrow
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black main character and side characters!
Recommended For...: mermaid lovers, people who want commentary on racism and discrimination
Publication Date: June 2, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, death, slight gore, slight romance, fighting for justice, racism, police brutality)
Publisher: TorTeen
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Tavia is already at odds with the world, forced to keep her siren identity under wraps in a society that wants to keep her kind under lock and key. Never mind she's also stuck in Portland, Oregon, a city with only a handful of black folk and even fewer of those with magical powers. At least she has her bestie Effie by her side as they tackle high school drama, family secrets, and unrequited crushes.
But everything changes in the aftermath of a siren murder trial that rocks the nation; the girls’ favorite Internet fashion icon reveals she's also a siren, and the news rips through their community. Tensions escalate when Effie starts being haunted by demons from her past, and Tavia accidentally lets out her magical voice during a police stop. No secret seems safe anymore—soon Portland won’t be either.
Review: I tried this book again and it was much better this time. I don't know if I'm just a mood reader now or not but it definitely effected my reading of this book on the first pass. The book was amazingly well detailed and I loved the world the author wove. The characters were also well done and developed. I also loved the incorporation of racism, police brutality, and the overall fight for justice!
However, I did think that there were some confusing moments and pacing issues. The pacing is a bit slow in places and it slows down randomly.
Verdict: I think it’s a good book, but it's hard to read in some spots.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Beyond
Author: M.C. Winkkle
Book Series: Black Tears Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi, romance, thriller
Publication Date: September 10, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, slight gore, language, romance)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 289
Synopsis: One day Stella is walking home after a bad day at school, the next, she wakes up to find herself a prisoner.
For months the CIA keeps her in an abandoned psychiatric hospital where all she thought she knew about herself is pushed to the limits until it shatters before her eyes.
Her suicidal tendencies and the rest of her psychological issues are the least of her problems as she discovers that she has the key to solving a war between aliens and humans which has been going on for decades.
All she wants is to go back to what things were, but that’s impossible and now she must face a choice:
Which side to pick?
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. The story immediately drew me in and the plot kept me interested from beginning to end. The book had some great writing as well overall and the pacing and flow of the book were pretty on point.
However, I couldn't connect to the characters and I didn't really care for any of them. The book also didn't develop the worldbuilding as much as I would have liked to see.
Verdict: It’s good!
Book: Beyond
Author: M.C. Winkkle
Book Series: Black Tears Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi, romance, thriller
Publication Date: September 10, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, slight gore, language, romance)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 289
Synopsis: One day Stella is walking home after a bad day at school, the next, she wakes up to find herself a prisoner.
For months the CIA keeps her in an abandoned psychiatric hospital where all she thought she knew about herself is pushed to the limits until it shatters before her eyes.
Her suicidal tendencies and the rest of her psychological issues are the least of her problems as she discovers that she has the key to solving a war between aliens and humans which has been going on for decades.
All she wants is to go back to what things were, but that’s impossible and now she must face a choice:
Which side to pick?
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. The story immediately drew me in and the plot kept me interested from beginning to end. The book had some great writing as well overall and the pacing and flow of the book were pretty on point.
However, I couldn't connect to the characters and I didn't really care for any of them. The book also didn't develop the worldbuilding as much as I would have liked to see.
Verdict: It’s good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the Smith Publicity. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Percivious Insomnia
Author: J.J. and A.J. Cook
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi lovers, pandemic reads
Publication Date: August 27, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, alternate history, drugs TW, pandemic TW)
Publisher: FriesenPress
Pages: 240
Synopsis: An insomnia pandemic is sweeping the globe, leaving people unable to function and society on the brink of collapse...
Dr. Cooper Delaney believes he has the answer: Noctural, a new sleep-aid—one with absolutely no side-effects—which in early testing shows 100% effectiveness.
The only problem is, it doesn’t work. With no warning. No explanation.
Unable to accept the drug’s inexplicable failure and unwilling to concede to the competition, lines are crossed, ethical boundaries are pushed to the breaking point, and disturbing realizations come to light that could completely unravel civilization as we know it… and throw into question humanity’s place in the universe.
A jetset medical thriller meets sci-fi adventure with an unforgettable cast of characters, Percivious Insomnia presents an alternate history so compelling that it could possibly be true. The first book in the Percivious Trilogy from husband-wife author duo JJ Cook & AJ Cook, MD, Percivious Insomnia sets a unique and original course for fiction of the future, and paints a timely, prescient portrait of today’s globalized society… and what may exist beyond the realm of our current understanding.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The concept of the book was interesting and for the most part the character development was well done. I also liked the pacing of this book.
However, the execution of this book was a bit short. The plot didn’t keep me intrigued after a bit and the book didn’t do well at showing and not telling. The book also didn’t have that much world building.
Verdict: It was good, just needs more editing.
Book: Percivious Insomnia
Author: J.J. and A.J. Cook
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi lovers, pandemic reads
Publication Date: August 27, 2020
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, alternate history, drugs TW, pandemic TW)
Publisher: FriesenPress
Pages: 240
Synopsis: An insomnia pandemic is sweeping the globe, leaving people unable to function and society on the brink of collapse...
Dr. Cooper Delaney believes he has the answer: Noctural, a new sleep-aid—one with absolutely no side-effects—which in early testing shows 100% effectiveness.
The only problem is, it doesn’t work. With no warning. No explanation.
Unable to accept the drug’s inexplicable failure and unwilling to concede to the competition, lines are crossed, ethical boundaries are pushed to the breaking point, and disturbing realizations come to light that could completely unravel civilization as we know it… and throw into question humanity’s place in the universe.
A jetset medical thriller meets sci-fi adventure with an unforgettable cast of characters, Percivious Insomnia presents an alternate history so compelling that it could possibly be true. The first book in the Percivious Trilogy from husband-wife author duo JJ Cook & AJ Cook, MD, Percivious Insomnia sets a unique and original course for fiction of the future, and paints a timely, prescient portrait of today’s globalized society… and what may exist beyond the realm of our current understanding.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The concept of the book was interesting and for the most part the character development was well done. I also liked the pacing of this book.
However, the execution of this book was a bit short. The plot didn’t keep me intrigued after a bit and the book didn’t do well at showing and not telling. The book also didn’t have that much world building.
Verdict: It was good, just needs more editing.
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: We Are Not Free
Author: Traci Cee
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Japanese MCs and side characters
Recommended For...: history buffs
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 14+ (war mention, racism, calling out an author for being racist (Dr. Suess), POWs, romance, and slight sexual content, violence)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Synopsis: From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.
Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.
In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.
Review: For the most part I thought this was an excellent book! I loved the multiple (14) povs and the story of these kids. The book did well to convey the horror of the real life situation Japanese people went through. The book also gave me information that I didn't have due to the poor American education system. I highly urge people to read this. We should know about the horrors we inflicted on our own people.
The only issue I had with the book is that the POV switches can be weird. You start really liking a character then have to go to a new one.
Verdict: Highly recommend and required reading!
Book: We Are Not Free
Author: Traci Cee
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Japanese MCs and side characters
Recommended For...: history buffs
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 14+ (war mention, racism, calling out an author for being racist (Dr. Suess), POWs, romance, and slight sexual content, violence)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Synopsis: From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.
Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.
Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.
Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.
In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.
Review: For the most part I thought this was an excellent book! I loved the multiple (14) povs and the story of these kids. The book did well to convey the horror of the real life situation Japanese people went through. The book also gave me information that I didn't have due to the poor American education system. I highly urge people to read this. We should know about the horrors we inflicted on our own people.
The only issue I had with the book is that the POV switches can be weird. You start really liking a character then have to go to a new one.
Verdict: Highly recommend and required reading!