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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Book Series: Fable Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters
Recommended For...: pirate fans, LGBT, insta love
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, gore, drinking, murder, death, romance, sexual content)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 368
Synopsis: As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought it was very different from Adrienne Young's other books and I loved that. The book had some great moments, strong character development for main characters, and tons of world building.
However, I do think that some of the other side characters in the book could have been better developed. They existed for the plot and I wanted to know more about them.
Verdict: Highly recommend this pirate-like book!
Book: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Book Series: Fable Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters
Recommended For...: pirate fans, LGBT, insta love
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, gore, drinking, murder, death, romance, sexual content)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 368
Synopsis: As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought it was very different from Adrienne Young's other books and I loved that. The book had some great moments, strong character development for main characters, and tons of world building.
However, I do think that some of the other side characters in the book could have been better developed. They existed for the plot and I wanted to know more about them.
Verdict: Highly recommend this pirate-like book!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ironspark
Author: C.M. McGuire
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: LGBT characters (f/f and love triangle, ace male), anxiety rep
Recommended For...: fae lovers, revenge story, ya fantasy
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (death, anxiety, anxiety attacks, parent with mental illness, violence, slight gore, arson, kidnapping)
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 336
Synopsis: For the past nine years, ever since a bunch of those evil Tinkerbells abducted her mother, cursed her father, and forced her family into hiding, Bryn has devoted herself to learning everything she can about killing the Fae. Now it’s time to put those lessons to use.
Then the Court Fae finally show up, and Bryn realizes she can’t handle this on her own. Thankfully, three friends offer to help: Gwen, a kindhearted water witch; Dom, a new foster kid pulled into her world; and Jasika, a schoolmate with her own grudge against the Fae.
But trust is hard-won, and what little Bryn has gained is put to the test when she uncovers a book of Fae magic that belonged to her mother. With the Fae threat mounting every day, Bryn must choose between faith in her friends and power from a magic that could threaten her very humanity.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The plot was intriguing and the world building was really well done. I also liked the pacing of the book. I really liked the anxiety rep and I'm genuinely intrigued by the mythology.
However, the characters were a bit off in my opinion. The fae were.... kinda lackluster and the other characters flat. I also had issues with the "father cursed with mental illness" thing. It felt kinda offensive to me because I have a mother who has anxiety and I had to grow up trying to figure out why my mom would sometimes go off on me unexpectedly and why sometimes she would lock herself in her bedroom for the rest of the day. I never felt like I was cursed or she was cursed by whatever her health though, it was just something I had to learn and adapt to. I got the vibe the author was going for but it kinda hurt. I don't like books where the author uses mental illness as the punishment for a curse or uses it to explain away why people don't believe they're actually seeing the supernatural. It really rubs me the wrong way when mental illness is used as a villain. And while this book wasn’t doing that intentionally, it gave off that vibe.
Verdict: It was well done and I liked it overall.
Book: Ironspark
Author: C.M. McGuire
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: LGBT characters (f/f and love triangle, ace male), anxiety rep
Recommended For...: fae lovers, revenge story, ya fantasy
Publication Date: August 25, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (death, anxiety, anxiety attacks, parent with mental illness, violence, slight gore, arson, kidnapping)
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Pages: 336
Synopsis: For the past nine years, ever since a bunch of those evil Tinkerbells abducted her mother, cursed her father, and forced her family into hiding, Bryn has devoted herself to learning everything she can about killing the Fae. Now it’s time to put those lessons to use.
Then the Court Fae finally show up, and Bryn realizes she can’t handle this on her own. Thankfully, three friends offer to help: Gwen, a kindhearted water witch; Dom, a new foster kid pulled into her world; and Jasika, a schoolmate with her own grudge against the Fae.
But trust is hard-won, and what little Bryn has gained is put to the test when she uncovers a book of Fae magic that belonged to her mother. With the Fae threat mounting every day, Bryn must choose between faith in her friends and power from a magic that could threaten her very humanity.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The plot was intriguing and the world building was really well done. I also liked the pacing of the book. I really liked the anxiety rep and I'm genuinely intrigued by the mythology.
However, the characters were a bit off in my opinion. The fae were.... kinda lackluster and the other characters flat. I also had issues with the "father cursed with mental illness" thing. It felt kinda offensive to me because I have a mother who has anxiety and I had to grow up trying to figure out why my mom would sometimes go off on me unexpectedly and why sometimes she would lock herself in her bedroom for the rest of the day. I never felt like I was cursed or she was cursed by whatever her health though, it was just something I had to learn and adapt to. I got the vibe the author was going for but it kinda hurt. I don't like books where the author uses mental illness as the punishment for a curse or uses it to explain away why people don't believe they're actually seeing the supernatural. It really rubs me the wrong way when mental illness is used as a villain. And while this book wasn’t doing that intentionally, it gave off that vibe.
Verdict: It was well done and I liked it overall.
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors and buy diversely!
Book: With the Fire on High
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters, Black and Lantinx characters and MC (Puerto Rican and Black)
Recommended For...: ya contemporary, cooking, teen parenting
Publication Date: May 17, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, sexual content and sex discussed)
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Pages: 400
Synopsis: With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.
Review: Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely amazing. I loved the voice of this book and I flew through it. The character development was amazing, the romance cute, and the world building amazing. Absolutely recommend!
However, I did think that the book had an overarching problem where there was a lot of story but not a lot of plot. The overarching plot seems to be "girl needs to get into culinary arts program" but it's more like "girl has problem" *solved* "girl has new problem" *solved* etc. It's not bad per se, it's really good, but it's more like a tv show with different but connecting problems in one book/series.
Verdict: It was so well done and I’ll definitely reread it!
Book: With the Fire on High
Author: Elizabeth Acevedo
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: LGBT side characters, Black and Lantinx characters and MC (Puerto Rican and Black)
Recommended For...: ya contemporary, cooking, teen parenting
Publication Date: May 17, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, sexual content and sex discussed)
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Pages: 400
Synopsis: With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.
Review: Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely amazing. I loved the voice of this book and I flew through it. The character development was amazing, the romance cute, and the world building amazing. Absolutely recommend!
However, I did think that the book had an overarching problem where there was a lot of story but not a lot of plot. The overarching plot seems to be "girl needs to get into culinary arts program" but it's more like "girl has problem" *solved* "girl has new problem" *solved* etc. It's not bad per se, it's really good, but it's more like a tv show with different but connecting problems in one book/series.
Verdict: It was so well done and I’ll definitely reread it!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Automation
Author: G.B. Gabbler
Book Series: Circo del Herrero Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: epic poetry lovers, sci-fi
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore)
Publisher: SOBPublishing
Pages: 376
Synopsis: The capital-A Automatons of Greco-Roman myth aren’t clockwork. Their design is much more divine. They’re more intricate than robots or androids or anything else mortal humans could invent. Their windup keys are their human Masters. They aren’t mindless; they have infinite storage space. And, because they have more than one form, they’re more versatile and portable than, say, your cell phone—and much more useful too. The only thing these god-forged beings share in common with those lowercase-A automatons is their pre-programmed existence. They have a function—a function their creator put into place—a function that was questionable from the start…
Odys (no, not short for Odysseus, thank you) finds his hermetic lifestyle falling apart after a stranger commits suicide to free his soul-attached Automaton slave. The humanoid Automaton uses Odys’s soul to “reactivate” herself. Odys must learn to accept that the female Automaton is an extension of his body—that they are the same person—and that her creator-god is forging a new purpose for all with Automatons…
The novel calls itself a “Prose Epic,” but is otherwise a purposeful implosion of literary clichés and gimmicks: A Narrator and an Editor (named Gabbler) frame the novel. Gabbler’s pompous commentary (as footnotes) on the nameless Narrator’s story grounds the novel in reality. Gabbler is a stereotypical academic who likes the story only for its so-called “literary” qualities, but otherwise contradicts the Narrator’s claim that the story is true.
THE AUTOMATION is a this-world fantasy that reboots mythical characters and alchemical concepts. Its ideal place would be on the same bookshelf as Wilson’s ALIF THE UNSEEN and Gaiman’s AMERICAN GODS—though it wouldn’t mind bookending Homer, Virgil, and Milton, to be specific.
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. It has great world building and is a cool story overall. The book is written as an epic poem and calls back to classic literature.
However, that concept makes the book hard to understand if you're not familiar with that kind of work. The book itself is pretty good but it was just hard overall on my to understand.
Verdict: It was good, just a little confusing.
Book: The Automation
Author: G.B. Gabbler
Book Series: Circo del Herrero Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: epic poetry lovers, sci-fi
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore)
Publisher: SOBPublishing
Pages: 376
Synopsis: The capital-A Automatons of Greco-Roman myth aren’t clockwork. Their design is much more divine. They’re more intricate than robots or androids or anything else mortal humans could invent. Their windup keys are their human Masters. They aren’t mindless; they have infinite storage space. And, because they have more than one form, they’re more versatile and portable than, say, your cell phone—and much more useful too. The only thing these god-forged beings share in common with those lowercase-A automatons is their pre-programmed existence. They have a function—a function their creator put into place—a function that was questionable from the start…
Odys (no, not short for Odysseus, thank you) finds his hermetic lifestyle falling apart after a stranger commits suicide to free his soul-attached Automaton slave. The humanoid Automaton uses Odys’s soul to “reactivate” herself. Odys must learn to accept that the female Automaton is an extension of his body—that they are the same person—and that her creator-god is forging a new purpose for all with Automatons…
The novel calls itself a “Prose Epic,” but is otherwise a purposeful implosion of literary clichés and gimmicks: A Narrator and an Editor (named Gabbler) frame the novel. Gabbler’s pompous commentary (as footnotes) on the nameless Narrator’s story grounds the novel in reality. Gabbler is a stereotypical academic who likes the story only for its so-called “literary” qualities, but otherwise contradicts the Narrator’s claim that the story is true.
THE AUTOMATION is a this-world fantasy that reboots mythical characters and alchemical concepts. Its ideal place would be on the same bookshelf as Wilson’s ALIF THE UNSEEN and Gaiman’s AMERICAN GODS—though it wouldn’t mind bookending Homer, Virgil, and Milton, to be specific.
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. It has great world building and is a cool story overall. The book is written as an epic poem and calls back to classic literature.
However, that concept makes the book hard to understand if you're not familiar with that kind of work. The book itself is pretty good but it was just hard overall on my to understand.
Verdict: It was good, just a little confusing.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: These Vengeful Hearts
Author: Katherine Laurin
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: revenge novel, mystery, thriller
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Genre: YA Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (revenge, language, violence and gore)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.
But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?
Review: For the most part the book was pretty good! I liked the world building and the characters. The pacing was on key and I loved how it was a vengeful tale on Alice in Wonderland.
However, like most revenge books for me, the story got stale after awhile. Revenge stories are really hard to write and I've not found that perfect one for me, but this was pretty good.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: These Vengeful Hearts
Author: Katherine Laurin
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: revenge novel, mystery, thriller
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Genre: YA Thriller
Recommended Age: 16+ (revenge, language, violence and gore)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone's lips. Its members--the most elite female students in the school--deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable...by taking the Red Court down from the inside.
But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too--ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she's willing to sacrifice?
Review: For the most part the book was pretty good! I liked the world building and the characters. The pacing was on key and I loved how it was a vengeful tale on Alice in Wonderland.
However, like most revenge books for me, the story got stale after awhile. Revenge stories are really hard to write and I've not found that perfect one for me, but this was pretty good.
Verdict: It was good!
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Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son
Author: Michael Ian Black
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: males and male identifying people
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Autobiography
Recommended Age: 14+ (toxic masculinity, consent, sexual content)
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 304
Synopsis: In a world in which the word masculinity now often goes hand in hand with toxic, comedian, actor, and father Michael Ian Black offers up a way forward for boys, men, and anyone who loves them. Part memoir, part advice book, and written as a heartfelt letter to his college-bound son, A Better Man reveals Black’s own complicated relationship with his father, explores the damage and rising violence caused by the expectations placed on boys to “man up,” and searches for the best way to help young men be part of the solution, not the problem. “If we cannot allow ourselves vulnerability,” he writes, “how are we supposed to experience wonder, fear, tenderness?”
Honest, funny, and hopeful, Black skillfully navigates the complex gender issues of our time and delivers a poignant answer to an urgent question: How can we be, and raise, better men?
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It was really sweet and heartwarming. I really liked that the book discussed consent and privilege and other topics, but I feel like the book could have done more. I can't really explain it but I was just left with this feeling of incompleteness. Also, I wish to see more male identifying people to review this. I don't see nearly enough.
Verdict: It was good, but I would like to see more male perspectives on this.
Book: A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son
Author: Michael Ian Black
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: males and male identifying people
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Autobiography
Recommended Age: 14+ (toxic masculinity, consent, sexual content)
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 304
Synopsis: In a world in which the word masculinity now often goes hand in hand with toxic, comedian, actor, and father Michael Ian Black offers up a way forward for boys, men, and anyone who loves them. Part memoir, part advice book, and written as a heartfelt letter to his college-bound son, A Better Man reveals Black’s own complicated relationship with his father, explores the damage and rising violence caused by the expectations placed on boys to “man up,” and searches for the best way to help young men be part of the solution, not the problem. “If we cannot allow ourselves vulnerability,” he writes, “how are we supposed to experience wonder, fear, tenderness?”
Honest, funny, and hopeful, Black skillfully navigates the complex gender issues of our time and delivers a poignant answer to an urgent question: How can we be, and raise, better men?
Review: For the most part this was a good book. It was really sweet and heartwarming. I really liked that the book discussed consent and privilege and other topics, but I feel like the book could have done more. I can't really explain it but I was just left with this feeling of incompleteness. Also, I wish to see more male identifying people to review this. I don't see nearly enough.
Verdict: It was good, but I would like to see more male perspectives on this.
Disclaimer: I received the book and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Skunk and Badger
Author: Amy Timberlake
Book Series: Skunk and Badger Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: children
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Children’s Chapter Book
Recommended Age: 10+ (acceptance and friendship)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 136
Synopsis: No one wants a skunk.
They are unwelcome on front stoops. They should not linger in Important Rock Rooms. Skunks should never, ever be allowed to move in. But Skunk is Badger’s new roommate, and there is nothing Badger can do about it.
When Skunk plows into Badger’s life, everything Badger knows is upended. Tails are flipped. The wrong animal is sprayed. And why-oh-why are there so many chickens?
“Nooooooooooooooooooooo!”
Review: I absolutely loved this story! The illustrations were so cute and full of expression. The story was fun and child friendly. However, some of the book is choppy and repetitive, but younger readers probably won't notice.
Verdict: It was a charming book
Book: Skunk and Badger
Author: Amy Timberlake
Book Series: Skunk and Badger Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: children
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: Children’s Chapter Book
Recommended Age: 10+ (acceptance and friendship)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 136
Synopsis: No one wants a skunk.
They are unwelcome on front stoops. They should not linger in Important Rock Rooms. Skunks should never, ever be allowed to move in. But Skunk is Badger’s new roommate, and there is nothing Badger can do about it.
When Skunk plows into Badger’s life, everything Badger knows is upended. Tails are flipped. The wrong animal is sprayed. And why-oh-why are there so many chickens?
“Nooooooooooooooooooooo!”
Review: I absolutely loved this story! The illustrations were so cute and full of expression. The story was fun and child friendly. However, some of the book is choppy and repetitive, but younger readers probably won't notice.
Verdict: It was a charming book
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Not Your #Lovestory
Author: Sonia Hartl
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary, internet fame books
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (slut shaming, domestic violence, PO order violation, child abuse, drug mention, alcohol use, anxiety, suicidal thoughts)
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Macy Evans dreams of earning enough income from her YouTube channel, R3ntal Wor1d, to leave her small, Midwestern town. But when she meets a boy named Eric at a baseball game, and accidently dumps her hotdog in his lap, her disastrous “meet-cute” becomes the topic of a viral thread. Now it’s not loyal subscribers flocking to her channel, it’s Internet trolls. And they aren’t interested in her reviews of VHS tapes—they only care about her relationship with Eric.
Eric is overly eager to stretch out his fifteen minutes of fame, but Macy fears this unwanted attention could sabotage her “real-life” relationships—namely with the shy boy-next-door, Paxton, who she’s actually developing feelings for. Macy knows she should shut the lie down, though she can’t ignore the advertising money, or the spark she gets in her chest whenever someone clicks on her videos. Eric shouldn’t be the only one allowed to reap the viral benefits. But is faking a relationship for clicks and subscribers worth hurting actual people?
Review: Oh my goodness this was such a good book! I loved the story and the world building. I loved seeing the character development and I loved seeing a character with a huge online presence/viral video fallout because I think it speaks better to kids in today's world.
The only issue I had with the book is that the twitter portions didn't feel well researched. We don't use hashtags anymore on Twitter.
Verdict: It was great! Definitely going to buy a copy!
Book: Not Your #Lovestory
Author: Sonia Hartl
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary, internet fame books
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (slut shaming, domestic violence, PO order violation, child abuse, drug mention, alcohol use, anxiety, suicidal thoughts)
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Macy Evans dreams of earning enough income from her YouTube channel, R3ntal Wor1d, to leave her small, Midwestern town. But when she meets a boy named Eric at a baseball game, and accidently dumps her hotdog in his lap, her disastrous “meet-cute” becomes the topic of a viral thread. Now it’s not loyal subscribers flocking to her channel, it’s Internet trolls. And they aren’t interested in her reviews of VHS tapes—they only care about her relationship with Eric.
Eric is overly eager to stretch out his fifteen minutes of fame, but Macy fears this unwanted attention could sabotage her “real-life” relationships—namely with the shy boy-next-door, Paxton, who she’s actually developing feelings for. Macy knows she should shut the lie down, though she can’t ignore the advertising money, or the spark she gets in her chest whenever someone clicks on her videos. Eric shouldn’t be the only one allowed to reap the viral benefits. But is faking a relationship for clicks and subscribers worth hurting actual people?
Review: Oh my goodness this was such a good book! I loved the story and the world building. I loved seeing the character development and I loved seeing a character with a huge online presence/viral video fallout because I think it speaks better to kids in today's world.
The only issue I had with the book is that the twitter portions didn't feel well researched. We don't use hashtags anymore on Twitter.
Verdict: It was great! Definitely going to buy a copy!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author for a tour I’m apart of run by @hiltonjenkin. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Birth of the Fae: Locked Out of Heaven
Author: Danielle Orsino
Book Series: Birth of the Fae Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: angel/fae books
Publication Date: June 29, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (locked out of Heaven, angels, slight religious tones)
Publisher: Icon
Pages: 230
Synopsis: What would you do if all you knew had abandoned you? Abandoned by their creator, two factions of angels remain on earth after the Great War with Lucifer. These Virtues and Power Angels struggle to comprehend their Creator's plan while their wings, a symbol of their angelic lineage, slowly and painfully decay. Unaware of one another, the angels learn to survive and reinvent themselves. With no hope of returning to the Shining Kingdom, both groups denounce their angelic lineage and develop into their own factions. They call themselves the "Fae." This is their story. The Fae world is ruled by two distinct courts: the Court of Light, led by Queen Aurora, a former Virtue Angel, and the Court of Dark, ruled by King Jarvok, a former Power Brigade Angel. The two monarchs have opposing views on how to govern their kin and, more importantly, the way humanity plays into their survival. The one belief they agree on is human worship equals power. Exactly how the two go about capturing and maintaining power is a very different story. Ride on the backs of dragons with the Dark Fae and watch the Light Fae play in the shadows of primitive humanity as they build their kingdoms. A fantastic epic adventure of heartbreak, rebirth, and hope that examines the bonds of family, friendship, and love. What would you do if you were abandoned? If you were forced to reinvent yourself? If your core beliefs were challenged? Would you ignore your own pain, instead channeling it and acting benevolently? Or would you become ferociously protective of those by your side, consolidating power to ensure nothing would ever hurt your kin, even if it meant acting malevolently? Two Fae must face these choices when they are thrust into the roles of monarchs, each one choosing a path that will guide them toward an unknown future. No longer angels, no longer bound by their Creator. They are their own beings and masters of their own destiny. They are the Fae.
Review: This was a really good book in my opinion. I've not read a lot of angel books in awhile and the return was pretty well done. The book had some interesting character development and world building. I thought it was a great story overall as well.
However, I do feel like the book was a bit wonky in pace, like slow and then fast and then back to slow, and the plot was a bit dry in the middle of the book.
Verdict: It was pretty good!
Book: Birth of the Fae: Locked Out of Heaven
Author: Danielle Orsino
Book Series: Birth of the Fae Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: angel/fae books
Publication Date: June 29, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (locked out of Heaven, angels, slight religious tones)
Publisher: Icon
Pages: 230
Synopsis: What would you do if all you knew had abandoned you? Abandoned by their creator, two factions of angels remain on earth after the Great War with Lucifer. These Virtues and Power Angels struggle to comprehend their Creator's plan while their wings, a symbol of their angelic lineage, slowly and painfully decay. Unaware of one another, the angels learn to survive and reinvent themselves. With no hope of returning to the Shining Kingdom, both groups denounce their angelic lineage and develop into their own factions. They call themselves the "Fae." This is their story. The Fae world is ruled by two distinct courts: the Court of Light, led by Queen Aurora, a former Virtue Angel, and the Court of Dark, ruled by King Jarvok, a former Power Brigade Angel. The two monarchs have opposing views on how to govern their kin and, more importantly, the way humanity plays into their survival. The one belief they agree on is human worship equals power. Exactly how the two go about capturing and maintaining power is a very different story. Ride on the backs of dragons with the Dark Fae and watch the Light Fae play in the shadows of primitive humanity as they build their kingdoms. A fantastic epic adventure of heartbreak, rebirth, and hope that examines the bonds of family, friendship, and love. What would you do if you were abandoned? If you were forced to reinvent yourself? If your core beliefs were challenged? Would you ignore your own pain, instead channeling it and acting benevolently? Or would you become ferociously protective of those by your side, consolidating power to ensure nothing would ever hurt your kin, even if it meant acting malevolently? Two Fae must face these choices when they are thrust into the roles of monarchs, each one choosing a path that will guide them toward an unknown future. No longer angels, no longer bound by their Creator. They are their own beings and masters of their own destiny. They are the Fae.
Review: This was a really good book in my opinion. I've not read a lot of angel books in awhile and the return was pretty well done. The book had some interesting character development and world building. I thought it was a great story overall as well.
However, I do feel like the book was a bit wonky in pace, like slow and then fast and then back to slow, and the plot was a bit dry in the middle of the book.
Verdict: It was pretty good!
