Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Confessions on the 7:45
Author: Lisa Unger
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: mystery lovers, thrill seekers, crime
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, sexual content, romance, death, and marital issues)
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Be careful to whom you tell your darkest secrets…
Selena Murphy is commuting home from her job in the city when the train stalls out on the tracks. She strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat, and their connection is fast and easy. The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.
But days later, Selena’s nanny disappears.
Soon Selena finds her once-perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The book was well paced and the characters were well done. The book did well with the plot as well.
However, the book was predictable and I predicted the ending early on. The book also didn't have a lot of world building.
Verdict: Predictable, but good!
Book: Confessions on the 7:45
Author: Lisa Unger
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: mystery lovers, thrill seekers, crime
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, sexual content, romance, death, and marital issues)
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Be careful to whom you tell your darkest secrets…
Selena Murphy is commuting home from her job in the city when the train stalls out on the tracks. She strikes up a conversation with a beautiful stranger in the next seat, and their connection is fast and easy. The woman introduces herself as Martha and confesses that she’s been stuck in an affair with her boss. Selena, in turn, confesses that she suspects her husband is sleeping with the nanny. When the train arrives at Selena’s station, the two women part ways, presumably never to meet again.
But days later, Selena’s nanny disappears.
Soon Selena finds her once-perfect life upended. As she is pulled into the mystery of the missing nanny, and as the fractures in her marriage grow deeper, Selena begins to wonder, who was Martha really? But she is hardly prepared for what she’ll discover.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The book was well paced and the characters were well done. The book did well with the plot as well.
However, the book was predictable and I predicted the ending early on. The book also didn't have a lot of world building.
Verdict: Predictable, but good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Smash It!
Author: Francina Simone
Book Series: Smash It! Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: September 22, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Olivia "Liv" James is done with letting her insecurities get the best of her. So she does what any self-respecting hot mess of a girl who wants to SMASH junior year does...
After Liv shows up to a Halloween party in khaki shorts--why, God, why?--she decides to set aside her wack AF ways. She makes a list--a F*ck-It list.
1. Be bold--do the thing that scares me.
2. Learn to take a compliment.
3. Stand out instead of back.
She kicks it off by trying out for the school musical, saying yes to a date and making new friends. Life is great when you stop punking yourself! However, with change comes a lot of missteps, and being bold means following her heart. So what happens when Liv's heart is interested in three different guys--and two of them are her best friends? What is she supposed to do when she gets dumped by a guy she's not even dating? How does one Smash It! after the humiliation of being friend-zoned?
In Liv's own words, "F*ck it. What's the worst that can happen?"
A lot, apparently.
Review: I had to dnf this book at 50%. The book had some very harmful issues with it including harmful jokes about Israeli/Palestinian characters, insensitive jokes about a Hawaiian character, and flat shaming and body shaming. The book was also very mature it talked about masturbation and sex and used a lot of language. The author is also slightly problematic with her views on fertility and having a child. I really did not want to read this book any longer after I read those insensitive remarks in her book. I got what the author was going for but this is not how you do it. You don't trample on minorities to make jokes. There are better ways to make jokes.
Verdict: Not for me and needs clean-up. You might like it and there’s no shame in that, but I just can’t with the issues it has.
Book: Smash It!
Author: Francina Simone
Book Series: Smash It! Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Publication Date: September 22, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 368
Synopsis: Olivia "Liv" James is done with letting her insecurities get the best of her. So she does what any self-respecting hot mess of a girl who wants to SMASH junior year does...
After Liv shows up to a Halloween party in khaki shorts--why, God, why?--she decides to set aside her wack AF ways. She makes a list--a F*ck-It list.
1. Be bold--do the thing that scares me.
2. Learn to take a compliment.
3. Stand out instead of back.
She kicks it off by trying out for the school musical, saying yes to a date and making new friends. Life is great when you stop punking yourself! However, with change comes a lot of missteps, and being bold means following her heart. So what happens when Liv's heart is interested in three different guys--and two of them are her best friends? What is she supposed to do when she gets dumped by a guy she's not even dating? How does one Smash It! after the humiliation of being friend-zoned?
In Liv's own words, "F*ck it. What's the worst that can happen?"
A lot, apparently.
Review: I had to dnf this book at 50%. The book had some very harmful issues with it including harmful jokes about Israeli/Palestinian characters, insensitive jokes about a Hawaiian character, and flat shaming and body shaming. The book was also very mature it talked about masturbation and sex and used a lot of language. The author is also slightly problematic with her views on fertility and having a child. I really did not want to read this book any longer after I read those insensitive remarks in her book. I got what the author was going for but this is not how you do it. You don't trample on minorities to make jokes. There are better ways to make jokes.
Verdict: Not for me and needs clean-up. You might like it and there’s no shame in that, but I just can’t with the issues it has.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Where Grey Becomes Warm
Author: Shandana Qazi
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: poetry lovers
Publication Date: December 28, 2019
Genre: Poetry
Recommended Age: 16+ (the feeling that you are significant but insignificant at the same time)
Publisher: Auraq Publications
Pages: 100
Synopsis: This book is about those silent spaces between humans that are left vacant and overlooked but they gradually turn into pits and swallow the entirety of existence, if not addressed.
Living in a world where feeling things a little too much can be a weakness and stepping over someone’s throat can be empowering, these poems were written in silence for the silent, trying to offer them words. These poems speak eloquently about vulnerability and how that is just alright!
Review: I don't really review poetry books because I don't have the brain for poetry, but for the most part I thought that this was a good poetry book. The book did well to convey emotion and was empowering.
However like I said I don't really have a brain for poetry so I'm not the best to review them. I sometimes repo tree and then I don't really understand it which is the case here. A lot of it I have to reread and I just think it's a curse that I will always have.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Where Grey Becomes Warm
Author: Shandana Qazi
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: poetry lovers
Publication Date: December 28, 2019
Genre: Poetry
Recommended Age: 16+ (the feeling that you are significant but insignificant at the same time)
Publisher: Auraq Publications
Pages: 100
Synopsis: This book is about those silent spaces between humans that are left vacant and overlooked but they gradually turn into pits and swallow the entirety of existence, if not addressed.
Living in a world where feeling things a little too much can be a weakness and stepping over someone’s throat can be empowering, these poems were written in silence for the silent, trying to offer them words. These poems speak eloquently about vulnerability and how that is just alright!
Review: I don't really review poetry books because I don't have the brain for poetry, but for the most part I thought that this was a good poetry book. The book did well to convey emotion and was empowering.
However like I said I don't really have a brain for poetry so I'm not the best to review them. I sometimes repo tree and then I don't really understand it which is the case here. A lot of it I have to reread and I just think it's a curse that I will always have.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author and form R&R Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Gift of the Shaper
Author: D.L. Jennings
Book Series: Highglade Series Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers, ya readers
Publication Date: February 7, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, kidnapping, gore, war)
Publisher: Indigo River
Pages: 456
Synopsis: For thousands of years, the Breaker of the Dawn has been locked away in the ethereal plane of the Otherworld. Now, a young blacksmith’s apprentice finds himself trapped in a war between the noble Athrani, a subset of humanity gifted with the ability to transmute matter, and the malevolent and powerful Khyth, who seek to free the ancient god from his prison.
When his father, Olson, is kidnapped, Thornton Woods and his childhood friend, Miera, must leave their small village of Highglade to find him. On their way, they are joined by Ynara and Kethras, cat-like humanoids called Kienari, who use their skills as hunter/trackers to follow Olson’s trail. When it comes to light that one among them possesses the key to the Breaker’s release, Thornton and his friends must defy the might of the Khyth as armies on both sides collide in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
Gift of the Shaper chronicles the epic struggle between the existing forces of good and evil, with both sides vying for control of the key that unlocks the Otherworld. The very powers of creation and destruction hang in the balance, and only a heroic effort by Thornton and Miera, backed by the power of the Athrani, can possibly stop the Khyth from unleashing ruin — and the Breaker — upon their world.
Review: For the most part I thought that this book was really interesting. The world building was very well done and I really liked how the author developed the characters. I also thought that the book did well with the plot.
However the book is very slow and I think that really slowed me down in my reading of it.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Gift of the Shaper
Author: D.L. Jennings
Book Series: Highglade Series Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers, ya readers
Publication Date: February 7, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, kidnapping, gore, war)
Publisher: Indigo River
Pages: 456
Synopsis: For thousands of years, the Breaker of the Dawn has been locked away in the ethereal plane of the Otherworld. Now, a young blacksmith’s apprentice finds himself trapped in a war between the noble Athrani, a subset of humanity gifted with the ability to transmute matter, and the malevolent and powerful Khyth, who seek to free the ancient god from his prison.
When his father, Olson, is kidnapped, Thornton Woods and his childhood friend, Miera, must leave their small village of Highglade to find him. On their way, they are joined by Ynara and Kethras, cat-like humanoids called Kienari, who use their skills as hunter/trackers to follow Olson’s trail. When it comes to light that one among them possesses the key to the Breaker’s release, Thornton and his friends must defy the might of the Khyth as armies on both sides collide in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
Gift of the Shaper chronicles the epic struggle between the existing forces of good and evil, with both sides vying for control of the key that unlocks the Otherworld. The very powers of creation and destruction hang in the balance, and only a heroic effort by Thornton and Miera, backed by the power of the Athrani, can possibly stop the Khyth from unleashing ruin — and the Breaker — upon their world.
Review: For the most part I thought that this book was really interesting. The world building was very well done and I really liked how the author developed the characters. I also thought that the book did well with the plot.
However the book is very slow and I think that really slowed me down in my reading of it.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher for a tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: All This Time
Author: Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: romance lovers, second chances romance
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, death, PTSD)
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Kyle and Kimberly have been the perfect couple all through high school, but when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle’s entire world upends—literally. Their car crashes and when he awakes, he has a brain injury. Kimberly is dead. And no one in his life could possibly understand.
Until Marley. Marley is suffering from her own loss, a loss she thinks was her fault. And when their paths cross, Kyle sees in her all the unspoken things he’s feeling.
As Kyle and Marley work to heal each other’s wounds, their feelings for each other grow stronger. But Kyle can’t shake the sense that he’s headed for another crashing moment that will blow up his life as soon as he’s started to put it back together.
And he’s right.
Review: For the most part I thought that the book was fairly well done. The book had a lot of emotion behind it and I thought that the characters were well done which is too good things that you want to look for when you are reading a ya contemporary. I also thought that the author did well with the pacing of the book.
However I really didn't like the storyline that well and the two characters relationship really drove me batty. I don't really think that they should have been together and the relationship feels very unhealthy. The book dry sound the point that these two are epic lovers but really it just feels very dysfunctional and something that I would see in divorce court within two years of their marriage.
Verdict: It was good, just didn’t flow that well for me.
Book: All This Time
Author: Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: romance lovers, second chances romance
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (romance, death, PTSD)
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Kyle and Kimberly have been the perfect couple all through high school, but when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle’s entire world upends—literally. Their car crashes and when he awakes, he has a brain injury. Kimberly is dead. And no one in his life could possibly understand.
Until Marley. Marley is suffering from her own loss, a loss she thinks was her fault. And when their paths cross, Kyle sees in her all the unspoken things he’s feeling.
As Kyle and Marley work to heal each other’s wounds, their feelings for each other grow stronger. But Kyle can’t shake the sense that he’s headed for another crashing moment that will blow up his life as soon as he’s started to put it back together.
And he’s right.
Review: For the most part I thought that the book was fairly well done. The book had a lot of emotion behind it and I thought that the characters were well done which is too good things that you want to look for when you are reading a ya contemporary. I also thought that the author did well with the pacing of the book.
However I really didn't like the storyline that well and the two characters relationship really drove me batty. I don't really think that they should have been together and the relationship feels very unhealthy. The book dry sound the point that these two are epic lovers but really it just feels very dysfunctional and something that I would see in divorce court within two years of their marriage.
Verdict: It was good, just didn’t flow that well for me.
Disclaimer: I received this arc and e-arc from the publisher for a tour! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Wild Path
Author: Sarah R. Baughman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, people who like horses
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Middle Grade
Recommended Age: 12+ (alcohol, broken family)
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Claire Barton doesn't like the "flutter feeling" that fills her chest when she worries about the future, but she knows what she loves: the land that's been in her family for three generations; her best friend Maya; her family's horses, Sunny and Sam; and her older brother Andy. That's why, with Andy recently sent to rehab after a DUI, and her parents planning to sell the horses, Claire's world feels like it might flutter to pieces.
When Claire learns about equine therapy, she imagines a less lonely future that keeps her family together, brother and horses included. But, when she finds mysterious wild horses in the woods behind her house, she realizes she has a bit more company than she bargained for. With this new secret-and a little bit of luck-Claire will discover the beauty of change, the power of family, and the strength within herself.
Review: I thought this was a very sweet book and I really liked how the author created the story. The plot was very engaging to the reader and even though it is a sad book I think that it will connect with a lot of middle grade readers. The book is also a classic horse girl book and I am here for it LOL.
The only issue I had with the book was that I wish that the world building was a little bit better and that we spent more time with the side characters from the book.
Verdict: It was a sweet book!
Book: The Wild Path
Author: Sarah R. Baughman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, people who like horses
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: YA Middle Grade
Recommended Age: 12+ (alcohol, broken family)
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Claire Barton doesn't like the "flutter feeling" that fills her chest when she worries about the future, but she knows what she loves: the land that's been in her family for three generations; her best friend Maya; her family's horses, Sunny and Sam; and her older brother Andy. That's why, with Andy recently sent to rehab after a DUI, and her parents planning to sell the horses, Claire's world feels like it might flutter to pieces.
When Claire learns about equine therapy, she imagines a less lonely future that keeps her family together, brother and horses included. But, when she finds mysterious wild horses in the woods behind her house, she realizes she has a bit more company than she bargained for. With this new secret-and a little bit of luck-Claire will discover the beauty of change, the power of family, and the strength within herself.
Review: I thought this was a very sweet book and I really liked how the author created the story. The plot was very engaging to the reader and even though it is a sad book I think that it will connect with a lot of middle grade readers. The book is also a classic horse girl book and I am here for it LOL.
The only issue I had with the book was that I wish that the world building was a little bit better and that we spent more time with the side characters from the book.
Verdict: It was a sweet book!
.jpeg)
Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Sabrina: Path of Night
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Book Series: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Theo is a trans man and Roz is a Black woman. Gay, bi, and pansexual characters are also present
Recommended For...: Sabrina the Teenage Witch fans
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, demons, gore, romance, sexual content, possession)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It's not easy being half-mortal, half-witch. At least, not for Sabrina Spellman. She just discovered that her dad is Satan... and that it's her destiny to rule Hell.
As usual, Sabrina's got other plans for her future. She's figured out a way to trap her father... but he's caged in the body of her boyfriend, Nick Scratch. Now the love of her life is stuck in Hell... with Satan stuck inside him.
Sabrina knows there's a way to get Nick back while also keeping dear old dad out of commission. She just has to figure out what it is. Unfortunately, her loyal cousin Ambrose is unavailable because he's off hunting Father Blackwood, the evil former head of the Church of Night.
Fortunately, Sabrina's still got her mortal friends, Roz, Harvey, and Theo. So when her aunt Zelda, now the church's high priestess, mentions an ancient quest that might help open the gates of Hell, Sabrina and her friends are all in. But Zelda failed to mention that the quest has some perils of its own...
Review: I really loved this book! I have loved all of Sarah’s books dealing with the famous TV series, but this one was really impactful for me. The book went into detail of each character and allowed for the reader to see what the motions for the characters were, as well as giving them extra adventures to go on. I really loved Theo’s portrayal and arc, as well as the more in-depth look at Roz and Harvey’s relationship.
The only issue I had with the book is that it’s a little disconnected and the pacing is a bit choppy for the beginning of the book. This book is also better read right after Season 2 of the show.
Verdict: Highly recommend if you’re a Sabrina fan like me!
Book: Sabrina: Path of Night
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Book Series: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Theo is a trans man and Roz is a Black woman. Gay, bi, and pansexual characters are also present
Recommended For...: Sabrina the Teenage Witch fans
Publication Date: May 5, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, violence, demons, gore, romance, sexual content, possession)
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It's not easy being half-mortal, half-witch. At least, not for Sabrina Spellman. She just discovered that her dad is Satan... and that it's her destiny to rule Hell.
As usual, Sabrina's got other plans for her future. She's figured out a way to trap her father... but he's caged in the body of her boyfriend, Nick Scratch. Now the love of her life is stuck in Hell... with Satan stuck inside him.
Sabrina knows there's a way to get Nick back while also keeping dear old dad out of commission. She just has to figure out what it is. Unfortunately, her loyal cousin Ambrose is unavailable because he's off hunting Father Blackwood, the evil former head of the Church of Night.
Fortunately, Sabrina's still got her mortal friends, Roz, Harvey, and Theo. So when her aunt Zelda, now the church's high priestess, mentions an ancient quest that might help open the gates of Hell, Sabrina and her friends are all in. But Zelda failed to mention that the quest has some perils of its own...
Review: I really loved this book! I have loved all of Sarah’s books dealing with the famous TV series, but this one was really impactful for me. The book went into detail of each character and allowed for the reader to see what the motions for the characters were, as well as giving them extra adventures to go on. I really loved Theo’s portrayal and arc, as well as the more in-depth look at Roz and Harvey’s relationship.
The only issue I had with the book is that it’s a little disconnected and the pacing is a bit choppy for the beginning of the book. This book is also better read right after Season 2 of the show.
Verdict: Highly recommend if you’re a Sabrina fan like me!
Disclaimer: I received an arc and a finished copy from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Furia
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Argentinean ownvoice main character
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, feminist novels, #ownvoice!
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, domestic violence TW, masculinity, romance)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 368
Synopsis: In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.
At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.
On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.
But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.
Review: I really loved this book! I loved the writing and thought the pacing was wonderfully managed and done. The character development was masterful and I was so invested in Camila’s journey! I loved how the author conquered the tough topics of domestic violence and masculinity. Definitely a book I’ll reread and pass onto other women.
The only compliant I really had is that I wished there was a bit more world building, but the book was wonderful overall!
Verdict: A highly recommended read!
Book: Furia
Author: Yamile Saied Mendez
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Argentinean ownvoice main character
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, feminist novels, #ownvoice!
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, domestic violence TW, masculinity, romance)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 368
Synopsis: In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life.
At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her rising-soccer-star brother’s shadow, and under the abusive rule of her short-tempered father.
On the field, she is La Furia, a powerhouse of skill and talent. When her team qualifies for the South American tournament, Camila gets the chance to see just how far those talents can take her. In her wildest dreams, she’d get an athletic scholarship to a North American university.
But the path ahead isn’t easy. Her parents don’t know about her passion. They wouldn’t allow a girl to play fútbol—and she needs their permission to go any farther. And the boy she once loved is back in town. Since he left, Diego has become an international star, playing in Italy for the renowned team Juventus. Camila doesn’t have time to be distracted by her feelings for him. Things aren’t the same as when he left: she has her own passions and ambitions now, and La Furia cannot be denied. As her life becomes more complicated, Camila is forced to face her secrets and make her way in a world with no place for the dreams and ambition of a girl like her.
Review: I really loved this book! I loved the writing and thought the pacing was wonderfully managed and done. The character development was masterful and I was so invested in Camila’s journey! I loved how the author conquered the tough topics of domestic violence and masculinity. Definitely a book I’ll reread and pass onto other women.
The only compliant I really had is that I wished there was a bit more world building, but the book was wonderful overall!
Verdict: A highly recommended read!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: Cynetic Wolf
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Wolfish Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 26, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, tropes, wolves, and cyborgs!)
Publisher: Myrmani LLC
Pages: 342
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It's 2096, sixty years after ninety percent died from a man-made Bioplague. Humanity has splintered into four unequal subspecies: immortals, cyborgs, enhancers, and subservient half-human, half-animal hybrids.
The world is anything but equal. Hybrids everywhere are suffering, but sixteen-year-old Raek Mekorian, a wolfish with a nose for trouble, doesn’t see an alternative. Except the Resistance, who don’t stand a chance against the world government. His mom always said, “Keep your head down.”
And he does, until his sister is murdered by a pair of cyborgs. Overnight, his simple life is shattered, fracturing the rigid governmental caste as he is thrust into the dangerous world of superhuman hit squads, Resistance uprisings, and secrets better left unsaid.
With only built-in blasters and the advice of a mysterious professor, Raek must navigate crushing betrayal, self-doubt, and a limitless enemy whose evil knows no bounds.
Can Raek unify his people and free them from tyranny? The fate of mankind may rest in his hands.
Review: Overall, this was a good book. The writing was well done and the world was intriguing. I really liked how the world was built, I thought that was the strongest part of this book and if you’re a sci-fi nerd like me then you’ll really love this more than likely.
However, I did feel like the characters were hit or miss. Some were wonderful and marvelously built, others weren’t. The book was also a bit trope-y, but it was good for the most part. I think a map would have been great for this and I think that the writing got a bit chaotic when the action scenes happened as well.
Verdict: It was a good sci-fi for the most part!
Book: Cynetic Wolf
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Wolfish Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 26, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, tropes, wolves, and cyborgs!)
Publisher: Myrmani LLC
Pages: 342
Amazon Link
Synopsis: It's 2096, sixty years after ninety percent died from a man-made Bioplague. Humanity has splintered into four unequal subspecies: immortals, cyborgs, enhancers, and subservient half-human, half-animal hybrids.
The world is anything but equal. Hybrids everywhere are suffering, but sixteen-year-old Raek Mekorian, a wolfish with a nose for trouble, doesn’t see an alternative. Except the Resistance, who don’t stand a chance against the world government. His mom always said, “Keep your head down.”
And he does, until his sister is murdered by a pair of cyborgs. Overnight, his simple life is shattered, fracturing the rigid governmental caste as he is thrust into the dangerous world of superhuman hit squads, Resistance uprisings, and secrets better left unsaid.
With only built-in blasters and the advice of a mysterious professor, Raek must navigate crushing betrayal, self-doubt, and a limitless enemy whose evil knows no bounds.
Can Raek unify his people and free them from tyranny? The fate of mankind may rest in his hands.
Review: Overall, this was a good book. The writing was well done and the world was intriguing. I really liked how the world was built, I thought that was the strongest part of this book and if you’re a sci-fi nerd like me then you’ll really love this more than likely.
However, I did feel like the characters were hit or miss. Some were wonderful and marvelously built, others weren’t. The book was also a bit trope-y, but it was good for the most part. I think a map would have been great for this and I think that the writing got a bit chaotic when the action scenes happened as well.
Verdict: It was a good sci-fi for the most part!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher for a tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Making Friends With Alice Dyson
Author: Poppy Nwosu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, friendship stories
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bullying, gossip, family issues, slight romance)
Publisher: Walker Books US
Pages: 276
Synopsis: My hand, which is following a stray pencil rolling across the floor, stops dead right in front of two ratty green sneakers.
My gaze follows the shoes up over long legs to a towering figure.
I stand abruptly.
Tall, black eyes, messy hair, a permanent scowl on a permanently angry face. Our school’s delinquent, a waster, the kind of boy who always sits at the back of class. The kind of boy even popular people like Sophia are afraid of.
Teddy Taualai.
Alice Dyson knows exactly how she’ll be spending her final year of high school. With her head down, quietly concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She’s focused on the future, and nothing and no one is going to get in her way. Until a bizarre encounter with the school’s most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling centre of attention and her life into one enormous complication.
And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won’t leave her alone.
A story about rumours, friendship, and discovering who you really are.
Review: For the most part I thought that this was an okay book. The plot is pretty well done and for the most part I really did like the characters. The characters are what really drove the story and I think if I didn't have them then I wouldn't have been interested in the book.
However the book is very weirdly written. The book feels written younger than what the characters are and the book begins in a really weird manner. The flashbacks are also very disorienting and I thought that the bizarre event that is talked about in the book was not that bizarre from what I remembered when I was in high school and as a slightly rebellious child.
Verdict: It was good, just weird.
Book: Making Friends With Alice Dyson
Author: Poppy Nwosu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, friendship stories
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bullying, gossip, family issues, slight romance)
Publisher: Walker Books US
Pages: 276
Synopsis: My hand, which is following a stray pencil rolling across the floor, stops dead right in front of two ratty green sneakers.
My gaze follows the shoes up over long legs to a towering figure.
I stand abruptly.
Tall, black eyes, messy hair, a permanent scowl on a permanently angry face. Our school’s delinquent, a waster, the kind of boy who always sits at the back of class. The kind of boy even popular people like Sophia are afraid of.
Teddy Taualai.
Alice Dyson knows exactly how she’ll be spending her final year of high school. With her head down, quietly concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She’s focused on the future, and nothing and no one is going to get in her way. Until a bizarre encounter with the school’s most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling centre of attention and her life into one enormous complication.
And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won’t leave her alone.
A story about rumours, friendship, and discovering who you really are.
Review: For the most part I thought that this was an okay book. The plot is pretty well done and for the most part I really did like the characters. The characters are what really drove the story and I think if I didn't have them then I wouldn't have been interested in the book.
However the book is very weirdly written. The book feels written younger than what the characters are and the book begins in a really weird manner. The flashbacks are also very disorienting and I thought that the bizarre event that is talked about in the book was not that bizarre from what I remembered when I was in high school and as a slightly rebellious child.
Verdict: It was good, just weird.