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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received an e-arc from the publisher but then bought my own copy when the book came out. Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Grace Year
Author: Kim Liggett
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: f/f romance mentions, possible lesbian or bi character
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Genre: YA Feminism
Recommended Age: 16+ (nudity, sexual content, sex, Suicide TW, death, violence, animal death, gore)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 416
Amazon Link
Synopsis: No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.
In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.
Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.
With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.
Review: Holy cow this book was absolutely amazing! I loved the story and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish. The writing was absolutely fantastic and the characters were amazingly well developed. The world building was also well done, the book definitely passes the Bechdel Test and I can’t say enough good things about this novel. It’s definitely one of my top reads this year!
The only issues I had with it is that sometimes the writing was a bit unclear. The author writes the book almost in a prose like manner, but that means that sometimes her meaning is really unclear. I didn’t know, for example, that something happened to the main character until towards the end of the novel and I feel like that could have been better explained. I also feel like the ending was unclear as to what happens to our main character.
Verdict: Definitely recommend this feminist novel!
Book: The Grace Year
Author: Kim Liggett
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: f/f romance mentions, possible lesbian or bi character
Publication Date: October 8, 2019
Genre: YA Feminism
Recommended Age: 16+ (nudity, sexual content, sex, Suicide TW, death, violence, animal death, gore)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 416
Amazon Link
Synopsis: No one speaks of the grace year. It’s forbidden.
In Garner County, girls are told they have the power to lure grown men from their beds, to drive women mad with jealousy. They believe their very skin emits a powerful aphrodisiac, the potent essence of youth, of a girl on the edge of womanhood. That’s why they’re banished for their sixteenth year, to release their magic into the wild so they can return purified and ready for marriage. But not all of them will make it home alive.
Sixteen-year-old Tierney James dreams of a better life—a society that doesn’t pit friend against friend or woman against woman, but as her own grace year draws near, she quickly realizes that it’s not just the brutal elements they must fear. It’s not even the poachers in the woods, men who are waiting for a chance to grab one of the girls in order to make a fortune on the black market. Their greatest threat may very well be each other.
With sharp prose and gritty realism, The Grace Year examines the complex and sometimes twisted relationships between girls, the women they eventually become, and the difficult decisions they make in-between.
Review: Holy cow this book was absolutely amazing! I loved the story and the plot kept me intrigued from start to finish. The writing was absolutely fantastic and the characters were amazingly well developed. The world building was also well done, the book definitely passes the Bechdel Test and I can’t say enough good things about this novel. It’s definitely one of my top reads this year!
The only issues I had with it is that sometimes the writing was a bit unclear. The author writes the book almost in a prose like manner, but that means that sometimes her meaning is really unclear. I didn’t know, for example, that something happened to the main character until towards the end of the novel and I feel like that could have been better explained. I also feel like the ending was unclear as to what happens to our main character.
Verdict: Definitely recommend this feminist novel!
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Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Emily Knight I Am… Becoming
Author: A. Bello
Book Series: Emily Knight Book 3
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black family front and main character, diverse cast
Recommended For...: superhero, mg, fantasy, powers
Publication Date: September 17, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (slight violence, kidnapping TW, some scary scenes)
Publisher: Hashtag Press
Pages: 384
Synopsis: The Knights are finally reunited and ready to defeat Neci once and for all. But Neci is one step ahead and is targeting them one by one. When one of Emily's best friends is kidnapped, Emily leads the elite team on a rescue mission but nothing can prepare them for what Neci has planned.
Review: I thought this was a super sweet and cute book! I absolutely loved the first two and I continue to love this series. The book has great character development and pacing. The book is also well suited for younger children.
However, I did think that the world building could have been better, but otherwise a well done book.
Verdict: A great series!
Book: Emily Knight I Am… Becoming
Author: A. Bello
Book Series: Emily Knight Book 3
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black family front and main character, diverse cast
Recommended For...: superhero, mg, fantasy, powers
Publication Date: September 17, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 12+ (slight violence, kidnapping TW, some scary scenes)
Publisher: Hashtag Press
Pages: 384
Synopsis: The Knights are finally reunited and ready to defeat Neci once and for all. But Neci is one step ahead and is targeting them one by one. When one of Emily's best friends is kidnapped, Emily leads the elite team on a rescue mission but nothing can prepare them for what Neci has planned.
Review: I thought this was a super sweet and cute book! I absolutely loved the first two and I continue to love this series. The book has great character development and pacing. The book is also well suited for younger children.
However, I did think that the world building could have been better, but otherwise a well done book.
Verdict: A great series!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: The Black Kids
Author: Christina Hammons Reed
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black main character and main family
Recommended For...: historical fiction, books about racism and police brutality
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, n word usage by non-black characters, racism, violence, gore, police brutality TW)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers
Pages: 359
Synopsis: Los Angeles, 1992
Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of senior year and they’re spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer.
Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids.
As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. Even as her self-destructive sister gets dangerously involved in the riots. Even as the model black family façade her wealthy and prominent parents have built starts to crumble. Even as her best friends help spread a rumor that could completely derail the future of her classmate and fellow black kid, LaShawn Johnson.
With her world splintering around her, Ashley, along with the rest of LA, is left to question who is the us? And who is the them?
Review: For the most part this was a really good book. I enjoyed the story and oh my it felt like a blast from the past! The plot kept me hooked, the characters were well developed, and I enjoyed reading it.
However, I did think that the book was a bit weird in pacing. It was very fast and choppy in the beginning but then very slow after the climax. The book also needed more world building in my opinion.
Verdict: Required reading!
Book: The Black Kids
Author: Christina Hammons Reed
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black main character and main family
Recommended For...: historical fiction, books about racism and police brutality
Publication Date: August 4, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, n word usage by non-black characters, racism, violence, gore, police brutality TW)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Book for Young Readers
Pages: 359
Synopsis: Los Angeles, 1992
Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of senior year and they’re spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer.
Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids.
As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. Even as her self-destructive sister gets dangerously involved in the riots. Even as the model black family façade her wealthy and prominent parents have built starts to crumble. Even as her best friends help spread a rumor that could completely derail the future of her classmate and fellow black kid, LaShawn Johnson.
With her world splintering around her, Ashley, along with the rest of LA, is left to question who is the us? And who is the them?
Review: For the most part this was a really good book. I enjoyed the story and oh my it felt like a blast from the past! The plot kept me hooked, the characters were well developed, and I enjoyed reading it.
However, I did think that the book was a bit weird in pacing. It was very fast and choppy in the beginning but then very slow after the climax. The book also needed more world building in my opinion.
Verdict: Required reading!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from BookCon. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Reckless Club
Author: Beth Vrabel
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: mg contemporary fans
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 256
Synopsis: On the last day of middle school, five kids who couldn't be more different commit separate pranks, each sure they won't be caught and they can't get in trouble. They're wrong. As punishment, they each have to volunteer one beautiful summer day-the last one before school-at Northbrook Retirement and Assisted Living Home, where they'll push creamed carrots into toothless mouths, perform the world's most pathetic skit in front of residents who won't remember it anyway, hold gnarled hands of peach fuzzed old ladies who relentlessly push hard candies, and somehow forge a bond with each other that has nothing to do with what they've done and everything to do with who they're becoming. All the action takes place in the course of this one day, with each chapter one hour of that day, as the five kids reveal what they've done, why they did it, and what they're going to do now.
Review: DNFed at 75 pages. The book is good but it's not capturing my attention and I think it's better suited for younger readers.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Book: The Reckless Club
Author: Beth Vrabel
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: mg contemporary fans
Publication Date: October 2, 2018
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 256
Synopsis: On the last day of middle school, five kids who couldn't be more different commit separate pranks, each sure they won't be caught and they can't get in trouble. They're wrong. As punishment, they each have to volunteer one beautiful summer day-the last one before school-at Northbrook Retirement and Assisted Living Home, where they'll push creamed carrots into toothless mouths, perform the world's most pathetic skit in front of residents who won't remember it anyway, hold gnarled hands of peach fuzzed old ladies who relentlessly push hard candies, and somehow forge a bond with each other that has nothing to do with what they've done and everything to do with who they're becoming. All the action takes place in the course of this one day, with each chapter one hour of that day, as the five kids reveal what they've done, why they did it, and what they're going to do now.
Review: DNFed at 75 pages. The book is good but it's not capturing my attention and I think it's better suited for younger readers.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Hopeful Heart: Louisa May Alcott Before Little Women
Author: Deborah Noyes
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: biography, little women
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Biography
Recommended Age: 15+ (sexism mentioned)
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. How did these cherished characters come to be? Louisa May Alcott, the author of one of the most famous "girl" books of all time, was anything but a well-mannered young lady. A tomboy as well as a ravenous reader, Louisa took comfort in fictional characters that were as passionate and willful as she was--and whose wild imaginations were a match for her own. She was often found roaming the woods near her home in Concord, Massachusetts, or exploring the natural world in the company of the great Transcendentalist thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Here is a beautiful portrait of Louisa May Alcott, a woman influenced by her father, a penniless philosopher, her mother, with whom she shared a great connection, and, of course, her three sisters. Featuring unique indigo illustrations, Deborah Noyes unveils how Louisa's natural spirit, loving family, and unconventional circumstances inspired the timeless masterpiece that is Little Women.
Review: For the most part this was a great biography novel. The book goes into Alcott's life before Little Women and I thought the story telling was compelling. I can see a lot of what I imagine Jo to be from Little Women and I'm even more excited to read Little Women one day. If you're into women who helped pioneer for women's rights today then this is the book for you.
Verdict: A great book on a great author.
Book: A Hopeful Heart: Louisa May Alcott Before Little Women
Author: Deborah Noyes
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: biography, little women
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: Biography
Recommended Age: 15+ (sexism mentioned)
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books
Pages: 304
Synopsis: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. How did these cherished characters come to be? Louisa May Alcott, the author of one of the most famous "girl" books of all time, was anything but a well-mannered young lady. A tomboy as well as a ravenous reader, Louisa took comfort in fictional characters that were as passionate and willful as she was--and whose wild imaginations were a match for her own. She was often found roaming the woods near her home in Concord, Massachusetts, or exploring the natural world in the company of the great Transcendentalist thinkers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Here is a beautiful portrait of Louisa May Alcott, a woman influenced by her father, a penniless philosopher, her mother, with whom she shared a great connection, and, of course, her three sisters. Featuring unique indigo illustrations, Deborah Noyes unveils how Louisa's natural spirit, loving family, and unconventional circumstances inspired the timeless masterpiece that is Little Women.
Review: For the most part this was a great biography novel. The book goes into Alcott's life before Little Women and I thought the story telling was compelling. I can see a lot of what I imagine Jo to be from Little Women and I'm even more excited to read Little Women one day. If you're into women who helped pioneer for women's rights today then this is the book for you.
Verdict: A great book on a great author.
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Eventide
Author: Sarah Goodman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, ya, historical fiction, horror
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Wheeler, Arkansas, 1907
When her father descends into madness, Verity Pruitt and her little sister Lilah find themselves uprooted from New York, on an orphan train to rural Arkansas.
In Wheeler, Lilah is quickly adopted by the town’s beloved schoolteacher—but Verity is not. Willing to do anything to stay close, she pawns herself off as a farmhand, but even charming farm boy Abel Atchley can’t completely distract her from the sense that something is not quite right in this little town. Strange local superstitions abound, especially about the eerie old well at the center of the forest. The woods play tricks, unleashing heavy fog and bone-chilling cold…and sometimes visions of things that aren’t there.
But for Verity, perhaps most unsettling of all is the revelation that her own parents have a scandalous history in this very town. And as she tries to unearth the past, sinister secrets come with it—secrets that someone will go to violent lengths to protect.
Review: DNFed at 20%. I felt like I could get into this book but it just wasn't grabbing my attention right now. I do want to retry one day though!
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Book: Eventide
Author: Sarah Goodman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, ya, historical fiction, horror
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Tor Teen
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Wheeler, Arkansas, 1907
When her father descends into madness, Verity Pruitt and her little sister Lilah find themselves uprooted from New York, on an orphan train to rural Arkansas.
In Wheeler, Lilah is quickly adopted by the town’s beloved schoolteacher—but Verity is not. Willing to do anything to stay close, she pawns herself off as a farmhand, but even charming farm boy Abel Atchley can’t completely distract her from the sense that something is not quite right in this little town. Strange local superstitions abound, especially about the eerie old well at the center of the forest. The woods play tricks, unleashing heavy fog and bone-chilling cold…and sometimes visions of things that aren’t there.
But for Verity, perhaps most unsettling of all is the revelation that her own parents have a scandalous history in this very town. And as she tries to unearth the past, sinister secrets come with it—secrets that someone will go to violent lengths to protect.
Review: DNFed at 20%. I felt like I could get into this book but it just wasn't grabbing my attention right now. I do want to retry one day though!
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Disclaimer: I received the arc and e-arc from the publisher for Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Poisoned
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: retelling, fantasy, ya
Publication Date: October 20, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, self harm TW, suicide TW, child abuse TW)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Once upon a time, a girl named Sophie rode into the forest with the queen's huntsman. Her lips were the color of ripe cherries, her skin as soft as new-fallen snow, her hair as dark as midnight. When they stopped to rest, the huntsman took out his knife . . . and took Sophie's heart.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise. Sophie had heard the rumors, the whispers. They said she was too kind and foolish to rule -- a waste of a princess. A disaster of a future queen. And Sophie believed them. She believed everything she'd heard about herself, the poisonous words people use to keep girls like Sophie from becoming too powerful, too strong . . .
With the help of seven mysterious strangers, Sophie manages to survive. But when she realizes that the jealous queen might not be to blame, Sophie must find the courage to face an even more terrifying enemy, proving that even the darkest magic can't extinguish the fire burning inside every girl, and that kindness is the ultimate form of strength.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. It stuck with the source material well (a lot of Brothers Grimm inspiration) and the story and plot were so well told. The characters were also well developed and the tone of the book was just as spooky as the story.
My only complaint is the pacing of the book. It's a bit too slow for my tastes. My other issue is that the ending is a bit too unclear.
Verdict: It was a great book!
Book: Poisoned
Author: Jennifer Donnelly
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: retelling, fantasy, ya
Publication Date: October 20, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, self harm TW, suicide TW, child abuse TW)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Once upon a time, a girl named Sophie rode into the forest with the queen's huntsman. Her lips were the color of ripe cherries, her skin as soft as new-fallen snow, her hair as dark as midnight. When they stopped to rest, the huntsman took out his knife . . . and took Sophie's heart.
It shouldn't have come as a surprise. Sophie had heard the rumors, the whispers. They said she was too kind and foolish to rule -- a waste of a princess. A disaster of a future queen. And Sophie believed them. She believed everything she'd heard about herself, the poisonous words people use to keep girls like Sophie from becoming too powerful, too strong . . .
With the help of seven mysterious strangers, Sophie manages to survive. But when she realizes that the jealous queen might not be to blame, Sophie must find the courage to face an even more terrifying enemy, proving that even the darkest magic can't extinguish the fire burning inside every girl, and that kindness is the ultimate form of strength.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. It stuck with the source material well (a lot of Brothers Grimm inspiration) and the story and plot were so well told. The characters were also well developed and the tone of the book was just as spooky as the story.
My only complaint is the pacing of the book. It's a bit too slow for my tastes. My other issue is that the ending is a bit too unclear.
Verdict: It was a great book!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: This Vicious Cure
Author: Emily Suvada
Book Series: This Mortal Coil Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: LGBT+ characters
Recommended For...: sci-fi, genes, coding
Publication Date: January 21, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 416
Synopsis: Cat’s hacking skills weren’t enough to keep her from losing everything—her identity, her past, and now her freedom. She’s trapped and alone, but she’s survived this long, and she’s not giving up without a fight.
Though the outbreak has been contained, a new threat has emerged—one that’s taken the world to the brink of a devastating war. With genetic technology that promises not just a cure for the plague, but a way to prevent death itself, both sides will stop at nothing to seize control of humanity’s future.
Facing her smartest, most devastating enemy yet, Cat must race against the clock to protect her friends and save the lives of millions on the planet’s surface. No matter the outcome, humanity will never be the same.
And this time, Cat can’t afford to let anything, or anyone, stand in her way.
Review: Overall I thought this was a good book but I don't feel connected to the book at the moment. I think it's one of those best suited read back to back with the rest of the series so I'll try again in the future.
Verdict: Not for me at the moment.
Book: This Vicious Cure
Author: Emily Suvada
Book Series: This Mortal Coil Book 3
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: LGBT+ characters
Recommended For...: sci-fi, genes, coding
Publication Date: January 21, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-fi
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 416
Synopsis: Cat’s hacking skills weren’t enough to keep her from losing everything—her identity, her past, and now her freedom. She’s trapped and alone, but she’s survived this long, and she’s not giving up without a fight.
Though the outbreak has been contained, a new threat has emerged—one that’s taken the world to the brink of a devastating war. With genetic technology that promises not just a cure for the plague, but a way to prevent death itself, both sides will stop at nothing to seize control of humanity’s future.
Facing her smartest, most devastating enemy yet, Cat must race against the clock to protect her friends and save the lives of millions on the planet’s surface. No matter the outcome, humanity will never be the same.
And this time, Cat can’t afford to let anything, or anyone, stand in her way.
Review: Overall I thought this was a good book but I don't feel connected to the book at the moment. I think it's one of those best suited read back to back with the rest of the series so I'll try again in the future.
Verdict: Not for me at the moment.
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors.
Book: The Evil Queen
Author: Gena Showalter
Book Series: The Forest of Good and Evil Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, retelling, ya
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 544
Synopsis: Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.
Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.
Look. See… What will one peek hurt?
Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.
With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?
The battle between good and evil is on.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The story and plot really drove the book and I liked both the most. The book was also fairly well paced.
However, the beginning was so confusing and slow that it made reading and getting into the book very hard. The characters and world building were also not well developed and nothing really set these characters apart from each other.
Verdict: It was a good book!
Book: The Evil Queen
Author: Gena Showalter
Book Series: The Forest of Good and Evil Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, retelling, ya
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 544
Synopsis: Far, far away, in the realm of Enchantia, creatures of legend still exist, magic is the norm and fairy tales are real. Except, fairy tales aren’t based on myths and legends of the past—they are prophecies of the future.
Raised in the mortal realm, Everly Morrow has no idea she’s a real-life fairy-tale princess—until she manifests an ability to commune with mirrors.
Look. See… What will one peek hurt?
Soon, a horrifying truth is revealed. She is fated to be Snow White’s greatest enemy, the Evil Queen.
With powers beyond her imagination or control, Everly returns to the land of her birth. There, she meets Roth Charmaine, the supposed Prince Charming. Their attraction is undeniable, but their relationship is doomed. As the prophecy unfolds, Everly faces one betrayal after another, and giving in to her dark side proves more tempting every day. Can she resist, or will she become the queen—and villain—she was born to be?
The battle between good and evil is on.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. The story and plot really drove the book and I liked both the most. The book was also fairly well paced.
However, the beginning was so confusing and slow that it made reading and getting into the book very hard. The characters and world building were also not well developed and nothing really set these characters apart from each other.
Verdict: It was a good book!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: Iron Heart
Author: Nina Varela
Book Series: Crier’s War Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Sapphic romance! LGBT+ characters aplenty!
Recommended For...: sci-fi, robots, romance, war
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (grief, sexual content, romance, violence, gore, PTSD)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Synopsis: For too long the cruel, beautiful Automae have lorded over the kingdom of Rabu, oppressing the humans who live there. But the human revolution is on the rise, and at its heart is Ayla. Once handmaiden, now fugitive, Ayla escaped the palace of Lady Crier, the girl Ayla had planned to kill . . . but instead fell in love with. Now Ayla has pledged her allegiance to Queen Junn, whom she believes can accomplish the ultimate goal of the human rebellion: destroy the Iron Heart. Without it, the Automae will be weakened to the point of extinction.
But playing at Ayla’s memory are the powerful feelings she developed for Crier. And unbeknownst to her, Crier has also fled the palace, taking up among travelling rebels, determined to find and protect Ayla.
As their paths collide, neither are prepared for the dark secret underlying the Iron Heart.
In this stunning sequel to acclaimed author Nina Varela’s Crier’s War, the love that launched a revolution must now pave the way for a whole new era . . . and the ultimate change of heart.
Review: For the most part I really liked this story. I liked the plot and I really think this series is great if binged. The characters are well developed and the world building is great as well.
However, I did think that this book suffered from second book syndrome. The story didn't feel as captivating as the first and since you're reading the book from the POV of Crier and Ayla, you don't get a lot of action in this book. The romance was also kinda short.
Verdict: A great duology!
Book: Iron Heart
Author: Nina Varela
Book Series: Crier’s War Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Sapphic romance! LGBT+ characters aplenty!
Recommended For...: sci-fi, robots, romance, war
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+ (grief, sexual content, romance, violence, gore, PTSD)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Synopsis: For too long the cruel, beautiful Automae have lorded over the kingdom of Rabu, oppressing the humans who live there. But the human revolution is on the rise, and at its heart is Ayla. Once handmaiden, now fugitive, Ayla escaped the palace of Lady Crier, the girl Ayla had planned to kill . . . but instead fell in love with. Now Ayla has pledged her allegiance to Queen Junn, whom she believes can accomplish the ultimate goal of the human rebellion: destroy the Iron Heart. Without it, the Automae will be weakened to the point of extinction.
But playing at Ayla’s memory are the powerful feelings she developed for Crier. And unbeknownst to her, Crier has also fled the palace, taking up among travelling rebels, determined to find and protect Ayla.
As their paths collide, neither are prepared for the dark secret underlying the Iron Heart.
In this stunning sequel to acclaimed author Nina Varela’s Crier’s War, the love that launched a revolution must now pave the way for a whole new era . . . and the ultimate change of heart.
Review: For the most part I really liked this story. I liked the plot and I really think this series is great if binged. The characters are well developed and the world building is great as well.
However, I did think that this book suffered from second book syndrome. The story didn't feel as captivating as the first and since you're reading the book from the POV of Crier and Ayla, you don't get a lot of action in this book. The romance was also kinda short.
Verdict: A great duology!