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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher for Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Glass Queen
Author: Gena Showalter
Book Series: The Forest of Good and Evil Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For…: retelling, fantasy, ya
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 324
Synopsis: Ashleigh Anskelisa may be called the Glass Princess due to her weak heart, but Saxon, king of the Avian, knows she is more dangerous than broken glass, in this Cinderella retelling that sweeps readers into the magical land of Enchantia, filled with treacherous enemies, unexpected allies, forbidden love, and dangerous magic! Can destined lovers find their way to each other, or will evil win the day? Everything changes at the stroke of midnight as one determined princess fights for her legacy, her love, and the crown that is her destiny.
Review: This was an ok book. Again, the plot and story were the driving points of the book and I enjoyed both of them. The world building was also a bit better and the pacing was still pretty good.
However, the book is full of SJM references (mates… Ugh) and the romance is really bad. The author used to write romance novels so I don't know why the romance in these books are so bad but they are. Maybe it's due to the lack of character development. The use of the word mate is also very troubling for me. In my opinion, the books would have been better as an adult series where the author could have went full SJM. I also have issue with this being called a series when it feels like just a group of books set in the same world.
Verdict: It was a good book, but a bit cringy.
Book: The Glass Queen
Author: Gena Showalter
Book Series: The Forest of Good and Evil Book 2
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For…: retelling, fantasy, ya
Publication Date: September 29, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 324
Synopsis: Ashleigh Anskelisa may be called the Glass Princess due to her weak heart, but Saxon, king of the Avian, knows she is more dangerous than broken glass, in this Cinderella retelling that sweeps readers into the magical land of Enchantia, filled with treacherous enemies, unexpected allies, forbidden love, and dangerous magic! Can destined lovers find their way to each other, or will evil win the day? Everything changes at the stroke of midnight as one determined princess fights for her legacy, her love, and the crown that is her destiny.
Review: This was an ok book. Again, the plot and story were the driving points of the book and I enjoyed both of them. The world building was also a bit better and the pacing was still pretty good.
However, the book is full of SJM references (mates… Ugh) and the romance is really bad. The author used to write romance novels so I don't know why the romance in these books are so bad but they are. Maybe it's due to the lack of character development. The use of the word mate is also very troubling for me. In my opinion, the books would have been better as an adult series where the author could have went full SJM. I also have issue with this being called a series when it feels like just a group of books set in the same world.
Verdict: It was a good book, but a bit cringy.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Vanished Queen
Author: Lisbeth Campbell
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: bisexual rep!
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy, court intrigue, mystery
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 496
Recommended Age: can't recommend dnf-ed
Synopsis: When a country is held in thrall to a vicious, despotic king, it’s up to one woman to take him down.
Long ago, Queen Mirantha vanished. King Karolje claimed it was an assassination by a neighboring king, but everyone knew it was a lie. He had Disappeared her himself.
But after finding the missing queen’s diary, Anza—impassioned by her father’s unjust execution and inspired by Mirantha’s words—joins the resistance group to overthrow the king. When an encounter with Prince Esvar thrusts her into a dangerous game of court politics, one misstep could lead to a fate worse than death.
Esvar is the second son to an evil king. Trapped under his thumb and desperate for a way out, a chance meeting with Anza gives him the opportunity to join the resistance. Together, they might have the leverage to move against the king—but if they fail, their deaths could mean a total loss of freedom for generations to follow.
Review: Unfortunately I had to dnf this one at 33%. The story was good and I liked it but it just wasn't grabbing my attention. Maybe another time will be better for me. Also, this book has a bi rep!
Verdict: Not for me at the moment but maybe for you!
Book: The Vanished Queen
Author: Lisbeth Campbell
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: bisexual rep!
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy, court intrigue, mystery
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Saga Press
Pages: 496
Recommended Age: can't recommend dnf-ed
Synopsis: When a country is held in thrall to a vicious, despotic king, it’s up to one woman to take him down.
Long ago, Queen Mirantha vanished. King Karolje claimed it was an assassination by a neighboring king, but everyone knew it was a lie. He had Disappeared her himself.
But after finding the missing queen’s diary, Anza—impassioned by her father’s unjust execution and inspired by Mirantha’s words—joins the resistance group to overthrow the king. When an encounter with Prince Esvar thrusts her into a dangerous game of court politics, one misstep could lead to a fate worse than death.
Esvar is the second son to an evil king. Trapped under his thumb and desperate for a way out, a chance meeting with Anza gives him the opportunity to join the resistance. Together, they might have the leverage to move against the king—but if they fail, their deaths could mean a total loss of freedom for generations to follow.
Review: Unfortunately I had to dnf this one at 33%. The story was good and I liked it but it just wasn't grabbing my attention. Maybe another time will be better for me. Also, this book has a bi rep!
Verdict: Not for me at the moment but maybe for you!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Neanderthal King
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: ya fantasy, war
Publication Date: August 8, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, language, slavery, war)
Publisher: Myrmani Press
Pages: 318
Synopsis: It’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.
But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.
Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.
And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.
Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.
Grab the 1st five chapters of Neanderthal King today for a bold new take on a daring teen hero’s fantastic adventure…
Review: For the most part I thought this book was really good. The book had a game of thrones feel and was very action-packed. The book was very fast-paced and I think the author did well with the storyline and the plot.
However I do think that the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked them to be. It just feels like I didn't really know the characters. I also thought the world building could have been more.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Neanderthal King
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: ya fantasy, war
Publication Date: August 8, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, language, slavery, war)
Publisher: Myrmani Press
Pages: 318
Synopsis: It’s 1107, and the once-great Neanderthal empire is no more, laid waste by the dark Sapien king, Isaac, the same bastard who slaughtered the Thal queen’s young heirs. A brutal reversal of medieval power forged in blood and fueled by Sap ingenuity.
But one babe escaped the mad king’s wrath.
Raised the son of a simple Thal herder, Maralek’s a rough lad with the ferocious pride and temper of his ruined people, a scorn for rules and rulers, and less than a little creativity in his thick skull. In a word, your average Neanderthal.
And life’s livable, until King Isaac resumes his bloodthirsty crusade, and Maralek’s forced into slaving shackles. Then, a rowdy caravan, a mysterious gypsy, a whispered prophecy… A whirlwind of devastation and war as his master is murdered, his fate unwoven, and his world ripped asunder in an epic battle to end all.
Neanderthal King is a historic epic YA fantasy by renowned science fiction and fantasy author, Matt Ward, that features savage twists and darker secrets, raging kings and enslaved heirs, and an audaciously ambitious coming of age quest set in an alternative medieval Europe. If you love Brandon Sanderson, Ursula le Guin, or Robin Hobb, or explosive high and low fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings, the Kingkiller Chronicles, and the Earthsea Cycle, you’ll love this heroic historical tale.
Grab the 1st five chapters of Neanderthal King today for a bold new take on a daring teen hero’s fantastic adventure…
Review: For the most part I thought this book was really good. The book had a game of thrones feel and was very action-packed. The book was very fast-paced and I think the author did well with the storyline and the plot.
However I do think that the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked them to be. It just feels like I didn't really know the characters. I also thought the world building could have been more.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Forget Me Not
Author: Anca Antoci
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy lovers
Publication Date: January 31, 2020
Publisher: indie published
Pages: 300
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, alcohol usage, drugs, slight sexual content, suicidal thoughts TW)
Synopsis: When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath. In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real.
A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life but only if she can escape and return to civilization. If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?
When push comes to shove, that's when real strength emerges.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part! The plot was intriguing and kept me interested in the book all the way through the novel. The world building was also very well done and the book is evenly paced.
However, the writing could have been a bit better. There was not a lot of showing in the writing, just a lot of telling. There also wasn't a lot of character development for me, just a lot of exposition.
Verdict: It's good still!
Book: Forget Me Not
Author: Anca Antoci
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy lovers
Publication Date: January 31, 2020
Publisher: indie published
Pages: 300
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, alcohol usage, drugs, slight sexual content, suicidal thoughts TW)
Synopsis: When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath. In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real.
A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life but only if she can escape and return to civilization. If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?
When push comes to shove, that's when real strength emerges.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part! The plot was intriguing and kept me interested in the book all the way through the novel. The world building was also very well done and the book is evenly paced.
However, the writing could have been a bit better. There was not a lot of showing in the writing, just a lot of telling. There also wasn't a lot of character development for me, just a lot of exposition.
Verdict: It's good still!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Everything I Thought I Knew
Author: Shannon Takaoka
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Contemporary ya lovers
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 320
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight gore, medical issues, romance)
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Chloe had a plan: work hard, get good grades, and attend a top-tier college. But after she collapses during cross-country practice and is told that she needs a new heart, all her careful preparations are laid to waste.
Eight months after her transplant, everything is different. Stuck in summer school with the underachievers, all she wants to do now is grab her surfboard and hit the waves—which is strange, because she wasn’t interested in surfing before her transplant. (It doesn’t hurt that her instructor, Kai, is seriously good-looking.)
And that’s not all that’s strange. There’s also the vivid recurring nightmare about crashing a motorcycle in a tunnel and memories of people and places she doesn’t recognize.
Is there something wrong with her head now, too, or is there another explanation for what she’s experiencing?
As she searches for answers, and as her attraction to Kai intensifies, what she learns will lead her to question everything she thought she knew—about life, death, love, identity, and the true nature of reality.
Review: For the most part this was an excellent book. I loved how the author approached dealing with young adult issues and I thought the strength of this book was the characters and the character development. The characters felt very realistic too and the world building was pretty well done as well.
The only low point was that the book was slow and really hard to get into. The book was good once I got into it but it drug for the longest time.
Verdict: it was good!
Book: Everything I Thought I Knew
Author: Shannon Takaoka
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Contemporary ya lovers
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 320
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight gore, medical issues, romance)
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Chloe had a plan: work hard, get good grades, and attend a top-tier college. But after she collapses during cross-country practice and is told that she needs a new heart, all her careful preparations are laid to waste.
Eight months after her transplant, everything is different. Stuck in summer school with the underachievers, all she wants to do now is grab her surfboard and hit the waves—which is strange, because she wasn’t interested in surfing before her transplant. (It doesn’t hurt that her instructor, Kai, is seriously good-looking.)
And that’s not all that’s strange. There’s also the vivid recurring nightmare about crashing a motorcycle in a tunnel and memories of people and places she doesn’t recognize.
Is there something wrong with her head now, too, or is there another explanation for what she’s experiencing?
As she searches for answers, and as her attraction to Kai intensifies, what she learns will lead her to question everything she thought she knew—about life, death, love, identity, and the true nature of reality.
Review: For the most part this was an excellent book. I loved how the author approached dealing with young adult issues and I thought the strength of this book was the characters and the character development. The characters felt very realistic too and the world building was pretty well done as well.
The only low point was that the book was slow and really hard to get into. The book was good once I got into it but it drug for the longest time.
Verdict: it was good!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: The Dragon Warrior
Author: Katie Zhao
Book Series: The Dragon Warrior Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Half Chinese main character and Half Chinese/Chinese side characters
Recommended For...: Chinese mythology, middle grade fantasy
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, slight gore, some scary moments)
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Kids
Pages: 288
Synopsis: As a member of the Jade Society, twelve-year-old Faryn Liu dreams of honoring her family and the gods by becoming a warrior. But the Society has shunned Faryn and her brother Alex ever since their father disappeared years ago, forcing them to train in secret.
Then, during an errand into San Francisco, Faryn stumbles into a battle with a demon--and helps defeat it. She just might be the fabled Heaven Breaker, a powerful warrior meant to work for the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, by commanding an army of dragons to defeat the demons. That is, if she can prove her worth and find the island of the immortals before the Lunar New Year.
With Alex and other unlikely allies at her side, Faryn sets off on a daring quest across Chinatowns. But becoming the Heaven Breaker will require more sacrifices than she first realized . . . What will Faryn be willing to give up to claim her destiny?
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. The book had a lot of action and very fast pacing. The book also had a very interesting plot and the story kept me so intrigued throughout.
However, I did think that the characters and world building weren't as developed as they could have been.
Verdict: Recommend this series!
Book: The Dragon Warrior
Author: Katie Zhao
Book Series: The Dragon Warrior Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Half Chinese main character and Half Chinese/Chinese side characters
Recommended For...: Chinese mythology, middle grade fantasy
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, slight gore, some scary moments)
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Kids
Pages: 288
Synopsis: As a member of the Jade Society, twelve-year-old Faryn Liu dreams of honoring her family and the gods by becoming a warrior. But the Society has shunned Faryn and her brother Alex ever since their father disappeared years ago, forcing them to train in secret.
Then, during an errand into San Francisco, Faryn stumbles into a battle with a demon--and helps defeat it. She just might be the fabled Heaven Breaker, a powerful warrior meant to work for the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, by commanding an army of dragons to defeat the demons. That is, if she can prove her worth and find the island of the immortals before the Lunar New Year.
With Alex and other unlikely allies at her side, Faryn sets off on a daring quest across Chinatowns. But becoming the Heaven Breaker will require more sacrifices than she first realized . . . What will Faryn be willing to give up to claim her destiny?
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. The book had a lot of action and very fast pacing. The book also had a very interesting plot and the story kept me so intrigued throughout.
However, I did think that the characters and world building weren't as developed as they could have been.
Verdict: Recommend this series!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Fallen Hero
Author: Katie Zhao
Book Series: The Dragon Warrior Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Half Chinese main character, Half Chinese and Chinese side characters.
Recommended For...: mg fantasy, Chinese mythology
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, slight gore)
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Kids
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Faryn Liu thought she was the Heaven Breaker, a warrior destined to wield the all-powerful spear Fenghuang, command dragons, and defeat demons. But a conniving goddess was manipulating her all along...and her beloved younger brother, Alex, has betrayed her and taken over as the Heaven Breaker instead. Alex never forgave the people who treated him and Faryn like outcasts, and now he wants to wipe out both the demons and most of humanity.
Determined to prevent a war and bring Alex back to her side, Faryn and her half-dragon friend Ren join the New Order, a group of warriors based out of Manhattan's Chinatown. She learns that one weapon can stand against Fenghuang--the Ruyi Jingu Bang. Only problem? It belongs to an infamous trickster, the Monkey King.
Faryn sets off on a daring quest to convince the Monkey King to join forces with her, one that will take her to new places--including Diyu, otherwise known as the Underworld--where she'll run into new dangers and more than one familiar face. Can she complete her mission and save the brother she loves, no matter the cost?
Review: Overall, this was an awesome book. The book improved so much on the first one and gave us so much character development and world building. The book also attacks the old Chosen One trope. The book did well to keep me intrigued throughout it.
The only issue I really had with this is that I thought the pacing was slower in this novel and a little bit too slow in some parts.
Verdict: A great series!
Book: The Fallen Hero
Author: Katie Zhao
Book Series: The Dragon Warrior Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Half Chinese main character, Half Chinese and Chinese side characters.
Recommended For...: mg fantasy, Chinese mythology
Publication Date: October 13, 2020
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, slight gore)
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Kids
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Faryn Liu thought she was the Heaven Breaker, a warrior destined to wield the all-powerful spear Fenghuang, command dragons, and defeat demons. But a conniving goddess was manipulating her all along...and her beloved younger brother, Alex, has betrayed her and taken over as the Heaven Breaker instead. Alex never forgave the people who treated him and Faryn like outcasts, and now he wants to wipe out both the demons and most of humanity.
Determined to prevent a war and bring Alex back to her side, Faryn and her half-dragon friend Ren join the New Order, a group of warriors based out of Manhattan's Chinatown. She learns that one weapon can stand against Fenghuang--the Ruyi Jingu Bang. Only problem? It belongs to an infamous trickster, the Monkey King.
Faryn sets off on a daring quest to convince the Monkey King to join forces with her, one that will take her to new places--including Diyu, otherwise known as the Underworld--where she'll run into new dangers and more than one familiar face. Can she complete her mission and save the brother she loves, no matter the cost?
Review: Overall, this was an awesome book. The book improved so much on the first one and gave us so much character development and world building. The book also attacks the old Chosen One trope. The book did well to keep me intrigued throughout it.
The only issue I really had with this is that I thought the pacing was slower in this novel and a little bit too slow in some parts.
Verdict: A great series!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hush
Author: Dylan Farrow
Book Series: Hush Book 1
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, ya fantasy, romance, magic
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Shae has led a seemingly quiet life, joking with her best friend Fiona, and chatting with Mads, the neighborhood boy who always knows how to make her smile. All while secretly keeping her fears at bay… Of the disease that took her brother’s life. Of how her dreams seem to bleed into reality around her. Of a group of justice seekers called the Bards who claim to use the magic of Telling to keep her community safe.
When her mother is murdered, she can no longer pretend.
Not knowing who to trust, Shae journeys to unlock the truth, instead finding a new enemy keen to destroy her, a brooding boy with dark secrets, and an untold power she never thought possible.
Review: DNFed at 35%. While the book is an interesting concept and it would be interesting for others I just couldn't get into the book.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
Book: Hush
Author: Dylan Farrow
Book Series: Hush Book 1
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, ya fantasy, romance, magic
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Shae has led a seemingly quiet life, joking with her best friend Fiona, and chatting with Mads, the neighborhood boy who always knows how to make her smile. All while secretly keeping her fears at bay… Of the disease that took her brother’s life. Of how her dreams seem to bleed into reality around her. Of a group of justice seekers called the Bards who claim to use the magic of Telling to keep her community safe.
When her mother is murdered, she can no longer pretend.
Not knowing who to trust, Shae journeys to unlock the truth, instead finding a new enemy keen to destroy her, a brooding boy with dark secrets, and an untold power she never thought possible.
Review: DNFed at 35%. While the book is an interesting concept and it would be interesting for others I just couldn't get into the book.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Updated Review:
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher when I did the original review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Broken Wish
Author: Julie C. Dao
Book Series: The Mirror Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult books, fantasy, retellings, historical fiction, fairy tales
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 12+ (violence, gore, discrimination, animal death mentioned, natural disaster)
Explanation of CWs: There is some slight violence and some gore in the book, especially a graphic detail about someone’s leg being broken. There is some discrimination (non-race based) against a witch and magic in the book. There is animal death that’s mentioned throughout the book occasionally. There is a frightening scene with a natural disaster shown.
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 311
Synopsis: 1865
Hanau, Germany
Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.
Review: I absolutely loved my reread of this book! It was so good and I can’t wait to dive into Shattered Midnight! The book was a little bit of a mishmash of different fairytales but it completely held its own. The book had excellent character development and world building. The book also had good foreshadowing.
The only issue I had with the book is that because it’s such a fast paced book some of the details are just bypassed and I wish that it wasn’t. There’s also some time skipping, but it’s not that evident until about a few sentences into a new chapter, which is a bit confusing.
Verdict: It was amazing! Highly recommend!
Original:
Disclaimer: I received the e-arc and a finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Broken Wish
Author: Julie C. Dao
Book Series: The Mirror Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, ya fantasy, magic lovers
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, romance, sexism, homophobia mentioned, grief, death)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 320
Synopsis: 1865
Hanau, Germany
Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.
Review: Oh my I really loved this book! It's a dark retelling and the overall story spans multiple generations. The character development is amazing and, this being my first time reading Julie Dao, I'm very excited to read some more of her work. The world building was also well done and the plot kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
The only issue I had was pacing. I thought the book was super slow in some spots, but overall I really enjoyed the book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher when I did the original review. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Broken Wish
Author: Julie C. Dao
Book Series: The Mirror Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: young adult books, fantasy, retellings, historical fiction, fairy tales
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 12+ (violence, gore, discrimination, animal death mentioned, natural disaster)
Explanation of CWs: There is some slight violence and some gore in the book, especially a graphic detail about someone’s leg being broken. There is some discrimination (non-race based) against a witch and magic in the book. There is animal death that’s mentioned throughout the book occasionally. There is a frightening scene with a natural disaster shown.
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 311
Synopsis: 1865
Hanau, Germany
Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.
Review: I absolutely loved my reread of this book! It was so good and I can’t wait to dive into Shattered Midnight! The book was a little bit of a mishmash of different fairytales but it completely held its own. The book had excellent character development and world building. The book also had good foreshadowing.
The only issue I had with the book is that because it’s such a fast paced book some of the details are just bypassed and I wish that it wasn’t. There’s also some time skipping, but it’s not that evident until about a few sentences into a new chapter, which is a bit confusing.
Verdict: It was amazing! Highly recommend!
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Disclaimer: I received the e-arc and a finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Broken Wish
Author: Julie C. Dao
Book Series: The Mirror Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, ya fantasy, magic lovers
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (slight violence and gore, romance, sexism, homophobia mentioned, grief, death)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 320
Synopsis: 1865
Hanau, Germany
Sixteen-year-old Elva has a secret. She has visions and strange powers that she will do anything to hide. She knows the warnings about what happens to witches in their small village of Hanau. She’s heard the terrible things people say about the Witch of the North Woods, and the malicious hunts that follow. But when Elva accidentally witnesses a devastating vision of the future, she decides she has to do everything she can to prevent it. Tapping into her powers for the first time, Elva discovers a magical mirror and its owner—none other than the Witch of the North Woods herself. As Elva learns more about her burgeoning magic, and the lines between hero and villain start to blur, she must find a way to right past wrongs before it’s too late.
Review: Oh my I really loved this book! It's a dark retelling and the overall story spans multiple generations. The character development is amazing and, this being my first time reading Julie Dao, I'm very excited to read some more of her work. The world building was also well done and the plot kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
The only issue I had was pacing. I thought the book was super slow in some spots, but overall I really enjoyed the book.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Hollow Places
Author: T. Kingfisher
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: horror lovers
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Horror
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Pray they are hungry.
Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.
With her distinctive “delightfully fresh and subversive” (SF Bluestocking) prose and the strange, sinister wonder found in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, The Hollow Places is another compelling and white-knuckled horror novel that you won’t be able to put down.
Review: DNFed at 24%. I'm not giving up on this story, in fact it's really good, but I want to come back to this one when I'm in the right mood. It's a fairly spooky book and I'm not in the mood for spooks.
Verdict: I will be back for this.
Book: The Hollow Places
Author: T. Kingfisher
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: horror lovers
Publication Date: October 6, 2020
Genre: YA Horror
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Gallery/Saga Press
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Pray they are hungry.
Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.
With her distinctive “delightfully fresh and subversive” (SF Bluestocking) prose and the strange, sinister wonder found in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, The Hollow Places is another compelling and white-knuckled horror novel that you won’t be able to put down.
Review: DNFed at 24%. I'm not giving up on this story, in fact it's really good, but I want to come back to this one when I'm in the right mood. It's a fairly spooky book and I'm not in the mood for spooks.
Verdict: I will be back for this.