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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Umchosen
Author: Katharyn Blair
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Dystopian reads, ya readers
Publication Date: January 26, 2021
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Pages: 416
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance, slight language)
Synopsis: For Charlotte Holloway, the world ended twice.
The first was when her childhood crush, Dean, fell in love—with her older sister.
The second was when the Crimson, a curse spread through eye contact, turned the majority of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.
Neither end of the world changed Charlotte. She’s still in the shadows of her siblings. Her popular older sister, Harlow, now commands forces of survivors. And her talented younger sister, Vanessa, is the Chosen One—who, legend has it, can end the curse.
When their settlement is raided by those seeking the Chosen One, Charlotte makes a reckless decision to save Vanessa: she takes her place as prisoner.
The word spreads across the seven seas—the Chosen One has been found.
But when Dean’s life is threatened and a resistance looms on the horizon, the lie keeping Charlotte alive begins to unravel. She’ll have to break free, forge new bonds, and choose her own destiny if she has any hope of saving her sisters, her love, and maybe even the world.
Because sometimes the end is just a new beginning.
Review: Overall, it was a good dystopian. I liked the not chosen one aspectout of the book and I felt like the world building was well done. I really like the plot of this book and I really liked the concept of the monsters as well.
However, I felt like the book was weirdly written. The book is really slow paced in my opinion and almost nothing noteworthy happens until the last third of the book. And then the book ends kind of quickly and I don't think it's tied up as neatly as it should have been. The book also didn't do well developing characters in my opinion and I felt like the childhood crush who is dating our main character sister was wrote in a very wishy-washy way and I really don't like that trip to begin with but it kind of led people on to believe that it would happen.
Verdict: It was good just needed a little more.
Book: Umchosen
Author: Katharyn Blair
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: Dystopian reads, ya readers
Publication Date: January 26, 2021
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Pages: 416
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance, slight language)
Synopsis: For Charlotte Holloway, the world ended twice.
The first was when her childhood crush, Dean, fell in love—with her older sister.
The second was when the Crimson, a curse spread through eye contact, turned the majority of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.
Neither end of the world changed Charlotte. She’s still in the shadows of her siblings. Her popular older sister, Harlow, now commands forces of survivors. And her talented younger sister, Vanessa, is the Chosen One—who, legend has it, can end the curse.
When their settlement is raided by those seeking the Chosen One, Charlotte makes a reckless decision to save Vanessa: she takes her place as prisoner.
The word spreads across the seven seas—the Chosen One has been found.
But when Dean’s life is threatened and a resistance looms on the horizon, the lie keeping Charlotte alive begins to unravel. She’ll have to break free, forge new bonds, and choose her own destiny if she has any hope of saving her sisters, her love, and maybe even the world.
Because sometimes the end is just a new beginning.
Review: Overall, it was a good dystopian. I liked the not chosen one aspectout of the book and I felt like the world building was well done. I really like the plot of this book and I really liked the concept of the monsters as well.
However, I felt like the book was weirdly written. The book is really slow paced in my opinion and almost nothing noteworthy happens until the last third of the book. And then the book ends kind of quickly and I don't think it's tied up as neatly as it should have been. The book also didn't do well developing characters in my opinion and I felt like the childhood crush who is dating our main character sister was wrote in a very wishy-washy way and I really don't like that trip to begin with but it kind of led people on to believe that it would happen.
Verdict: It was good just needed a little more.
Disclaimer: I received the e-arc of this book from the publisher. Thanks! I also bought my own copy. Support your authors! All opinions are my own.
Book: Rebel Rose
Author: Emma Theriault
Book Series: The Queen’s Council Book 1
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Lesbian side character, gay side character
Recommended For...: retelling fans, fantasy fans, historical fiction fans, ya readers
Publication Date: November 10, 2020
Genre: YA Retelling Historical Ficiton Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, gore, violence, revolution, PTSD symptoms)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue—and a touch of magic.
It’s 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it’s only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.
Not so very long ago, Belle dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her past as a commoner, and her future as royalty. While Belle grapples with her newfound position, there are those who would do anything to keep her from power.
When she stumbles across a magic mirror that holds a dire warning, Belle wants nothing more than to ignore the mysterious voice calling her to accept a crown she never desired. But violent factions of the revolution may already be lurking within her own castle, and doing nothing would endanger everything she holds dear. With the fate of her country, her love, and her life at stake, Belle must decide if she is ready to embrace her own strength--and the magic that ties her to so many female rulers before her--to become the queen she is meant to be.
Review: this was a really good book and a really interesting historical take on the Disney princesses. I really like the historical aspects and from what I could see and what I know of that time., I believe that it is mostly accurate. I felt like the character development was pretty well done as well as the overall plot of the book. The book kept me hooked and I pretty much read it in one sitting.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I feel like the book was really slow paced and that the action portions of the book were here and there. The book is also weirdly written in that a lot of things are repeated that I felt were unnecessarily repeated. I also didn't like that Adam's name was changed to Lio in this book. I like the little explanation that they gave for why, but his name is Adam and I don't know why the author went with that. I also felt like the world building could have been a little bit better.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Rebel Rose
Author: Emma Theriault
Book Series: The Queen’s Council Book 1
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Lesbian side character, gay side character
Recommended For...: retelling fans, fantasy fans, historical fiction fans, ya readers
Publication Date: November 10, 2020
Genre: YA Retelling Historical Ficiton Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, gore, violence, revolution, PTSD symptoms)
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Happily ever after is only the beginning as Belle takes on the responsibility of becoming queen and learns to balance duty, love, and sacrifice, all while navigating dark political intrigue—and a touch of magic.
It’s 1789 and France is on the brink of revolution. Belle has finally broken the Enchantress’s curse, restoring the Beast to his human form and bringing life back to their castle in the province of Aveyon. But in Paris, the fires of change are burning, and it’s only a matter of time before the rebellion arrives on their doorstep.
Not so very long ago, Belle dreamed of leaving her provincial home for a life of adventure. But now she finds herself living in a palace, torn between her past as a commoner, and her future as royalty. While Belle grapples with her newfound position, there are those who would do anything to keep her from power.
When she stumbles across a magic mirror that holds a dire warning, Belle wants nothing more than to ignore the mysterious voice calling her to accept a crown she never desired. But violent factions of the revolution may already be lurking within her own castle, and doing nothing would endanger everything she holds dear. With the fate of her country, her love, and her life at stake, Belle must decide if she is ready to embrace her own strength--and the magic that ties her to so many female rulers before her--to become the queen she is meant to be.
Review: this was a really good book and a really interesting historical take on the Disney princesses. I really like the historical aspects and from what I could see and what I know of that time., I believe that it is mostly accurate. I felt like the character development was pretty well done as well as the overall plot of the book. The book kept me hooked and I pretty much read it in one sitting.
However, I did have some issues with the book. I feel like the book was really slow paced and that the action portions of the book were here and there. The book is also weirdly written in that a lot of things are repeated that I felt were unnecessarily repeated. I also didn't like that Adam's name was changed to Lio in this book. I like the little explanation that they gave for why, but his name is Adam and I don't know why the author went with that. I also felt like the world building could have been a little bit better.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Be Dazzled
Author: Ryan La Sala
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Gay MC, m/m relationship
Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, LGBT+
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, drug usage, alcohol mention, sexual content, and slight gore for cosplay)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Who's ready to sparkle??
Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.
Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making--for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything--and everyone--else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem... Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.
Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store--or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca's insecurities and Raffy's insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can't ruin.
But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he'll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he's ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.
Review: I really like this book. I thought that the concept would be a bit tropey, but I am so glad that I was wrong. The two main characters were not at all enemies to lovers or vengeful x or anything like that, they felt like real people in the book. They had their tips and everything but the whole book didn't dwell on those little tips, but rather their relationship as a whole. I thought that the characters were wonderfully well developed and the world building was amazing. I really liked the concept of the book and that it takes place during conventions and with cosplay, something that I don't see a lot in books. I also thought that the book was wonderfully well written and the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.
the only thing that I really had an issue with was the way that the story was told. I really did like how the story was told for the most part, and that the book is told in this back and forth between the now and the then. But the story got a little bit metal towards the end, and I wish that the author took the last two chapters of the then and combine them into one big chapter and then left the last two chapters of the now complete. But the book is very poetic in that sense because while you're seeing the relationship fall apart in the then you are seeing it come back together in the now and there's something that's just epically poetic about this and I am so happy that I got to listen to this book. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in cosplay or if you're looking for those one of the million best ya romance contemporary books.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Be Dazzled
Author: Ryan La Sala
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Gay MC, m/m relationship
Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, LGBT+
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (language, drug usage, alcohol mention, sexual content, and slight gore for cosplay)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Who's ready to sparkle??
Project Runway goes to Comic Con in an epic queer love story about creativity, passion, and finding the courage to be your most authentic self.
Raffy has a passion for bedazzling. Not just bedazzling, but sewing, stitching, draping, pattern making--for creation. He's always chosen his art over everything--and everyone--else and is determined to make his mark at this year's biggest cosplay competition. If he can wow there, it could lead to sponsorship, then art school, and finally earning real respect for his work. There's only one small problem... Raffy's ex-boyfriend, Luca, is his main competition.
Raffy tried to make it work with Luca. They almost made the perfect team last year after serendipitously meeting in the rhinestone aisle at the local craft store--or at least Raffy thought they did. But Luca's insecurities and Raffy's insistence on crafting perfection caused their relationship to crash and burn. Now, Raffy is after the perfect comeback, one that Luca can't ruin.
But when Raffy is forced to partner with Luca on his most ambitious build yet, he'll have to juggle unresolved feelings for the boy who broke his heart, and his own intense self-doubt, to get everything he's ever wanted: choosing his art, his way.
Review: I really like this book. I thought that the concept would be a bit tropey, but I am so glad that I was wrong. The two main characters were not at all enemies to lovers or vengeful x or anything like that, they felt like real people in the book. They had their tips and everything but the whole book didn't dwell on those little tips, but rather their relationship as a whole. I thought that the characters were wonderfully well developed and the world building was amazing. I really liked the concept of the book and that it takes place during conventions and with cosplay, something that I don't see a lot in books. I also thought that the book was wonderfully well written and the audiobook narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the characters to life.
the only thing that I really had an issue with was the way that the story was told. I really did like how the story was told for the most part, and that the book is told in this back and forth between the now and the then. But the story got a little bit metal towards the end, and I wish that the author took the last two chapters of the then and combine them into one big chapter and then left the last two chapters of the now complete. But the book is very poetic in that sense because while you're seeing the relationship fall apart in the then you are seeing it come back together in the now and there's something that's just epically poetic about this and I am so happy that I got to listen to this book. I highly recommend this book if you're interested in cosplay or if you're looking for those one of the million best ya romance contemporary books.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions my own.
Book: The Gilded Ones
Author: Namina Forna
Book Series: Deathless Book 1
Diversity: Black main character and ownvoice
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: ownvoice, ya readers, fantasy lovers, feminism reads
Publication Date: February 9, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 432
Recommended Age: 16+ (Sexual harassment, Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, Sin Atonement and religion, Ptsd, Rape mentioned, Weight gain and not eating discussed, Menstruation, and Slavery illusions)
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself.
Review: For the most part I thought this book was really good. I really enjoyed the fast-paced storytelling, they always felt like something was happening and that really kept my interest piqued throughout the book. I thought the characters were very well developed and the world building was masterfully done. I also loved how well detailed and developed our main character was and the interactions that she had with other characters in the book felt very genuine. The plot of this book is also super intriguing and when she start to book you won't want to put it down.
However the worst some things in the book that I didn't like. The fast paced nature of the book did well to keep the story going, but also it made it really hard to understand what was fully going on all the time. It felt like I was running a marathon reading this book and I feel like there should have been places in the book that were slow down to explain some of the more intricate details at this book. I also felt like the book relied too much on the trope of the chosen one and how the chosen one is not who they seem to be. I really like that trope and it worked really well for this book, but I felt like the book leaned into it a little bit too much and it took away some of the uniqueness of this read.
Verdict: It's a great read and I love the strong feministic vibes!
Book: The Gilded Ones
Author: Namina Forna
Book Series: Deathless Book 1
Diversity: Black main character and ownvoice
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: ownvoice, ya readers, fantasy lovers, feminism reads
Publication Date: February 9, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 432
Recommended Age: 16+ (Sexual harassment, Racism, Death, Gore, Violence, Sin Atonement and religion, Ptsd, Rape mentioned, Weight gain and not eating discussed, Menstruation, and Slavery illusions)
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity--and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki--near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire's greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she's ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be--not even Deka herself.
Review: For the most part I thought this book was really good. I really enjoyed the fast-paced storytelling, they always felt like something was happening and that really kept my interest piqued throughout the book. I thought the characters were very well developed and the world building was masterfully done. I also loved how well detailed and developed our main character was and the interactions that she had with other characters in the book felt very genuine. The plot of this book is also super intriguing and when she start to book you won't want to put it down.
However the worst some things in the book that I didn't like. The fast paced nature of the book did well to keep the story going, but also it made it really hard to understand what was fully going on all the time. It felt like I was running a marathon reading this book and I feel like there should have been places in the book that were slow down to explain some of the more intricate details at this book. I also felt like the book relied too much on the trope of the chosen one and how the chosen one is not who they seem to be. I really like that trope and it worked really well for this book, but I felt like the book leaned into it a little bit too much and it took away some of the uniqueness of this read.
Verdict: It's a great read and I love the strong feministic vibes!
Disclaimer: I received an arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Ink in the Blood
Author: Kim Smejkal
Book Series: Ink in the Blood Book 1
Diversity: LGBT friendly, two moms, and the use of they pronouns
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: HMH books for young readers
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW child abuse, alcohol usage, some violence, slight sexual content)
Synopsis: A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.
Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.
Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.
To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.
Review: Holy cow this is the best urban fantasy I've read in a long time! I love the world building and how detailed the author was with the religion and the ink magic. I also love the ink magic the author created, very well done! The characters were very well developed as well!
However, I do think that the pacing is a bit slow for my speed preference and the writing, while wonderful, is kinda odd. It bounces back and forth between present and past and that made it difficult for me to follow along with sometimes.
Verdict: I want a tattoo now.
Book: Ink in the Blood
Author: Kim Smejkal
Book Series: Ink in the Blood Book 1
Diversity: LGBT friendly, two moms, and the use of they pronouns
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: February 11, 2020
Publisher: HMH books for young readers
Recommended Age: 16+ (TW child abuse, alcohol usage, some violence, slight sexual content)
Synopsis: A lush, dark YA fantasy debut that weaves together tattoo magic, faith, and eccentric theater in a world where lies are currency and ink is a weapon, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kendare Blake.
Celia Sand and her best friend, Anya Burtoni, are inklings for the esteemed religion of Profeta. Using magic, they tattoo followers with beautiful images that represent the Divine’s will and guide the actions of the recipients. It’s considered a noble calling, but ten years into their servitude Celia and Anya know the truth: Profeta is built on lies, the tattooed orders strip away freedom, and the revered temple is actually a brutal, torturous prison.
Their opportunity to escape arrives with the Rabble Mob, a traveling theater troupe. Using their inkling abilities for performance instead of propaganda, Celia and Anya are content for the first time . . . until they realize who followed them. The Divine they never believed in is very real, very angry, and determined to use Celia, Anya, and the Rabble Mob’s now-infamous stage to spread her deceitful influence even further.
To protect their new family from the wrath of a malicious deity and the zealots who work in her name, Celia and Anya must unmask the biggest lie of all—Profeta itself.
Review: Holy cow this is the best urban fantasy I've read in a long time! I love the world building and how detailed the author was with the religion and the ink magic. I also love the ink magic the author created, very well done! The characters were very well developed as well!
However, I do think that the pacing is a bit slow for my speed preference and the writing, while wonderful, is kinda odd. It bounces back and forth between present and past and that made it difficult for me to follow along with sometimes.
Verdict: I want a tattoo now.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Curse of the Divine
Author: Kim Smejkal
Book Series: Ink in the Blood Book 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: LGBT+ characters
Recommended For...: ya readers, fantasy lovers, magic lovers, LGBT+
Publication Date: February 9, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, death, grief, religion, slight romance)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Celia Sand faced Diavala and won, using ink magic to destroy the corrupt religion of Profeta that tormented her for a decade. But winning came with a cost. Now Celia is plagued with guilt over her role in the death of her best friend. When she discovers that Diavala is still very much alive and threatening Griffin, the now-infamous plague doctor, Celia is desperate not to lose another person she loves to the deity’s wrath.
The key to destroying Diavala may lie with Halycon Ronnea, the only other person to have faced Diavala and survived. But Halcyon is dangerous and has secrets of his own, ones that involve the ink that Celia has come to hate. Forced to choose between the ink and Diavala, Celia will do whatever it takes to save Griffin—even if it means making a deal with the devil himself.
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this read. The book had a lot of unique and fun elements to the book. The plot was intriguing and kept me hooked throughout it. The characters are well developed and the world building is well done.
However, I did feel like the book was a bit weirdly written. The book tended to hyper focus on certain events and it became a bit much to read at those points. The book was also slow paced in a lot of places.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Curse of the Divine
Author: Kim Smejkal
Book Series: Ink in the Blood Book 2
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: LGBT+ characters
Recommended For...: ya readers, fantasy lovers, magic lovers, LGBT+
Publication Date: February 9, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, death, grief, religion, slight romance)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Celia Sand faced Diavala and won, using ink magic to destroy the corrupt religion of Profeta that tormented her for a decade. But winning came with a cost. Now Celia is plagued with guilt over her role in the death of her best friend. When she discovers that Diavala is still very much alive and threatening Griffin, the now-infamous plague doctor, Celia is desperate not to lose another person she loves to the deity’s wrath.
The key to destroying Diavala may lie with Halycon Ronnea, the only other person to have faced Diavala and survived. But Halcyon is dangerous and has secrets of his own, ones that involve the ink that Celia has come to hate. Forced to choose between the ink and Diavala, Celia will do whatever it takes to save Griffin—even if it means making a deal with the devil himself.
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this read. The book had a lot of unique and fun elements to the book. The plot was intriguing and kept me hooked throughout it. The characters are well developed and the world building is well done.
However, I did feel like the book was a bit weirdly written. The book tended to hyper focus on certain events and it became a bit much to read at those points. The book was also slow paced in a lot of places.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Blood Sworn
Author: Scott Rentigen
Book Series: Ashlords Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Ya readers, fantasy lovers, horse lovers
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Slight Language, Slight Romance)
Synopsis: Three cultures clash in all out war--against each other and against the gods--in the second book of this fantasy duology that's sure to capture fans of The Hunger Games and An Ember in the Ashes.
The Races are over. War has begun.
Ashlord and Longhand armies battle for control of the Empire as Dividian rebels do their best to survive the crossfire. This is no longer a game. It's life or death.
Adrian, Pippa, and Imelda each came out of the Races with questions about their role in the ongoing feud. The deeper they dig, the clearer it is that the hatred between their peoples has an origin point: the gods.
Their secrets are long-buried, but one disgruntled deity is ready to unveil the truth. Every whisper leads back to the underworld. What are the gods hiding there? As the sands of the Empire shift, these heroes will do everything they can to aim their people at the true enemy. But is it already too late?
Review: For the most part I thought that this book was a really good sequel to the first one. the story did well and continuing the book and I thought it did really good to summarize what happened in the first book. the character development was very sound, the characters are very well developed and even with the time skip they were very well developed still. I also really like the world building and the plot kept me hooked onto the book from start to finish.
The only real issue that I had with the book was that the pacing was very slow. Like in the first book, I felt like there were a lot of parts in this book that dragged on and on unnecessarily. I would have liked to see this book at a bit of a faster pace.
Verdict: It was good, just some issues for me.
Book: Blood Sworn
Author: Scott Rentigen
Book Series: Ashlords Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Ya readers, fantasy lovers, horse lovers
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Slight Language, Slight Romance)
Synopsis: Three cultures clash in all out war--against each other and against the gods--in the second book of this fantasy duology that's sure to capture fans of The Hunger Games and An Ember in the Ashes.
The Races are over. War has begun.
Ashlord and Longhand armies battle for control of the Empire as Dividian rebels do their best to survive the crossfire. This is no longer a game. It's life or death.
Adrian, Pippa, and Imelda each came out of the Races with questions about their role in the ongoing feud. The deeper they dig, the clearer it is that the hatred between their peoples has an origin point: the gods.
Their secrets are long-buried, but one disgruntled deity is ready to unveil the truth. Every whisper leads back to the underworld. What are the gods hiding there? As the sands of the Empire shift, these heroes will do everything they can to aim their people at the true enemy. But is it already too late?
Review: For the most part I thought that this book was a really good sequel to the first one. the story did well and continuing the book and I thought it did really good to summarize what happened in the first book. the character development was very sound, the characters are very well developed and even with the time skip they were very well developed still. I also really like the world building and the plot kept me hooked onto the book from start to finish.
The only real issue that I had with the book was that the pacing was very slow. Like in the first book, I felt like there were a lot of parts in this book that dragged on and on unnecessarily. I would have liked to see this book at a bit of a faster pace.
Verdict: It was good, just some issues for me.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Lost Apothecary
Author: Sarah Penner
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Historical fiction fans, assassin books, revenge books, murder mysteries
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 320
Recommended Age: 16+ (Poison, Abuse, Feminism, Gore, Violence)
Synopsis: Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.
One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.
In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
Review: This book was surprisingly pretty good. I didn't think that I would like it as much as I did going into it but I did. I thought the book was well plotted out and I was intrigued throughout the reading of it. I really liked the world building and I also thought that the book was pretty surprising especially with the plot twist towards the end.
However, I did think that the characters were a little flat for me. There was nothing that really distinguished them from each other in my mind. I also thought that the book was way too slow especially in the beginning. The book took forever to get into and I feel like that that would be a hindrance to most readers.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: The Lost Apothecary
Author: Sarah Penner
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Historical fiction fans, assassin books, revenge books, murder mysteries
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Publisher: Park Row
Pages: 320
Recommended Age: 16+ (Poison, Abuse, Feminism, Gore, Violence)
Synopsis: Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.
One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.
In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
Review: This book was surprisingly pretty good. I didn't think that I would like it as much as I did going into it but I did. I thought the book was well plotted out and I was intrigued throughout the reading of it. I really liked the world building and I also thought that the book was pretty surprising especially with the plot twist towards the end.
However, I did think that the characters were a little flat for me. There was nothing that really distinguished them from each other in my mind. I also thought that the book was way too slow especially in the beginning. The book took forever to get into and I feel like that that would be a hindrance to most readers.
Verdict: It was good!
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Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Princess Electric
Author: Derek Silver
Book Series: The Rememberist Saga Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy lovers
Publication Date: February 20, 2021
Publisher: Fusionpunk Press
Pages: 378
Recommended Age: 16+ (Dementia like semblance, Slight violence, Slight gore, Gaslighting)
Synopsis: Violet wants nothing more than to forget how she put her sister in the hospital. When she discovers that her sister’s amnesia is caused by otherworldly creatures stealing memories, Violet is propelled into Dementia, an alternate world of lost moments and forgotten dreams.
It is there that Violet meets the Rememberists, a rag-tag crew of memory freedom fighters led by Declan and Cheshire, brothers who try to recruit Violet into their cause. Yet their shadowy demeanors make Violet question their motivations, even when she discovers that they can help her sister. But if Violet doesn’t start trusting someone soon, she’ll never be able to save her sister’s memories—or herself.
THE PRINCESS ELECTRIC is the first book in The Rememberist Saga, a young adult urban fantasy series set in an alternate world of lost memories, where the most precious commodity is the ability to remember, and the pain of forgetting is a tortured silence that lasts forever.
Review: This book was pretty good. I really enjoyed the plot of the book and the concept of it. I thought that the concept was pretty unique. I also liked how the world was developed and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, I did have a lot of questions about the book. I think that the book touches on a lot of sensitive topics, the most obvious being dementia and Alzheimer's like elements in the book. The book is and can be a hard read for people that have loved ones that are suffering from those diseases. and while I have not had any one personally in my life that has been affected by those diseases I can see where it might be hurtful to read this if you do, so I would suggest cautioning yourself before reading this book if you do have that criteria. I also thought that the pacing was really slow in a lot of the parts of the book and I didn't think that the characters were developed that well in my opinion. The characters don't have that many distinguishing features in my opinion and they're just kind of flat on the page.
Verdict: It was good for the most part
Book: The Princess Electric
Author: Derek Silver
Book Series: The Rememberist Saga Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Fantasy lovers
Publication Date: February 20, 2021
Publisher: Fusionpunk Press
Pages: 378
Recommended Age: 16+ (Dementia like semblance, Slight violence, Slight gore, Gaslighting)
Synopsis: Violet wants nothing more than to forget how she put her sister in the hospital. When she discovers that her sister’s amnesia is caused by otherworldly creatures stealing memories, Violet is propelled into Dementia, an alternate world of lost moments and forgotten dreams.
It is there that Violet meets the Rememberists, a rag-tag crew of memory freedom fighters led by Declan and Cheshire, brothers who try to recruit Violet into their cause. Yet their shadowy demeanors make Violet question their motivations, even when she discovers that they can help her sister. But if Violet doesn’t start trusting someone soon, she’ll never be able to save her sister’s memories—or herself.
THE PRINCESS ELECTRIC is the first book in The Rememberist Saga, a young adult urban fantasy series set in an alternate world of lost memories, where the most precious commodity is the ability to remember, and the pain of forgetting is a tortured silence that lasts forever.
Review: This book was pretty good. I really enjoyed the plot of the book and the concept of it. I thought that the concept was pretty unique. I also liked how the world was developed and the book kept me intrigued from beginning to end.
However, I did have a lot of questions about the book. I think that the book touches on a lot of sensitive topics, the most obvious being dementia and Alzheimer's like elements in the book. The book is and can be a hard read for people that have loved ones that are suffering from those diseases. and while I have not had any one personally in my life that has been affected by those diseases I can see where it might be hurtful to read this if you do, so I would suggest cautioning yourself before reading this book if you do have that criteria. I also thought that the pacing was really slow in a lot of the parts of the book and I didn't think that the characters were developed that well in my opinion. The characters don't have that many distinguishing features in my opinion and they're just kind of flat on the page.
Verdict: It was good for the most part
Disclaimer: My husband has a copy of this book so I borrowed it from him.
Book: The Golden Compass
Author: Phillip Pullman
Book Series: His Dark Materials Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: Children's book readers
Publication Date: May 22, 2001
Publisher: Yearling
Pages: 296
Recommended Age: can't recommend, DNFed
Synopsis: Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other.
Review: I had to dnf this book at page 93. This book has a horrible writing style. I was confused throughout the book and nothing is very well explained. The words in this book are fantastic, but are not explained as well. I understand that this is a well beloved book and series for a lot of people, but I feel like reading the SparkNotes of this book would be better suited for me. I also feel like there should have been a book before this book to explain what the hell is going on in this book. I also want to say that Lyra is a terrible person and friend and I don't know why she is our main protagonist.
Verdict: It was bad.
Book: The Golden Compass
Author: Phillip Pullman
Book Series: His Dark Materials Book 1
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: Children's book readers
Publication Date: May 22, 2001
Publisher: Yearling
Pages: 296
Recommended Age: can't recommend, DNFed
Synopsis: Lyra is rushing to the cold, far North, where witch clans and armored bears rule. North, where the Gobblers take the children they steal--including her friend Roger. North, where her fearsome uncle Asriel is trying to build a bridge to a parallel world.
Can one small girl make a difference in such great and terrible endeavors? This is Lyra: a savage, a schemer, a liar, and as fierce and true a champion as Roger or Asriel could want--but what Lyra doesn't know is that to help one of them will be to betray the other.
Review: I had to dnf this book at page 93. This book has a horrible writing style. I was confused throughout the book and nothing is very well explained. The words in this book are fantastic, but are not explained as well. I understand that this is a well beloved book and series for a lot of people, but I feel like reading the SparkNotes of this book would be better suited for me. I also feel like there should have been a book before this book to explain what the hell is going on in this book. I also want to say that Lyra is a terrible person and friend and I don't know why she is our main protagonist.
Verdict: It was bad.