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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this earc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Cost of Knowing
Author: Brittany Morris
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Black main characters and side characters
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: YA readers, sibling relationships, slight sci-fi readers
Genre: YA Sci-fi (more contemporary than sci-fi)
Publication Date: April 6, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, anxiety, slight romance, slight language)
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus is trying his best. He tries to be the best employee he can be at the local ice cream shop; the best boyfriend he can be to his amazing girlfriend, Talia; the best protector he can be over his little brother, Isaiah. But as much as Alex tries, he often comes up short.
It’s hard to for him to be present when every time he touches an object or person, Alex sees into its future. When he touches a scoop, he has a vision of him using it to scoop ice cream. When he touches his car, he sees it years from now, totaled and underwater. When he touches Talia, he sees them at the precipice of breaking up, and that terrifies him. Alex feels these visions are a curse, distracting him, making him anxious and unable to live an ordinary life.
And when Alex touches a photo that gives him a vision of his brother’s imminent death, everything changes.
With Alex now in a race against time, death, and circumstances, he and Isaiah must grapple with their past, their future, and what it means to be a young Black man in America in the present.
Review: Oh my goodness I am a huge fan of Brittany Morris now! I absolutely loved this story and I loved the premise of it. The book did well to develop the characters and with the world building. The book was equal parts heartbreaking and equal parts rallying as you cheered for Alex to fix the timeline. I also loved the message of this book and how Brittany Morris wrote it as a love letter to Black men that had to grow up too young. The book expertly shows the struggles Black men go through and I hope this book will be used in classrooms within the next decade to teach students the reality of our world for Black men. The atmosphere of the book reminded me a lot of They Both Die at the End with Long Way Down and Dear Martin mixed in.
The only issue I had with the book is that in some spots the pacing slows down, but overall I loved this.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: The Cost of Knowing
Author: Brittany Morris
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Black main characters and side characters
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: YA readers, sibling relationships, slight sci-fi readers
Genre: YA Sci-fi (more contemporary than sci-fi)
Publication Date: April 6, 2021
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 336
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, anxiety, slight romance, slight language)
Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus is trying his best. He tries to be the best employee he can be at the local ice cream shop; the best boyfriend he can be to his amazing girlfriend, Talia; the best protector he can be over his little brother, Isaiah. But as much as Alex tries, he often comes up short.
It’s hard to for him to be present when every time he touches an object or person, Alex sees into its future. When he touches a scoop, he has a vision of him using it to scoop ice cream. When he touches his car, he sees it years from now, totaled and underwater. When he touches Talia, he sees them at the precipice of breaking up, and that terrifies him. Alex feels these visions are a curse, distracting him, making him anxious and unable to live an ordinary life.
And when Alex touches a photo that gives him a vision of his brother’s imminent death, everything changes.
With Alex now in a race against time, death, and circumstances, he and Isaiah must grapple with their past, their future, and what it means to be a young Black man in America in the present.
Review: Oh my goodness I am a huge fan of Brittany Morris now! I absolutely loved this story and I loved the premise of it. The book did well to develop the characters and with the world building. The book was equal parts heartbreaking and equal parts rallying as you cheered for Alex to fix the timeline. I also loved the message of this book and how Brittany Morris wrote it as a love letter to Black men that had to grow up too young. The book expertly shows the struggles Black men go through and I hope this book will be used in classrooms within the next decade to teach students the reality of our world for Black men. The atmosphere of the book reminded me a lot of They Both Die at the End with Long Way Down and Dear Martin mixed in.
The only issue I had with the book is that in some spots the pacing slows down, but overall I loved this.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: No Romance Allowed
Author: Kana Wu
Book Series: A Sweet and Light-Hearted Romantic Series Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: romance lovers
Publication Date: November 16, 2020
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance)
Publisher: Bellwind Books
Pages: 314
Synopsis: Weeks after no one acceptable has answered Rory's ads for a female roommate in Irvine, California, a professional woman from London offers to pay six months' rent upfront. The term is shorter than Rory had hoped for but better than nothing. And she seems friendly.
On moving day, Peter shows up with a letter from his sister. The agreement has to be canceled because of a sudden illness. For Rory, that means staying on the top ramen diet for a while longer while again searching for a roommate. But then she is caught between a rock and a hard place when Peter offers to continue the agreement since he needs a place to live while stepping up to replace his sister in the family business. Against the promise Rory made to have a female roommate only, she accepts the offer.
Rory was born out of wedlock and then orphaned, growing up with her strict and old-fashioned aunt. Peter was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and little or no responsibility. She is a naive, impulsive young woman. He is an unruly young man, suddenly having to shoulder significant family responsibilities. While learning to coexist, Rory discovers one of his secrets, only to learn later that a different secret would be used to ruin her life.
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The romance is fun and it’s an easy read. The book has well developed characters and terrific world building. The book is also a super quick read and the plot keeps the book moving.
The only issue I had with the book is the pacing. The book is really slow in the beginning and it was a little struggle to continue with the book. However, after that the book did well for the remainder of it.
Verdict: It’s good!
Book: No Romance Allowed
Author: Kana Wu
Book Series: A Sweet and Light-Hearted Romantic Series Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: romance lovers
Publication Date: November 16, 2020
Genre: Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance)
Publisher: Bellwind Books
Pages: 314
Synopsis: Weeks after no one acceptable has answered Rory's ads for a female roommate in Irvine, California, a professional woman from London offers to pay six months' rent upfront. The term is shorter than Rory had hoped for but better than nothing. And she seems friendly.
On moving day, Peter shows up with a letter from his sister. The agreement has to be canceled because of a sudden illness. For Rory, that means staying on the top ramen diet for a while longer while again searching for a roommate. But then she is caught between a rock and a hard place when Peter offers to continue the agreement since he needs a place to live while stepping up to replace his sister in the family business. Against the promise Rory made to have a female roommate only, she accepts the offer.
Rory was born out of wedlock and then orphaned, growing up with her strict and old-fashioned aunt. Peter was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and little or no responsibility. She is a naive, impulsive young woman. He is an unruly young man, suddenly having to shoulder significant family responsibilities. While learning to coexist, Rory discovers one of his secrets, only to learn later that a different secret would be used to ruin her life.
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The romance is fun and it’s an easy read. The book has well developed characters and terrific world building. The book is also a super quick read and the plot keeps the book moving.
The only issue I had with the book is the pacing. The book is really slow in the beginning and it was a little struggle to continue with the book. However, after that the book did well for the remainder of it.
Verdict: It’s good!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: City of the Plague God
Author: Sarwet Chadda
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Muslim characters, refuge parents, and I believe one of the cousins is on the LGBT+ side? It’s vague.
Recommended For...: MG fans, fantasy readers, Mesopotamian mythology lovers
Publication Date: January 12, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (pandemic like conditions, scary moments, violence, gore, animal death and gore)
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Sik wants a simple life going to school and helping at his parents' deli in the evenings. But all that is blown to smithereens when Nergal comes looking for him, thinking that Sik holds the secret to eternal life.Turns out Sik is immortal but doesn't know it, and that's about to get him and the entire city into deep, deep trouble.
Sik's not in this alone. He's got Belet, the adopted daughter of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, on his side, and a former hero named Gilgamesh, who has taken up gardening in Central Park. Now all they have to do is retrieve the Flower of Immortality to save Manhattan from being wiped out by disease. To succeed, they'll have to conquer sly demons, treacherous gods, and their own darkest nightmares.
Review: This book was absolutely heartbreaking and wonderful all rolled into one! I loved this book for a multitude of reasons, the first being that it’s based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology! I had read some of the Epic of Gilgamesh in Senior English Honors but outside of that I hadn’t seen other things from that mythology. I loved the characters, the world building was great, and the book really touched on the micro-aggressions and racism Muslims encounter. I also really liked the story and it kept me intrigued from start to finish. The biggest standout of the book is the reverse in gendered norms. Sik is our male character hero, but he doesn’t use weapons throughout the novel. Belet is our female character hero and she can wield all sorts of weapons! I really hope the author is greenlit for more works because this one was absolutely fantastic.
The only issue I had with the book is that the book does have some pandemic like conditions due to the Plague God (duh), so that might be scary for some of the younger readers. Overall though, it was a well done book!
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: City of the Plague God
Author: Sarwet Chadda
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Muslim characters, refuge parents, and I believe one of the cousins is on the LGBT+ side? It’s vague.
Recommended For...: MG fans, fantasy readers, Mesopotamian mythology lovers
Publication Date: January 12, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+ (pandemic like conditions, scary moments, violence, gore, animal death and gore)
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Thirteen-year-old Sik wants a simple life going to school and helping at his parents' deli in the evenings. But all that is blown to smithereens when Nergal comes looking for him, thinking that Sik holds the secret to eternal life.Turns out Sik is immortal but doesn't know it, and that's about to get him and the entire city into deep, deep trouble.
Sik's not in this alone. He's got Belet, the adopted daughter of Ishtar, the goddess of love and war, on his side, and a former hero named Gilgamesh, who has taken up gardening in Central Park. Now all they have to do is retrieve the Flower of Immortality to save Manhattan from being wiped out by disease. To succeed, they'll have to conquer sly demons, treacherous gods, and their own darkest nightmares.
Review: This book was absolutely heartbreaking and wonderful all rolled into one! I loved this book for a multitude of reasons, the first being that it’s based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology! I had read some of the Epic of Gilgamesh in Senior English Honors but outside of that I hadn’t seen other things from that mythology. I loved the characters, the world building was great, and the book really touched on the micro-aggressions and racism Muslims encounter. I also really liked the story and it kept me intrigued from start to finish. The biggest standout of the book is the reverse in gendered norms. Sik is our male character hero, but he doesn’t use weapons throughout the novel. Belet is our female character hero and she can wield all sorts of weapons! I really hope the author is greenlit for more works because this one was absolutely fantastic.
The only issue I had with the book is that the book does have some pandemic like conditions due to the Plague God (duh), so that might be scary for some of the younger readers. Overall though, it was a well done book!
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+
Favorite Quote: "He was deprived of the one thing that gave him peace. His emotions were not his own to control anymore, he was now just a silenced man with a mind that was almost not present."
I was asked to read and review this book by the author. This did not alter my opinions of the book whatsoever.
In the aftermath of a war-torn world, only Virtus survives as the last living city on Earth on the undying island of New Pravus. Mikhail, a man whose memories escape him and who lives without purpose in one of the outlaying settlements on New Pravus, receives a vision one night telling him he must journey into Virtus to fulfill his destiny. In turn he must battle his way through the madness that threatens to drive him to insanity.
I thought this was a really good book overall, and that's coming from someone who's not a big sci-fi reader. The first thing that drew me in was the story. As everyone knows, I believe in studying dystopian novels to benefit me for any future diaster. This book starts at the end almost. The world is pretty much dead. And it only gets worse from there! (Reading this back I realized how demented I sounded there, but I liked that the world got worse and that the book wasn't very hopeful. A lot of writers weave a story filled with hope instead of dread and more should write a world with no hope and only dread.). I thought the plot developed nicely and the pacing was good. There wasn't a ton of downtime in the novel but there was just enough so the reader doesn't feel they're running a race. The author writes a story that's very easy to comprehend and to get into (I'm side-eyeing you Ninefox Gambit) and the story was simply well-written. The writing sucks you into the story and makes you devour the book quickly. The book also was very insightful. The story was constructed to be a story within a story kind of in my opinion. The underlying story being one of a man slowly being devoured by the madness of his own undoing, while he tries to right the wrongs and fix what has occurred. I might be totally wrong about that, but this was what I got out of the novel: you can't always fix what has been broken. I once heard a man say good sci-fi is written so it tugs just enough at your heartstrings but doesn't focus completely on those emotions. I believe this book fits that description.
While I greatly enjoyed this novel, I did have some issues with it. I felt Mikhail's character was developed very well but that all the characters lacked some development. This issue really showed in the last chapter. The last chapter is from minor characters POV that by that point I had completely forgotten about. The last chapter also had an issue in which it focused way too heavily on fighting and basically an adult game of capture the flag, which left me confused and disoriented. I felt the novel could have been nearly perfect without that last chapter because in my opinion it already had the perfect ending. Despite the "flaws" I really enjoyed this novel and I implore you to read it if you're a lover of sci-fi.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 16+
Favorite Quote: "He was deprived of the one thing that gave him peace. His emotions were not his own to control anymore, he was now just a silenced man with a mind that was almost not present."
I was asked to read and review this book by the author. This did not alter my opinions of the book whatsoever.
In the aftermath of a war-torn world, only Virtus survives as the last living city on Earth on the undying island of New Pravus. Mikhail, a man whose memories escape him and who lives without purpose in one of the outlaying settlements on New Pravus, receives a vision one night telling him he must journey into Virtus to fulfill his destiny. In turn he must battle his way through the madness that threatens to drive him to insanity.
I thought this was a really good book overall, and that's coming from someone who's not a big sci-fi reader. The first thing that drew me in was the story. As everyone knows, I believe in studying dystopian novels to benefit me for any future diaster. This book starts at the end almost. The world is pretty much dead. And it only gets worse from there! (Reading this back I realized how demented I sounded there, but I liked that the world got worse and that the book wasn't very hopeful. A lot of writers weave a story filled with hope instead of dread and more should write a world with no hope and only dread.). I thought the plot developed nicely and the pacing was good. There wasn't a ton of downtime in the novel but there was just enough so the reader doesn't feel they're running a race. The author writes a story that's very easy to comprehend and to get into (I'm side-eyeing you Ninefox Gambit) and the story was simply well-written. The writing sucks you into the story and makes you devour the book quickly. The book also was very insightful. The story was constructed to be a story within a story kind of in my opinion. The underlying story being one of a man slowly being devoured by the madness of his own undoing, while he tries to right the wrongs and fix what has occurred. I might be totally wrong about that, but this was what I got out of the novel: you can't always fix what has been broken. I once heard a man say good sci-fi is written so it tugs just enough at your heartstrings but doesn't focus completely on those emotions. I believe this book fits that description.
While I greatly enjoyed this novel, I did have some issues with it. I felt Mikhail's character was developed very well but that all the characters lacked some development. This issue really showed in the last chapter. The last chapter is from minor characters POV that by that point I had completely forgotten about. The last chapter also had an issue in which it focused way too heavily on fighting and basically an adult game of capture the flag, which left me confused and disoriented. I felt the novel could have been nearly perfect without that last chapter because in my opinion it already had the perfect ending. Despite the "flaws" I really enjoyed this novel and I implore you to read it if you're a lover of sci-fi.
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "You must be entirely convinced your heart sees things your eyes do not."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Ahelia Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Today was the Elliot Twins twelfth birthday. It was also the second anniversary of their parents' deaths, which had been deemed as the most "unexplainably off accident the town has ever seen". Now the twins live with their Auntie Bella. This day was supposed to be Jennifer's pity party, but while remembering better days she finds herself whisked away to a strange land where her Auntie Bella and brother Judah already are. Jennifer soon learns that her mamma's soul has been trapped in Trilleah along with other souls and that if they can't break the curse that holds the souls then the souls will remain in this awful land forever. Together with Sam, Pierce, and Matt, the constantly clashing clan must make their way through the land and they must learn to look with their hearts to see what is unseen and to hear with their souls to hear that is no spoken in order to find the truth that will destroy the curse and free the souls.
While I love stories that use the classic witches, mermaids, giants, etc. I do appreciate when authors decide to come up with a new world on their own. I always feel I should praise those authors for their imagination, especially when the book is excellent. So to start off this review I want to commend Kimm Reid on her FANTASTIC book and for creating this mysterious new world for me to explore! The world building in this book was marvelous! I could picture everything perfectly! The pacing was perfect for a first book in that the story went slowly so that way the reader could spend time exploring this new world. The plot also developed well for a beginning book. It was slow and some of the objectives were repeated, but in my opinion that's good for book that's the first in a series and it's also good for a junior novel! I don't know about your young readers, but I sometimes would become a little lost if the book was very action-y. So I have always preferred books that were a bit slower and focused on the world building rather than the action. The quality of writing was phenomenal and the book was a very easy read, which are two important qualities in a junior novel. The book was also very insightful. It's message to young children is to pause, listen, and think rather than letting your fear control you. Think through your fears and your actions before they cause you to do things you'll regret. All of these elements put together made for a very enjoyable read. This will definitely be a book I'll not only treasure forever, but a book I'll pass onto my children to read when they're old enough.... and born lol.
The only sour points I had about the book were that some of the characters did not get enough character development. While I felt that Jennifer had tremendous improvement and Sam had a bit of back-story, I wanted to hear more of the other character's stories. I also feel that some young children might not have the patience for a slower read like this one was. I didn't let this effect the overall score though because there are sequels that will more than likely develop the rest of the characters and the other books in the series will probably not spend so much time world-building as this one did.
This series holds great promise to being something magical for me and other children. This is a must read for any young or old fantasy lover!
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "You must be entirely convinced your heart sees things your eyes do not."
I was provided a free copy of this book by Ahelia Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Today was the Elliot Twins twelfth birthday. It was also the second anniversary of their parents' deaths, which had been deemed as the most "unexplainably off accident the town has ever seen". Now the twins live with their Auntie Bella. This day was supposed to be Jennifer's pity party, but while remembering better days she finds herself whisked away to a strange land where her Auntie Bella and brother Judah already are. Jennifer soon learns that her mamma's soul has been trapped in Trilleah along with other souls and that if they can't break the curse that holds the souls then the souls will remain in this awful land forever. Together with Sam, Pierce, and Matt, the constantly clashing clan must make their way through the land and they must learn to look with their hearts to see what is unseen and to hear with their souls to hear that is no spoken in order to find the truth that will destroy the curse and free the souls.
While I love stories that use the classic witches, mermaids, giants, etc. I do appreciate when authors decide to come up with a new world on their own. I always feel I should praise those authors for their imagination, especially when the book is excellent. So to start off this review I want to commend Kimm Reid on her FANTASTIC book and for creating this mysterious new world for me to explore! The world building in this book was marvelous! I could picture everything perfectly! The pacing was perfect for a first book in that the story went slowly so that way the reader could spend time exploring this new world. The plot also developed well for a beginning book. It was slow and some of the objectives were repeated, but in my opinion that's good for book that's the first in a series and it's also good for a junior novel! I don't know about your young readers, but I sometimes would become a little lost if the book was very action-y. So I have always preferred books that were a bit slower and focused on the world building rather than the action. The quality of writing was phenomenal and the book was a very easy read, which are two important qualities in a junior novel. The book was also very insightful. It's message to young children is to pause, listen, and think rather than letting your fear control you. Think through your fears and your actions before they cause you to do things you'll regret. All of these elements put together made for a very enjoyable read. This will definitely be a book I'll not only treasure forever, but a book I'll pass onto my children to read when they're old enough.... and born lol.
The only sour points I had about the book were that some of the characters did not get enough character development. While I felt that Jennifer had tremendous improvement and Sam had a bit of back-story, I wanted to hear more of the other character's stories. I also feel that some young children might not have the patience for a slower read like this one was. I didn't let this effect the overall score though because there are sequels that will more than likely develop the rest of the characters and the other books in the series will probably not spend so much time world-building as this one did.
This series holds great promise to being something magical for me and other children. This is a must read for any young or old fantasy lover!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+
Favorite Quote: "I hate what the world has become"
I was provided a free copy of this book by Pheobe Pach. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Has your WiFi ever crapped out all of a sudden? Your power flickered? Has time ever felt like it's passed by too quickly or slowly? Maybe you've experienced de-ja-vu? Blame the Descendants, the ones who are descended from Adam and Eve's firstborn children. One such descendant is Lucy James. She spends her days hiding and stealing food because she's homeless and without family. And she was on the brink of suicide until Saint Cale showed up. He leads her to a safe community full of people like her. But when her powers prove too powerful to be anything like the others and a dark secret comes to life, will it lead Lucy to run away or face the demons that threaten to consume her?
This is yet another book that I've read with a completely original idea and I'm loving the tiny break I'm getting from all the fairytale retellings. As I've said before I really appreciate it when a book I've read has an unique idea. I also loved the characters in this story for the most part. While I felt that there was an abundance of characters and it got confusing at times, for the most part the characters were all very well developed and memorable. I also loved the message of the book: you're not your birth, meaning: you are your own person and your birth does not define you. You can be anyone or anything you want (as long as it's legal!! Don't impersonate a cop please!) And how you're born does not define you. While I thought the book had some positives, I feel the book had some negatives as well.
First of all, my nook did not recognize the book as a book and so I believe a lot of the formatting was messed up because of that. While I wouldn't normally let this effect my score for quality of writing, I also had issue with how the author used quotations. I'm not used to having someone speak, but not referencing the character after they speak in the book. The author will have someone speak and then write an action of the other person instead of immediately referencing that original speaker. It made the writing a bit confusing for me as I had issue keeping track of who was talking, which effected the ease of reading for the reader in my opinion. The pacing and plot development for the most part was fine, but I felt that some of the story could have been slowed down and further detailed. The book could have easily been expanded into 2-3 separate books with all the information in this book.
Overall while I enjoyed the idea of the book I feel that it could have been slowed down, further detailed, and formatted a bit better in order to make for a better reading experience for the reader. BUT do not be disuaded by my review because this book has a lot of promise in it and it's an interesting concept. It's definitely worth a read if you're into YA Fantasy and new ideas for fantasy novels!
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 13+
Favorite Quote: "I hate what the world has become"
I was provided a free copy of this book by Pheobe Pach. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Has your WiFi ever crapped out all of a sudden? Your power flickered? Has time ever felt like it's passed by too quickly or slowly? Maybe you've experienced de-ja-vu? Blame the Descendants, the ones who are descended from Adam and Eve's firstborn children. One such descendant is Lucy James. She spends her days hiding and stealing food because she's homeless and without family. And she was on the brink of suicide until Saint Cale showed up. He leads her to a safe community full of people like her. But when her powers prove too powerful to be anything like the others and a dark secret comes to life, will it lead Lucy to run away or face the demons that threaten to consume her?
This is yet another book that I've read with a completely original idea and I'm loving the tiny break I'm getting from all the fairytale retellings. As I've said before I really appreciate it when a book I've read has an unique idea. I also loved the characters in this story for the most part. While I felt that there was an abundance of characters and it got confusing at times, for the most part the characters were all very well developed and memorable. I also loved the message of the book: you're not your birth, meaning: you are your own person and your birth does not define you. You can be anyone or anything you want (as long as it's legal!! Don't impersonate a cop please!) And how you're born does not define you. While I thought the book had some positives, I feel the book had some negatives as well.
First of all, my nook did not recognize the book as a book and so I believe a lot of the formatting was messed up because of that. While I wouldn't normally let this effect my score for quality of writing, I also had issue with how the author used quotations. I'm not used to having someone speak, but not referencing the character after they speak in the book. The author will have someone speak and then write an action of the other person instead of immediately referencing that original speaker. It made the writing a bit confusing for me as I had issue keeping track of who was talking, which effected the ease of reading for the reader in my opinion. The pacing and plot development for the most part was fine, but I felt that some of the story could have been slowed down and further detailed. The book could have easily been expanded into 2-3 separate books with all the information in this book.
Overall while I enjoyed the idea of the book I feel that it could have been slowed down, further detailed, and formatted a bit better in order to make for a better reading experience for the reader. BUT do not be disuaded by my review because this book has a lot of promise in it and it's an interesting concept. It's definitely worth a read if you're into YA Fantasy and new ideas for fantasy novels!
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "'I trust you' was her thought."
I was compensated by Ahelia Publishing foe my time in reading this book and I was also provided a free book in exchange for my honest review. I promise that did not chance my opinion of the book in any way and my opinion would remain the same if I found the series and paid for it with my own money.
"Summer Solstice has arrived. The Elliot Twins, Aunt Bella and the others are headed back to Trilleah where the Valley of Shadows--and King Shrailzhar--awaits their return.
While the travelers are unaware of what lurks beneath their path, all that lies just out of sight--under the souls of their feet, is most certainly aware of them!
The Lord of the Adders has been given strict orders by King Shrailzhar--who will stop at nothing to keep those dreadful curse breaking travelers out of his land--to -Go after the weakest!-
-Take that little one below, into your Adder's Nest, and shackle her there, - were the King's final instructions. -That shall put such a fear into the hearts of the others that surely, they will never return. Fear is the greatest tool of all!-
Little does the King realize that while fear is indeed a horrible snare that binds the hearts of some, it is also fear that causes great strength and courage to grow in others. If only he could know who it would bind and who it would empower, King Shrailzhar may choose very differently." - back cover blurb provided by Goodreads.
If you've not read the first book I advice you to do so before reading this review. I try to never post spoilers in my reviews but I might discuss things that might be confusing or "spoilery" to those who have not read the amazing first book of this series. You've been warned.
I'm back in the land I previously fell in love with and this time it's darker! The trees are moaning and the threat of being found by King Shrailzhar is becoming very real and very scary. The land is becoming angier that the Travelers are becoming closer and closer to finding all the clay tablets and the land isn't holding back their attacks against our favorite heroes! I loved revisiting the characters I fell in love with and something I thought that was very well done was the split POV between Bella and Jennifer. Jennifer was our previous focus of the story, but with Bella's insight I thought the story was better told and I thought this helped develop a character we didn't have a chance to really get to know in the previous book.
The pacing wasn't forced. It had a very natural flow and nothing felt too slow or too fast. The plot development was very well done as well. The second book really focused on trust. Who do you trust and can you believe everything you see with your eyes? I thought the book did a very good job at keeping the readers guessing at who to trust and what is real. Do you trust Bella or Simeon? Do you believe the garden or the enticing cave that tells you to leave your robes outside? Sometimes it felt like the reader should trust something when it turned out to be a lie and the way the author executed that type of writing was very well done.
The book was very well written. It kept my interest throughout the book and it never felt like the author repeated phrases or ran out of things to say. The writing made the book an easy and exciting read and I can see this being a popular book for young children as well. The book was also insightful. I've previously discussed that the book was an exploration on trust. This is an important thing for young children to realize and the younger they can the better unfortunately. It's sad that young children can't trust everything adults or other children tell them, but it's the reality we live in now. This book did a really good job at showing how the sweet words of something can be lies and how something that might seem like a good thing is very very bad. The book taught the reader to not believe everything they hear or see and it taught the reader to look at it things from a different perspective or, in the words of the book, with the "eyes of their heart". While there isn't a book of lies in real life, there is intuition that needs to be trusted and there are people in your life that will lead the way, no matter how little or weak they seem.
The only issue I had with this marvelous book is that I want to know more about the other characters and I hope the split POV continues. And the book ended on a cliff hanger! I need to read the next book ASAP to find out what happens because I have more questions than answers like poor Jennifer!
Obviously I loved this book and I highly recommend this book to any young or old fantasy book lover!
Genre: Junior Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+
Favorite Quote: "'I trust you' was her thought."
I was compensated by Ahelia Publishing foe my time in reading this book and I was also provided a free book in exchange for my honest review. I promise that did not chance my opinion of the book in any way and my opinion would remain the same if I found the series and paid for it with my own money.
"Summer Solstice has arrived. The Elliot Twins, Aunt Bella and the others are headed back to Trilleah where the Valley of Shadows--and King Shrailzhar--awaits their return.
While the travelers are unaware of what lurks beneath their path, all that lies just out of sight--under the souls of their feet, is most certainly aware of them!
The Lord of the Adders has been given strict orders by King Shrailzhar--who will stop at nothing to keep those dreadful curse breaking travelers out of his land--to -Go after the weakest!-
-Take that little one below, into your Adder's Nest, and shackle her there, - were the King's final instructions. -That shall put such a fear into the hearts of the others that surely, they will never return. Fear is the greatest tool of all!-
Little does the King realize that while fear is indeed a horrible snare that binds the hearts of some, it is also fear that causes great strength and courage to grow in others. If only he could know who it would bind and who it would empower, King Shrailzhar may choose very differently." - back cover blurb provided by Goodreads.
If you've not read the first book I advice you to do so before reading this review. I try to never post spoilers in my reviews but I might discuss things that might be confusing or "spoilery" to those who have not read the amazing first book of this series. You've been warned.
I'm back in the land I previously fell in love with and this time it's darker! The trees are moaning and the threat of being found by King Shrailzhar is becoming very real and very scary. The land is becoming angier that the Travelers are becoming closer and closer to finding all the clay tablets and the land isn't holding back their attacks against our favorite heroes! I loved revisiting the characters I fell in love with and something I thought that was very well done was the split POV between Bella and Jennifer. Jennifer was our previous focus of the story, but with Bella's insight I thought the story was better told and I thought this helped develop a character we didn't have a chance to really get to know in the previous book.
The pacing wasn't forced. It had a very natural flow and nothing felt too slow or too fast. The plot development was very well done as well. The second book really focused on trust. Who do you trust and can you believe everything you see with your eyes? I thought the book did a very good job at keeping the readers guessing at who to trust and what is real. Do you trust Bella or Simeon? Do you believe the garden or the enticing cave that tells you to leave your robes outside? Sometimes it felt like the reader should trust something when it turned out to be a lie and the way the author executed that type of writing was very well done.
The book was very well written. It kept my interest throughout the book and it never felt like the author repeated phrases or ran out of things to say. The writing made the book an easy and exciting read and I can see this being a popular book for young children as well. The book was also insightful. I've previously discussed that the book was an exploration on trust. This is an important thing for young children to realize and the younger they can the better unfortunately. It's sad that young children can't trust everything adults or other children tell them, but it's the reality we live in now. This book did a really good job at showing how the sweet words of something can be lies and how something that might seem like a good thing is very very bad. The book taught the reader to not believe everything they hear or see and it taught the reader to look at it things from a different perspective or, in the words of the book, with the "eyes of their heart". While there isn't a book of lies in real life, there is intuition that needs to be trusted and there are people in your life that will lead the way, no matter how little or weak they seem.
The only issue I had with this marvelous book is that I want to know more about the other characters and I hope the split POV continues. And the book ended on a cliff hanger! I need to read the next book ASAP to find out what happens because I have more questions than answers like poor Jennifer!
Obviously I loved this book and I highly recommend this book to any young or old fantasy book lover!
Rating: 3/5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: “The only thing that I do know, is that being with you, makes me human again. Everything is right when I’m with you.”
When eighteen-year-old Aura Edwards is thrown into a world she hasn’t belonged in since she was a little girl, she’s willing to make the best of it. With the promise of becoming the next British princess and the rekindling of a once upon a time romance with Tristan, her betrothed, how could she not at least try? But when her heart is unexpectedly torn in two, she must decide between her love for the boy who never forgot her and the vampire who, against all odds, saved her life.
Aura’s life takes a detour when Adam betrays his clan and does everything in his power to protect her. He may not understand why, but Adam is drawn to Aura and his instant attraction to her takes them both by surprise. Tristan is not ready to give up the fight for Aura though, even when he discovers the twisted history bearing down on him and Adam. But when, Aura discovers a dark secret hiding in plain sight, she begins to question who she can trust. – Amazon.com
I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Probably the first stories you were ever told as a young child involved a prince, a princess, and a monster. But what if the monster in the story was actually the good guy? And the prince the evil villain? That’s the type of story you get when you read this book! This book has some decent growth for the main characters and the plot was very intriguing. The plot developed fast, but it left me at the edge of my seat. Definitely a book you could devour easily in a day. The book is also very well written and is easy to understand.
However, there were a few issues with this book. I felt that the book was very fast-paced and that there could have been better character growth for every character. I had some issues with how some of the characters turned out by the end of the book and I felt that the book continued too many twists and turns for my personal taste. The book also contains a love triangle…. maybe more of a love square and it had a Twilight/Shiver feel to it. I also did not find the book to be very inspirational, except in that you should be weary of those you think you love because you might not really know them. I liked that the book included a Hans from Frozen like character, but I felt that Aura, whom is one of the main characters, was very much a Lois Lane character. She constantly found herself in need of saving. This in itself is not a bad thing, but I had different expectations for her. This book just wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but I believe it enjoyable for those that love Twilight or Shiver or any classic YA paranormal romance books.
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 14+ (violence and gore)
Favorite Quote: “The only thing that I do know, is that being with you, makes me human again. Everything is right when I’m with you.”
When eighteen-year-old Aura Edwards is thrown into a world she hasn’t belonged in since she was a little girl, she’s willing to make the best of it. With the promise of becoming the next British princess and the rekindling of a once upon a time romance with Tristan, her betrothed, how could she not at least try? But when her heart is unexpectedly torn in two, she must decide between her love for the boy who never forgot her and the vampire who, against all odds, saved her life.
Aura’s life takes a detour when Adam betrays his clan and does everything in his power to protect her. He may not understand why, but Adam is drawn to Aura and his instant attraction to her takes them both by surprise. Tristan is not ready to give up the fight for Aura though, even when he discovers the twisted history bearing down on him and Adam. But when, Aura discovers a dark secret hiding in plain sight, she begins to question who she can trust. – Amazon.com
I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my decision in any way.
Probably the first stories you were ever told as a young child involved a prince, a princess, and a monster. But what if the monster in the story was actually the good guy? And the prince the evil villain? That’s the type of story you get when you read this book! This book has some decent growth for the main characters and the plot was very intriguing. The plot developed fast, but it left me at the edge of my seat. Definitely a book you could devour easily in a day. The book is also very well written and is easy to understand.
However, there were a few issues with this book. I felt that the book was very fast-paced and that there could have been better character growth for every character. I had some issues with how some of the characters turned out by the end of the book and I felt that the book continued too many twists and turns for my personal taste. The book also contains a love triangle…. maybe more of a love square and it had a Twilight/Shiver feel to it. I also did not find the book to be very inspirational, except in that you should be weary of those you think you love because you might not really know them. I liked that the book included a Hans from Frozen like character, but I felt that Aura, whom is one of the main characters, was very much a Lois Lane character. She constantly found herself in need of saving. This in itself is not a bad thing, but I had different expectations for her. This book just wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but I believe it enjoyable for those that love Twilight or Shiver or any classic YA paranormal romance books.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Poetry
Recommended Age: 12+ (some slightly mature poems, trigger warning for one in particular that talks about depression)
I was presented with a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review. This did not sway my decisions in any manner.
Inspirational poetry for the Dreamers to out there. Let the poetry soak into your spirit and get you through the harsh realities of life. Let the Dreamers be understood and relate to this second collection of poetry. – LuLu.com
I’m not a big poetry person, but I do enjoy reading it when I’m feeling down or out of sorts. So something like this book was a great thing to read when I’ve had a long day. It’s very calming in that it has a nice tempo and that it doesn’t have any twists and turns or anything like that. It’s also very inspirational. The book dealt with some serious issues that almost everyone deals with in life and it gives a message to hope and strength to those still dealing with those issues. The book is also pretty well written and is just very beautiful.
However, probably because I’m not a bit poetry person, I did have some issues connecting with the poems and becoming involved in them. I couldn’t get “lost” in them and I felt a little disconnect. However, I might just be the oddball who can’t get into poetry no matter how much I enjoy it. I also became confused when researching this book as there are two copies but with a different total number of pages on the website where I received this book.
Verdict: I think this book is a great one to read when you’re down or when you just need something very calming to read. It gives you hope and a change to just have a calm, relaxing read. If you’re a poetry reader, I suggest this book to you.
Genre: Poetry
Recommended Age: 12+ (some slightly mature poems, trigger warning for one in particular that talks about depression)
I was presented with a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for a review. This did not sway my decisions in any manner.
Inspirational poetry for the Dreamers to out there. Let the poetry soak into your spirit and get you through the harsh realities of life. Let the Dreamers be understood and relate to this second collection of poetry. – LuLu.com
I’m not a big poetry person, but I do enjoy reading it when I’m feeling down or out of sorts. So something like this book was a great thing to read when I’ve had a long day. It’s very calming in that it has a nice tempo and that it doesn’t have any twists and turns or anything like that. It’s also very inspirational. The book dealt with some serious issues that almost everyone deals with in life and it gives a message to hope and strength to those still dealing with those issues. The book is also pretty well written and is just very beautiful.
However, probably because I’m not a bit poetry person, I did have some issues connecting with the poems and becoming involved in them. I couldn’t get “lost” in them and I felt a little disconnect. However, I might just be the oddball who can’t get into poetry no matter how much I enjoy it. I also became confused when researching this book as there are two copies but with a different total number of pages on the website where I received this book.
Verdict: I think this book is a great one to read when you’re down or when you just need something very calming to read. It gives you hope and a change to just have a calm, relaxing read. If you’re a poetry reader, I suggest this book to you.