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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book in a Once Upon a Book Club box! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Harley in the Sky
Author: Akemi Dawn Bowman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Main character is a quarter Chinese and a quarter Japanese
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, circus, running away from home
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (running away, mental health, slight violence, TW mention of sexual violence, depression, suicidal thoughts TW)
Publisher: Ink Road
Pages: 410
Synopsis: Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.
After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.
Review: I really loved this story! I thought the plot was intriguing and while it was a spin on the old “fed-up teen runs away from home” the author managed to make it something new in my opinion. The character development of Harley alone was amazing and I loved how the author woved in details about Harley’s mental health. I also liked all the other characters developments, including the mother and how we explore her mental health in this story as well. The book was also well paced and extremely well written.
However, I do feel like the author could have done better at the end. While I think that everyone’s mental health is their own personal exploration, I think that Harley and her mother need outside help from a therapist to help them develop skills and tools to help them reach equilibrium with their mental wellbeing.
Verdict: A well done novel!
Book: Harley in the Sky
Author: Akemi Dawn Bowman
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Main character is a quarter Chinese and a quarter Japanese
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, circus, running away from home
Publication Date: March 10, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (running away, mental health, slight violence, TW mention of sexual violence, depression, suicidal thoughts TW)
Publisher: Ink Road
Pages: 410
Synopsis: Harley Milano has dreamed of being a trapeze artist for as long as she can remember. With parents who run a famous circus in Las Vegas, she spends almost every night in the big top watching their lead aerialist perform, wishing with all her soul that she could be up there herself one day.
After a huge fight with her parents, who continue to insist she go to school instead, Harley leaves home, betrays her family and joins the rival traveling circus Maison du Mystère. There, she is thrust into a world that is both brutal and beautiful, where she learns the value of hard work, passion and collaboration. But at the same time, Harley must come to terms with the truth of her family and her past—and reckon with the sacrifices she made and the people she hurt in order to follow her dreams.
Review: I really loved this story! I thought the plot was intriguing and while it was a spin on the old “fed-up teen runs away from home” the author managed to make it something new in my opinion. The character development of Harley alone was amazing and I loved how the author woved in details about Harley’s mental health. I also liked all the other characters developments, including the mother and how we explore her mental health in this story as well. The book was also well paced and extremely well written.
However, I do feel like the author could have done better at the end. While I think that everyone’s mental health is their own personal exploration, I think that Harley and her mother need outside help from a therapist to help them develop skills and tools to help them reach equilibrium with their mental wellbeing.
Verdict: A well done novel!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Forest of Souls
Author: Lori M. Lee
Book Series: Shamanborn Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Southeast-Asian inspired characters and setting!
Recommended For...: fantasy, southeast Asian ownvoice, magic
Publication Date: June 23, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (spiders, violence, gore)
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.
And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.
Unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. Now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. As war looms, Sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim Saengo, the friend she would die for.
Review: Overall I thought this book was really well done! The characters were well developed and I adored Sirscha and Saengo’s relationship. I thought the writing was well done and the setting and world building was amazing. I also thought the plot, in particular the problem Sirscha encounters, was very unique in terms of what I’ve read before. It was action packed and easily one of my favorite YA high fantasy novels.
However, I did think that beginning was a little slow (but well crafted) and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I didn’t want Saengo and Sirscha to be more than friends, but they’re very well suited to be sisters of heart in this novel.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Forest of Souls
Author: Lori M. Lee
Book Series: Shamanborn Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Southeast-Asian inspired characters and setting!
Recommended For...: fantasy, southeast Asian ownvoice, magic
Publication Date: June 23, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (spiders, violence, gore)
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Sirscha Ashwyn comes from nothing, but she’s intent on becoming something. After years of training to become the queen’s next royal spy, her plans are derailed when shamans attack and kill her best friend Saengo.
And then Sirscha, somehow, restores Saengo to life.
Unveiled as the first soulguide in living memory, Sirscha is summoned to the domain of the Spider King. For centuries, he has used his influence over the Dead Wood—an ancient forest possessed by souls—to enforce peace between the kingdoms. Now, with the trees growing wild and untamed, only a soulguide can restrain them. As war looms, Sirscha must master her newly awakened abilities before the trees shatter the brittle peace, or worse, claim Saengo, the friend she would die for.
Review: Overall I thought this book was really well done! The characters were well developed and I adored Sirscha and Saengo’s relationship. I thought the writing was well done and the setting and world building was amazing. I also thought the plot, in particular the problem Sirscha encounters, was very unique in terms of what I’ve read before. It was action packed and easily one of my favorite YA high fantasy novels.
However, I did think that beginning was a little slow (but well crafted) and I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I didn’t want Saengo and Sirscha to be more than friends, but they’re very well suited to be sisters of heart in this novel.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Black Swan of Paris
Author: Karen Robards
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: history lovers, WWII, resistance, romance
Publication Date: June 30, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, violence, slight gore, resistance, and war)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Paris, 1944
Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.
When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary—including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected—and in time to save Lillian’s life.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought the writing was beautiful and well done. The book was about the French Revolution, which I don’t know a ton about and I thought it gave me some insight into the historical movement. The book had very well developed characters and the world building was also very well done.
However, I felt like the middle of the book slowed down in pacing. It was extremely long and almost made reading it feel like crawling through mud. However, the ending was good and it was worth the read in my opinion.
Verdict: Recommended!!
Book: The Black Swan of Paris
Author: Karen Robards
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended For...: history lovers, WWII, resistance, romance
Publication Date: June 30, 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, violence, slight gore, resistance, and war)
Publisher: MIRA
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Paris, 1944
Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.
When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary—including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected—and in time to save Lillian’s life.
Review: I really loved this book! I thought the writing was beautiful and well done. The book was about the French Revolution, which I don’t know a ton about and I thought it gave me some insight into the historical movement. The book had very well developed characters and the world building was also very well done.
However, I felt like the middle of the book slowed down in pacing. It was extremely long and almost made reading it feel like crawling through mud. However, the ending was good and it was worth the read in my opinion.
Verdict: Recommended!!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Last Wife
Author: Karen Hamilton
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: thriller, suspense, mystery
Publication Date: June 25, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, terminal illness, secrets, slight violence and gore)
Publisher: Wildfire
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Two women. A dying wish. And a web of lies that will bring their world crashing down.
Nina and Marie were best friends—until Nina was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Before she died, Nina asked Marie to fulfill her final wishes.
But her mistake was in thinking Marie was someone she could trust.
What Nina didn’t know was that Marie always wanted her beautiful life, and that Marie has an agenda of her own. She’ll do anything to get what she wants.
Marie thinks she can keep her promise to her friend’s family on her own terms. But what she doesn’t know is that Nina was hiding explosive secrets of her own…
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. The book had great character development and the world building was good. The book also had an intriguing plot, which is what kept me reading the book.
However, I felt like the book had too much in it. There was a lot going on with the secrets and the manipulation and all the lies, that it makes it hard for the reader to get through it. The book isn’t very engaging for the reader, especially when it has so many layers like this one does. I did like the ending, but it was a struggle to get there.
Verdict: It was a good book, but there’s a lot going on.
Book: The Last Wife
Author: Karen Hamilton
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: thriller, suspense, mystery
Publication Date: June 25, 2020
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: 17+ (death, terminal illness, secrets, slight violence and gore)
Publisher: Wildfire
Pages: 352
Synopsis: Two women. A dying wish. And a web of lies that will bring their world crashing down.
Nina and Marie were best friends—until Nina was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Before she died, Nina asked Marie to fulfill her final wishes.
But her mistake was in thinking Marie was someone she could trust.
What Nina didn’t know was that Marie always wanted her beautiful life, and that Marie has an agenda of her own. She’ll do anything to get what she wants.
Marie thinks she can keep her promise to her friend’s family on her own terms. But what she doesn’t know is that Nina was hiding explosive secrets of her own…
Review: Overall, I thought this was a good book. The book had great character development and the world building was good. The book also had an intriguing plot, which is what kept me reading the book.
However, I felt like the book had too much in it. There was a lot going on with the secrets and the manipulation and all the lies, that it makes it hard for the reader to get through it. The book isn’t very engaging for the reader, especially when it has so many layers like this one does. I did like the ending, but it was a struggle to get there.
Verdict: It was a good book, but there’s a lot going on.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this novel from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Henna Wars
Author: Adiba Jaigirdar
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Bangladeshi characters, Black Brazilian love interest, Queer Bangladeshi main character, Korean side character
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 405
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, racism, homophobia, language, and getting outted TW)
Synopsis: Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.
As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! I thought the characters were intriguing and well developed. The romance was cute and I was here for it! I loved the world building and I loved how the book was written. It was an amazing read and it was so swoon-worthy! I loved that the author wrote this as well! You don't see a lot of queer representation with POC and Bangladeshi and Brazilian are both those I've never read before to my knowledge. I hope that the tides will change in publishing were we get more stories and more ownvoice from POC and minority writers. The book also does well to talk about the importance of culture and how certain things/activities (like henna) are very important to a culture. The book did well to show how ignorance can make someone accidentally culturally appropriate something, but also didn't shy away from showing that some people are just blatantly racist and/or homophobic.
My only issue is that I wish some of the words were explained. I got the gist of most of them, especially the terms of relationship and endearment used in the main characters own language, but there was a scene where our main and her love interest speak French to each other and I wish that was explained, but again I got like 60% of what was said. I'd also to have liked to see the person who outted our main character get punished, but the unfortunate reality of our current lives is that some people get away with their actions because it causes more harm on the victim to come forward than to not. This definitely needs to change, but then again I think people's closed mindedness needs to change as well.
Verdict: Definitely worth the read!!
Book: The Henna Wars
Author: Adiba Jaigirdar
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Bangladeshi characters, Black Brazilian love interest, Queer Bangladeshi main character, Korean side character
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Pages: 405
Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, racism, homophobia, language, and getting outted TW)
Synopsis: Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled—but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.
As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.
Review: I really enjoyed this book! I thought the characters were intriguing and well developed. The romance was cute and I was here for it! I loved the world building and I loved how the book was written. It was an amazing read and it was so swoon-worthy! I loved that the author wrote this as well! You don't see a lot of queer representation with POC and Bangladeshi and Brazilian are both those I've never read before to my knowledge. I hope that the tides will change in publishing were we get more stories and more ownvoice from POC and minority writers. The book also does well to talk about the importance of culture and how certain things/activities (like henna) are very important to a culture. The book did well to show how ignorance can make someone accidentally culturally appropriate something, but also didn't shy away from showing that some people are just blatantly racist and/or homophobic.
My only issue is that I wish some of the words were explained. I got the gist of most of them, especially the terms of relationship and endearment used in the main characters own language, but there was a scene where our main and her love interest speak French to each other and I wish that was explained, but again I got like 60% of what was said. I'd also to have liked to see the person who outted our main character get punished, but the unfortunate reality of our current lives is that some people get away with their actions because it causes more harm on the victim to come forward than to not. This definitely needs to change, but then again I think people's closed mindedness needs to change as well.
Verdict: Definitely worth the read!!
Disclaimer: I received this from the publisher! Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: All Your Twisted Secrets
Author: Diana Urban
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, murder, gore)
Synopsis: "Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting."
What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it's a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill ... or else everyone dies.
Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they're all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor's ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?
Review: I really liked this book! It was fun and compelling. The book was fast paced and it was a pretty good mystery!
However, I did think the ending was very long and unnecessary. It was a huge monologue and I didn't care for it. I also had issues connecting with the characters.
Verdict: Its a great mystery for the most part!
Book: All Your Twisted Secrets
Author: Diana Urban
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: March 17, 2020
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, murder, gore)
Synopsis: "Welcome to dinner, and again, congratulations on being selected. Now you must do the selecting."
What do the queen bee, star athlete, valedictorian, stoner, loner, and music geek all have in common? They were all invited to a scholarship dinner, only to discover it's a trap. Someone has locked them into a room with a bomb, a syringe filled with poison, and a note saying they have an hour to pick someone to kill ... or else everyone dies.
Amber Prescott is determined to get her classmates and herself out of the room alive, but that might be easier said than done. No one knows how they're all connected or who would want them dead. As they retrace the events over the past year that might have triggered their captor's ultimatum, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding something. And with the clock ticking down, confusion turns into fear, and fear morphs into panic as they race to answer the biggest question: Who will they choose to die?
Review: I really liked this book! It was fun and compelling. The book was fast paced and it was a pretty good mystery!
However, I did think the ending was very long and unnecessary. It was a huge monologue and I didn't care for it. I also had issues connecting with the characters.
Verdict: Its a great mystery for the most part!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Death Unmasked
Author: Rick Sulik
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Christopher Matthews Publishing
Pages: 264
Synopsis: A reincarnated evil is stalking the women of Houston. With each murder, the madman quotes an excerpt from the Oscar Wilde poem, “The Ballad of Reading Gaol.” A huge smokestack belching smoke, a ragged flea market double-breasted wool coat, and an old antique picture frame, bring the distant past back to haunt Houston Homicide Detective, Sean Jamison. With those catalysts, Jamison knows who he was in a past life and that he lost the only woman he could ever love. Searching for his reincarnated mate becomes Jamison’s raison d’être as he and fellow detectives scour Houston for a brutal serial killer. The memory of timeless love drives Jamison’s dogged search for a serial killer, determined to finish what he started decades earlier.
Each clue brings Jamison closer to unmasking his old nemesis. Tenacious police work, lessons learned in the past, and intuition may be the only weapons he has in preventing history from repeating itself.
Review: I had to DNF this book at 43%. The book had a lot of needless information that really weighed this book down and it was very slow pacing wise. The book is wrote with multiple stories interconnected, but it just came off as confusing for me. The concept of the book is interesting, but the plot didn’t keep me intrigued once I started reading it.
Verdict: Not for me, but it might be for you!
Book: Death Unmasked
Author: Rick Sulik
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: thriller, mystery
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Genre: Thriller
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, dnf-ed
Publisher: Christopher Matthews Publishing
Pages: 264
Synopsis: A reincarnated evil is stalking the women of Houston. With each murder, the madman quotes an excerpt from the Oscar Wilde poem, “The Ballad of Reading Gaol.” A huge smokestack belching smoke, a ragged flea market double-breasted wool coat, and an old antique picture frame, bring the distant past back to haunt Houston Homicide Detective, Sean Jamison. With those catalysts, Jamison knows who he was in a past life and that he lost the only woman he could ever love. Searching for his reincarnated mate becomes Jamison’s raison d’être as he and fellow detectives scour Houston for a brutal serial killer. The memory of timeless love drives Jamison’s dogged search for a serial killer, determined to finish what he started decades earlier.
Each clue brings Jamison closer to unmasking his old nemesis. Tenacious police work, lessons learned in the past, and intuition may be the only weapons he has in preventing history from repeating itself.
Review: I had to DNF this book at 43%. The book had a lot of needless information that really weighed this book down and it was very slow pacing wise. The book is wrote with multiple stories interconnected, but it just came off as confusing for me. The concept of the book is interesting, but the plot didn’t keep me intrigued once I started reading it.
Verdict: Not for me, but it might be for you!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Crowns of Croswald
Author: D.E. Night
Book Series: The Crowns of Croswald Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: magic lovers, HP lovers
Publication Date: July 21, 2017
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Stories Untold Press
Pages: 320
Synopsis: In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…
For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic––and her life––is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.
Review: I had to DNF this read. This book is heavily *HEAVILY* inspired by Harry Potter and there are a lot of HP elements in it and because of the current climate with JK Rowling I’m not feeling very magical lately. The book also feels like there’s too much in it and it doesn’t have an easy reading feel to it. I will come back to this book in the future, but for now I can’t read it.
Verdict: It’s a great book, but not for me at the moment.
Book: The Crowns of Croswald
Author: D.E. Night
Book Series: The Crowns of Croswald Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: magic lovers, HP lovers
Publication Date: July 21, 2017
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Stories Untold Press
Pages: 320
Synopsis: In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…
For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic––and her life––is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.
Review: I had to DNF this read. This book is heavily *HEAVILY* inspired by Harry Potter and there are a lot of HP elements in it and because of the current climate with JK Rowling I’m not feeling very magical lately. The book also feels like there’s too much in it and it doesn’t have an easy reading feel to it. I will come back to this book in the future, but for now I can’t read it.
Verdict: It’s a great book, but not for me at the moment.
Disclaimer: I received this book from pdf access provided by the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Splinters of Scarlet
Author: Emily Bain Murphy
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery, historical fiction, ya
Publication Date: July 21, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, violence, gore)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: For Marit Olsen, magic is all about strategy: it flows freely through her blood, but every use leaves behind a deadly, ice-like build-up within her veins called the Firn. Marit knows how dangerous it is to let too much Firn build up—after all, it killed her sister—and she has vowed never to use her thread magic. But when Eve, a fellow orphan whom Marit views like a little sister, is adopted by the wealthy Helene Vestergaard, Marit will do anything to stay by Eve’s side. She decides to risk the Firn and uses magic to secure a job as a seamstress in the Vestergaard household.
But Marit has a second, hidden agenda: her father died while working in the Vestergaards’ jewel mines—and it might not have been an accident. The closer Marit gets to the truth about the Vestergaard family, the more she realizes she and everyone she’s come to love are in danger. When she finds herself in the middle of a treacherous deception that goes all the way up to the king of Denmark, magic may be the only thing that can save her—if it doesn’t kill her first.
Review: Overall, this was a good book! I loved the amazing detail that went into this book and its ability to not bog down the story. The book was also filled with a lot of dance terms. The book also had well developed characters and the magic system was well explained.
The only issue I had with the book is that the pacing was really slow for me. The mystery took a long time to unravel and I easily guessed the ending at 25% in.
Verdict: It was a well done book!
Book: Splinters of Scarlet
Author: Emily Bain Murphy
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery, historical fiction, ya
Publication Date: July 21, 2020
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Recommended Age: 15+ (death, violence, gore)
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 352
Synopsis: For Marit Olsen, magic is all about strategy: it flows freely through her blood, but every use leaves behind a deadly, ice-like build-up within her veins called the Firn. Marit knows how dangerous it is to let too much Firn build up—after all, it killed her sister—and she has vowed never to use her thread magic. But when Eve, a fellow orphan whom Marit views like a little sister, is adopted by the wealthy Helene Vestergaard, Marit will do anything to stay by Eve’s side. She decides to risk the Firn and uses magic to secure a job as a seamstress in the Vestergaard household.
But Marit has a second, hidden agenda: her father died while working in the Vestergaards’ jewel mines—and it might not have been an accident. The closer Marit gets to the truth about the Vestergaard family, the more she realizes she and everyone she’s come to love are in danger. When she finds herself in the middle of a treacherous deception that goes all the way up to the king of Denmark, magic may be the only thing that can save her—if it doesn’t kill her first.
Review: Overall, this was a good book! I loved the amazing detail that went into this book and its ability to not bog down the story. The book was also filled with a lot of dance terms. The book also had well developed characters and the magic system was well explained.
The only issue I had with the book is that the pacing was really slow for me. The mystery took a long time to unravel and I easily guessed the ending at 25% in.
Verdict: It was a well done book!
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your authors!
Book: The Desperate Forest
Author: Cece Louise
Book Series: The Forest Tales Book 1
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, high fantasy, ya
Publication Date: July 2, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Jabberwocky Tales
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Princess Roselynn has never longed for adventure. For nineteen years, her life has been safe and comfortable. Until her father is murdered, and she discovers a plot to end her life. Hoping to find safety in the arms of her fiancé, she flees to the perilous Eternity Forest.
When Roselynn meets brash Jay, she begrudgingly joins forces with a group of outlaws. Unsure of her new companions, she’s especially puzzled by Jay’s tough exterior and conflicting actions. Soon, she discovers everyone has their own purpose—and secrets.
Can Roselynn save her kingdom and be reunited with the man she loves, or will she lose everything to the dark forest?
Review: I had to DNF this book at 23%. The book is really fast paced, but I don’t see a lot of development of the scenes or characters so far. The book kind of just skipped the introduction phase of a series and it left me a bit confused.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Book: The Desperate Forest
Author: Cece Louise
Book Series: The Forest Tales Book 1
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy, high fantasy, ya
Publication Date: July 2, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNF-ed
Publisher: Jabberwocky Tales
Pages: 240
Synopsis: Princess Roselynn has never longed for adventure. For nineteen years, her life has been safe and comfortable. Until her father is murdered, and she discovers a plot to end her life. Hoping to find safety in the arms of her fiancé, she flees to the perilous Eternity Forest.
When Roselynn meets brash Jay, she begrudgingly joins forces with a group of outlaws. Unsure of her new companions, she’s especially puzzled by Jay’s tough exterior and conflicting actions. Soon, she discovers everyone has their own purpose—and secrets.
Can Roselynn save her kingdom and be reunited with the man she loves, or will she lose everything to the dark forest?
Review: I had to DNF this book at 23%. The book is really fast paced, but I don’t see a lot of development of the scenes or characters so far. The book kind of just skipped the introduction phase of a series and it left me a bit confused.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!