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popthebutterfly
Book: Space Between Us
Author: Jamaal Aflatooni
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi fans
Publication Date: August 1, 2019
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 329
Synopsis: An outcast boy, Darwin Sanders, learns just what an outsider he really is. The world he grew up knowing that was carefully crafted for him comes crashing down when he learns of his true identity. The world itself is put to the test when it learns the same about Darwin.
Review: I had to DNF this read. The book is interesting and has an interesting concept, but the characters didn’t connect with me and the book confused me a lot, so I had to stop.
Verdict: Not for me, but maybe for you!
Book: Death Donor
Author: Matt Ward
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Political intrigue
Publication Date: May 30, 2020
Publisher: Myrmani
Pages: 334
Recommended Age: 18+ (violence, gore, language, death, dismemberment)
Synopsis: Special forces vet, Samantha Jones, is a lowly bodyguard for Ethan Anderson, the biotech billionaire who revolutionized life extension. But at least she’s got a job, unlike most, and won’t have to sell her organs to support her family. Sure, they’re poor, but she’s got death insurance and a roof over her head. Life is livable...
But then Sam’s daughter is kidnapped and sold for parts. Overnight, her life (and belief in the system) shatters. When the rich bastards get off scot-free, Sam’s weak husband commits suicide, and the ex-assassin snaps.
Someone is going to pay.
The question: how to kill the heartless elites that use the poor like livestock and whose security rivals the president. And then there’s the senator fighting to abolish life extension, the trillion-dollar corporate standoff, and bloody protests in the streets as conditions deteriorate. Things are about to get ugly.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. It had a Repo Man vibe and the book was very fast paced. The author also did well with the world building.
However, I did think character development was a bit rushed and that it could have been built a bit better. The main character seemed to only have one personality trait for the majority of the novel, but it did get better towards the end.
Verdict: It's a decent novel. Definitely recommend.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Queen of Empire
Author: H.R. Moore
Book Series: The Relic Trilogy
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: romance lovers, fantasy lovers
Publication Date: August 17, 2013
Genre: Romance Fantasy
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance, sexual content, slight violence and gore)
Publisher: Harriet Moore
Pages: 358
Synopsis: A fantasy romance trilogy perfect for fans of Crescent City.
Anita has never been ordinary, she’s been special her entire life; not only can she see the energy of others, a rare skill, but she’s won every Body challenge she’s ever entered. So when the powerful, good looking Descendants, Marcus and Alexander, mysteriously arrive in Empire, her difference attracts and keeps their attention.
Once in Empire, the sudden death of ruling Body Descendant, Christiana, sets in motion a number of events; a quest for the treacherous Austin to find the girl Christiana had been looking for; a challenge where Anita stands out more vibrantly than ever before; a perilous dip in the world’s energy; and a dangerous belief among the people that they will never truly be free.
Powerful factions soon form within the ruling elite and when a trusted friend and mentor reaches out to ask for Anita’s help, she has to make a choice; help her friend and betray the one she loves, or do nothing and watch the people starve.
Review: For the most part this book was really interesting. I loved the aspect of the book and the pacing was really well done for a romance heavy book. The world building was also fairly well detailed and I loved how the book was not all about the romance, but had a lot of heavy fantasy moments in it as well.
The only issue I really had was the character development. I felt like the development of the main character was a little dependent on the romance and that there could have been more character development.
Verdict: Recommend if you’re looking for some fantasy in your romance!
Book: The Mother (Broken Tomorrow)
Author: Andrei David
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Horror, fantasy
Publication Date: March 13, 2020
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 334
Recommended Age: 18+ (horror moments, slight violence and gore)
Synopsis: Dreamt into existence by an absolute Universal Entity, she has only one goal, to perpetuate Creation. Known as a god to many people, or simply 13 to the descendants of an elite class of warriors, she pursues her design despite unwillingly endangering humanity, already enduring the effects of a motionless Earth.
It falls upon people like Samantha or Lucian to mitigate that danger, be it of their own accord, or by 13's request, even when doing so irreparably changes their body, and most disturbingly, their soul. They battle immortal, eerily relatable creatures, explore prohibited and perilous places lost or abandoned long ago, all to further an agenda they barely understand.
Still, no sacrifice could compensate for the lack of items unheard of even in myth. That's where 13's successor comes in.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. The story was interesting and the plot was intriguing from start to finish. I thought the author did well writing the book and did good with the character development and world building.
However, I did get a little confused in some of the book. The book had a confusing plot at times and the pacing was a bit fast in spots. The book also didn't have the world building or character development as well detailed as I would have liked.
Verdict: It was pretty good for the most part.
Book: Nexus
Author: Sasha Alsberg and Lindsey Cummings
Book Series: The Androma Saga Book 2
Rating: 1/5
Recommended For...: No one
Publication Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 544
Recommended Age: can't recommend, dnf
Synopsis: Her ship is gone, her crew is captured and notorious mercenary Androma Racella is no longer the powerful Bloody Baroness, but a fugitive ruthlessly hunted across the Mirabel Galaxy. The bloodthirsty Queen Nor now rules most of the galaxy through a mind-control toxin and she’ll stop at nothing to destroy her most hated adversary.
Andi will risk anything, even her precious freedom, to find a cure. Stranded with her unlikely ally, Dex, on the unforgiving ice planet of Solera, their plan to infiltrate a black-market city proves dangerously irresistible.
Back in Arcardius, Nor’s actions have opened Mirabel to invasion. As Andi’s crew fights to regain their freedom, Andi and Dex discover a threat far greater than anything they’ve faced before.
Only by saving their mortal enemy can the crew of the Marauder make one last desperate strike to save the galaxy—unaware that a shattering, centuries-old secret may demand the most wrenching sacrifice of all.
Review: I had to DNF this book at 60%. Upon opening the book I had instant PTSD from the first book. The first book was awful and this one didn't improve much more from it. The characters were flat and uninteresting. They're also obvious copies of other famous YA characters to the point that I wonder how much of their "development" was just straight up pulled from other works. The book doesn't do anything to set the appropriate mood for the theme of it. The science in this book is so superbly flawed and inaccurate that I wonder if the authors ever did any research to begin with. The world building was atrocious and underdeveloped. The romance... ugh, so tropey. I also thought the storyline didn't have any uniqueness to it. I felt like I read a better version of this book somewhere else and that I was beta reading this one. Basically, this book was so awful but I'm glad that the two authors didn't try to lie about it's spot on the NYT bestseller list, post fake reviews, or use their positions to get fake reviews. That, at least, is some improvement.
Verdict: One of the very few books I don't recommend.
Book: For Better or Cursed
Author: Kate Williams
Book Series: The Babysitters Coven Book 2
Diversity: f/f relationships
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: December 15, 2020
Publication Date:
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 384
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Animal violence/near starvation)
Synopsis: Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed sequel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil.
Esme Pearl's life used to be all about bumming rides and babysitting. Sure, it wasn't glamorous, but it was predictable. All that changed when Cassandra Heaven came to town, and they discovered their complicated, and connected, legacy: Esme and Cassandra are Sitters, supernaturally-gifted teens armed with an ever-changing grimoire of Sitter witchcraft to help them protect the innocent and keep evil demons at bay. You know, the typical teenage stuff.
But just as Esme is starting to adjust to--and maybe even like--her new normal, life lobs another glitter bomb her way. The Synod--the Sitterhood's governing circle--has called a Summit, a once-in-a-generation gathering that promises training, education, and whole lot of ice-breakers.
Esme should be excited--a Summit might mean she can finally get the answers she desperately wants--but she can't shake a building sense of panic. Especially since Cassandra's not acting like herself; Esme's dad is MIA; Pig is out of dog food; Janis is scared to be alone; and there's a guy who seems too good to be true, again. Worst of all, it soon becomes clear, there's no one watching the kids. It's obvious the Summit is a haute mess, but will it be a deadly one, too?
Review: Oh my word I fell in love with this sequel! While the first book is still a bit better in my opinion I really enjoyed this sequel. I felt that the world building was very well done and the character development of the main characters and our side characters were also very well done. The plot of this book is much more intriguing then the first book and I am interested to see where this goes. I think this has an excellent shot of being one of my favorite series in most recent years. I love all of the little callbacks to babysitters and horror films and I love just basically everything about this book.
The only thing that I could really fault the book for is that it did take a little bit for me to remember the events of book one. but I do say that the author did well with presenting the material in a more relatable way than just a big info dump at the very beginning. but in getting that information it did take a little bit and I was confused through the first couple of chapters.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Woven in Moonlight
Author: Isabel Ibanez
Book Series: Woven in Moonlight Book 1
Diversity: YA Fantasy
Rating: 5/5
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Publisher: Page Street
Recommended Age: 15+ (some violence, some gore, little romance, domestic violence TW)
Synopsis: Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.
When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.
She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.
Review: Holy cow this book was so magical and amazing! I loved the lore used. I had never read a book with Bolvarian lore and it was an amazing tale. I loved that the main was fierce and a fighter, but her main strength was in her weaving. A lot of people don't realize that in the times of our ancestors, people used many things to smuggle secret messages especially during times of war, tapestries being one of the most popular. The message about equality and peace in the time of war was present, as well as an arms race style of fantasy. This book spoke to so many volumes and themes that are becoming more and more realistic in this decade and I loved how the author went with a message of peace rather than all out war as a solution. You very rarely see that in books and even though there was a fight in the book, because there will always be people who think fighting is the only way, it was still a very insightful and inspiring book. The characters were well developed, the world building was astounding, and the magic system was fantastic!
While I loved the book, in fairness I have to say a downside, and I think it will be how neat the ending was? Like it obviously leaves room for a book 2 but the ending didn't leave the reader with a cliffhanger, a need to read book 2. I want to read book 2 because I'm interested in the next city and I don't mind how the book ended (one of the best endings I've read in awhile) but I can see how it wouldn't suit for some readers.
Verdict: I HIGHLY recommend this one!
Disclaimer: I received an arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Fractured
Author: Shay Siegel
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary readers
Publication Date: October 27, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 17+ (attempted rape, sexual assault, self harm, depression, toxic masculinity, upsetting female representation)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 290
Synopsis: Mason Vance is the guy everybody wants to be, and he knows it. He’s the best high school quarterback in New York, a shoo-in for a football scholarship at any school he chooses, and he’s expected to land in the NFL one day. That is, until a broken wrist leaves him fearing whether he’ll ever play again.
Desperate to save his damaged ego, Mason sets his sights on Lace. No cheerleader or homecoming queen like his usual type, she’s too wrapped in her own misery to fall for his pickup lines. Even though she tries to shut him out, she’s surprised to find he’s there for her when no one else is. Slowly, she lets him into the sad workings of her mind and less-than-perfect life, and Mason finds himself caring about Lace more than he’d ever thought possible. That’s why neither of them sees his huge mistake coming—one that instantly fractures everything between them.
Will Mason confront the ugliest side of himself, and in the process see who he’s capable of becoming, or will he fall back into the life he knew before Lace and his injury?
Review: Overall, I thought the book was ok. The book covered a lot of hard topics and while it did so in a pretty good manner, it is still a bit of a difficult read. The book had some good character development with some of the side characters and the world building was good as well.
However, the story was really bad. The book is from the viewpoint of the main character and while I understand why the author wrote the story in such a degrading manner, it’s still really concerning for me that most of the time Mason doesn’t change his stance on his positions. I also don’t believe that the main character, who supposed to be a high schooler, doesn’t know what sexual assault is or what rape is. This isn’t something you teach a 16 year old. This isn’t something you teach 16 year olds. This is something you teach small children. Mason also had a pity party through most of the book. I feel like he was sad about himself having sexually assaulted women more than he should have been sad for the women he sexually assaulted. I don’t feel like he learned that doing those actions leaves real victims with everlasting scars. Overall, the book left me feeling kinda icky but I can see the message the author meant to leave behind.
Verdict: It’s okay for me, but please don’t read if you have triggers with any listed above.
Book: Roman and Jewel
Author: Dana L. Davis
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Black main character and side characters
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, ya readers
Publication Date: January 5, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, drug usage, slight language)
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Jerzie Jhames will do anything to land the lead role in Broadway's hottest new show, Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera featuring a diverse cast and modern twists on the play. But her hopes are crushed when she learns mega-star Cinny won the lead...and Jerzie is her understudy.
Falling for male lead Zeppelin Reid is a terrible idea--especially once Jerzie learns Cinny wants him for herself. Star-crossed love always ends badly. But when a video of Jerzie and Zepp practicing goes viral and the entire world weighs in on who should play Jewel, Jerzie learns that while the price of fame is high, friendship, family, and love are priceless.
Review: For the most part, this book was fun! I loved the way the story was told and how hard this book hooks you from beginning to end. The book has some good character development for most of the characters and the book also has some well done world building. The book also sounds like something a teen would write, which I think is key to YA books.
However, I really wish that the author put more of the musical in the book. The book could have been so much better with the musical aspects in it and I wanted so bad to see it in there. I also thought the love interest was very insufferable and I wanted to yeet him from the book. I didn’t like the redemption arc the villain got, it was a bit too short for my liking, and I didn’t like the instalove trope.
Verdict: Highly recommend!!
Book: The Night and The Land
Author: Matt Spencer
Book Series: Standalone as of now
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: urban fantasy lovers
Publication Date: May 13, 2019
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, gore, violence)
Publisher: Back Roads Carnival Books
Pages: 356
Synopsis: Among the local hippies and squatters of Brattleboro, Vermont, Sally Wildfire is on the run, hiding from her cruel, relentless family. She finds unexpected love with Rob, a bristly young man freshly awoken to alien sensations and ancestral memories of a long-forgotten realm...setting them both on a collision course with a brutal rite of passage, as the Wildfire family leaves a trail of mangled corpses on the road to Brattleboro.
Review: Overall, I really liked this book. I thought that the world building was really well done and the story was well detailed and entertaining. I really liked the plot as well and I was fully interested in the book from start to finish.
The only thing that I wish was a bit better was the character development, although it was good enough throughout the book.
Verdict: Well done book! Recommend!