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popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley and Titan Books. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: First in the Devouring Grey Series
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, magic, darkness)
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: On the edge of town a beast haunts the woods, trapped in the Gray, its bonds loosening…
Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbours treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid.
When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?
Review: Okay, so I’m probably going to get hate for this but I didn’t enjoy the book as much as everyone else is. I did like the premise, it’s dark and mysterious like my soul. I also liked the writing, I thought it was perfect and the author has a talent for dark writing. I felt like this book could have been great and is a great book for many people that are not me lol.
However, I just didn’t mesh well with this book. The constant POV switches mid chapters and even otherwise made this book confusing for me. There were breaks and stuff, but on the kindle it just looked like regular paragraph breaks. The magic isn’t explained in this book. We’re thrown into this world with little explanation. I’m really picky on how I like this done in books, so this is a hard criteria for any book to feel. The book had very little world building, in terms of location, and too much in terms of history… like A LOT, and I feel like I have to read the synopsis of this book to understand the book, which shouldn’t be the case for any book in my opinion. It feels like you need to notetake while reading this book. The pacing was also really slow and there were underdeveloped characters all throughout this book.
Verdict: If you can get into this book you’ll love it.
Book Series: First in the Devouring Grey Series
Rating: 2/5
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, magic, darkness)
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 368
Amazon Link
Synopsis: On the edge of town a beast haunts the woods, trapped in the Gray, its bonds loosening…
Uprooted from the city, Violet Saunders doesn’t have much hope of fitting in at her new school in Four Paths, a town almost buried in the woodlands of rural New York. The fact that she’s descended from one of the town’s founders doesn’t help much, either—her new neighbours treat her with distant respect, and something very like fear. When she meets Justin, May, Isaac, and Harper, all children of founder families, and sees the otherworldly destruction they can wreak, she starts to wonder if the townsfolk are right to be afraid.
When bodies start to appear in the woods, the locals become downright hostile. Can the teenagers solve the mystery of Four Paths, and their own part in it, before another calamity strikes?
Review: Okay, so I’m probably going to get hate for this but I didn’t enjoy the book as much as everyone else is. I did like the premise, it’s dark and mysterious like my soul. I also liked the writing, I thought it was perfect and the author has a talent for dark writing. I felt like this book could have been great and is a great book for many people that are not me lol.
However, I just didn’t mesh well with this book. The constant POV switches mid chapters and even otherwise made this book confusing for me. There were breaks and stuff, but on the kindle it just looked like regular paragraph breaks. The magic isn’t explained in this book. We’re thrown into this world with little explanation. I’m really picky on how I like this done in books, so this is a hard criteria for any book to feel. The book had very little world building, in terms of location, and too much in terms of history… like A LOT, and I feel like I have to read the synopsis of this book to understand the book, which shouldn’t be the case for any book in my opinion. It feels like you need to notetake while reading this book. The pacing was also really slow and there were underdeveloped characters all throughout this book.
Verdict: If you can get into this book you’ll love it.
Edit (5/28): I'm dropping my rating from 2.5/5 to 1/5. The author has not been the nicest on Twitter and she has stated that reviewers who don't like her book need their hand held by authors. She's been snide and inflammatory towards those who did not rate her book high. Also because I completely forgot about the random ass horse that appears at random in the book. Is it a magic horse? Does he have invisibility to the readers? Not sure. All joking aside about the dumb horse, I do have to say that I know when the trilogy is written and when read altogether they will make a clearer picture (according to the author on Twitter) but I have to be interested enough in the rest of the series to read books 2 and 3 and right now I'm definitely not.
Disclaimer: I received an earc from Wednesday Books and Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: First in a Trilogy
Rating: 2.5/5
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (Abuse, Self Harm TW, Language)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.
A prince in danger must decide who to trust.
A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.
Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.
In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.
Review: Okay so the premise of this book is amazing and it’s pretty much unlike anything I’ve thought I would read in YA. The plot is sound by what the synopsis promises, but that’s as far as my compliments for this book go.
I was so confused reading this book. I had no idea what was going on and nothing was outright explained. You’re just thrown into this world without any explanation or idea of what’s up or down. The execution for this book was sorely lacking. There’s no world building. There’s no description of what this world is. The characters have miles of adjectives that are overused. The book, while it looked on the surface to not adhere to clichés, had some really big clichés in it. The main character was very under developed and she felt more like a side character in her own novel. It really feels like her development was sacrificed to make room for this romance that I don’t agree with at all. The book is just really disappointing to me overall and I feel that there should have been a prologue or another book before this one to help make this one better. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: a book that forces me to read a synopsis to understand what’s going on in the book really irks me. The synopsis is completely independent of the book and an author should be able to make the book work without one, because a lot of people will not read a synopsis before reading a book. I choose my books on covers mostly and almost never read a synopsis twice (or even once).
Verdict: If you can get into it and follow along, then you’ll have a great time.
Disclaimer: I received an earc from Wednesday Books and Netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: First in a Trilogy
Rating: 2.5/5
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (Abuse, Self Harm TW, Language)
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 400
Amazon Link
Synopsis: A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.
A prince in danger must decide who to trust.
A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.
Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.
In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.
Review: Okay so the premise of this book is amazing and it’s pretty much unlike anything I’ve thought I would read in YA. The plot is sound by what the synopsis promises, but that’s as far as my compliments for this book go.
I was so confused reading this book. I had no idea what was going on and nothing was outright explained. You’re just thrown into this world without any explanation or idea of what’s up or down. The execution for this book was sorely lacking. There’s no world building. There’s no description of what this world is. The characters have miles of adjectives that are overused. The book, while it looked on the surface to not adhere to clichés, had some really big clichés in it. The main character was very under developed and she felt more like a side character in her own novel. It really feels like her development was sacrificed to make room for this romance that I don’t agree with at all. The book is just really disappointing to me overall and I feel that there should have been a prologue or another book before this one to help make this one better. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: a book that forces me to read a synopsis to understand what’s going on in the book really irks me. The synopsis is completely independent of the book and an author should be able to make the book work without one, because a lot of people will not read a synopsis before reading a book. I choose my books on covers mostly and almost never read a synopsis twice (or even once).
Verdict: If you can get into it and follow along, then you’ll have a great time.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: These Feathered Flames
Author: Alexandra Overy
Book Series: These Feathered Flames book 1
Diversity: dead character and sign used, f/f romance
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery lovers, fantasy readers, ya readers, lgbt+ readers
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: April 20, 2021
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 496
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Attempted assault possibly sexual)
Synopsis: When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm.
But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned.
As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.
Review: Overall I liked the book. It was highly imaginative and I loved that it was based on Russian mythology. The book had well developed characters and the world building was well done.
However, the book had a lot of issues. The plot was slow and so was the pacing. The magical elements weren't well explained. And, until 80% into the book, the book was just a struggle to get through. I definitely loved Azya's storyline more than Izaveta's, as hers was an awful experience to read through. I am also not a fan of how the relationship between Azya and her love interest turned out. I felt like it was a bit cliche to older queer tropes.
Verdict: It was good, just needed a bit more on Izaveta's side.
Book: These Feathered Flames
Author: Alexandra Overy
Book Series: These Feathered Flames book 1
Diversity: dead character and sign used, f/f romance
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: mystery lovers, fantasy readers, ya readers, lgbt+ readers
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication Date: April 20, 2021
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: 496
Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Attempted assault possibly sexual)
Synopsis: When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm.
But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned.
As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.
Review: Overall I liked the book. It was highly imaginative and I loved that it was based on Russian mythology. The book had well developed characters and the world building was well done.
However, the book had a lot of issues. The plot was slow and so was the pacing. The magical elements weren't well explained. And, until 80% into the book, the book was just a struggle to get through. I definitely loved Azya's storyline more than Izaveta's, as hers was an awful experience to read through. I am also not a fan of how the relationship between Azya and her love interest turned out. I felt like it was a bit cliche to older queer tropes.
Verdict: It was good, just needed a bit more on Izaveta's side.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: In Deeper Waters
Author: F.T. Lukens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: bisexual main character, m/m romance, depression character rep, POC characters
Recommended For...: pirate fans, ya readers, fantasy lovers, history readers, romance lovers, LGBT readers
Publication Date: April 20, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy Historical Romance
Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, violence, death, panic attacks TW)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.
Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.
That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…
Review: This is the type of book I’ll read over and over again. I absolutely loved the story (I’m really into tour/sea-faring stories) and the plot. The characters are what really make this book though and I loved how cute it was in regards to the romance. The world building was also amazingly well done and I am definitely rereading this in the future.
The only issue I had was that the romance kind of took the primary role in some parts of the book where I wanted it to the on the backburner, but it was amazing overall.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: In Deeper Waters
Author: F.T. Lukens
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: bisexual main character, m/m romance, depression character rep, POC characters
Recommended For...: pirate fans, ya readers, fantasy lovers, history readers, romance lovers, LGBT readers
Publication Date: April 20, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy Historical Romance
Recommended Age: 14+ (gore, violence, death, panic attacks TW)
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.
Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.
That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…
Review: This is the type of book I’ll read over and over again. I absolutely loved the story (I’m really into tour/sea-faring stories) and the plot. The characters are what really make this book though and I loved how cute it was in regards to the romance. The world building was also amazingly well done and I am definitely rereading this in the future.
The only issue I had was that the romance kind of took the primary role in some parts of the book where I wanted it to the on the backburner, but it was amazing overall.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
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Disclaimer: I received the e-book of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Reincarnationist Papers
Author: D. Eric Maikranz
Book Series: The Reincarnationist Papers Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi fans
Publication Date: January 13, 2009
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: 18+ (sex, drug usage, violence, gore)
Publisher: Parallax Publishing
Pages: 324
Synopsis: The electrifying book that introduces readers to the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. "Haunted by memories of two past lives, a troubled young man stumbles upon a centuries-old secret society of similar individuals and dares to join their ranks." Evan Michaels' now public account takes us into this organization whose members have been agents of change throughout history.
Review: This was an ok book. I liked the concept and the plot. The book also did well with the world building and it made me want to watch the movie for the most part.
However, I did feel like the book was really slow. The flashbacks weren’t exciting from a reader’s perspective. The book was also too straight forward and I didn’t like how the author threw in sex and drugs for no plot relevance, it just felt like it was trying too hard to connect with the readers.
Verdict: It was ok, but not for me.
Book: The Reincarnationist Papers
Author: D. Eric Maikranz
Book Series: The Reincarnationist Papers Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: sci-fi fans
Publication Date: January 13, 2009
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age: 18+ (sex, drug usage, violence, gore)
Publisher: Parallax Publishing
Pages: 324
Synopsis: The electrifying book that introduces readers to the Cognomina, a secret society of people who possess total recall of their past lives. "Haunted by memories of two past lives, a troubled young man stumbles upon a centuries-old secret society of similar individuals and dares to join their ranks." Evan Michaels' now public account takes us into this organization whose members have been agents of change throughout history.
Review: This was an ok book. I liked the concept and the plot. The book also did well with the world building and it made me want to watch the movie for the most part.
However, I did feel like the book was really slow. The flashbacks weren’t exciting from a reader’s perspective. The book was also too straight forward and I didn’t like how the author threw in sex and drugs for no plot relevance, it just felt like it was trying too hard to connect with the readers.
Verdict: It was ok, but not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Temple of Ice
Author: Christian Cura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 263
Synopsis: Meet Tama, an adept winter mage of Khione, a beautiful, dangerous land. Bloodthirsty monsters roam the frozen wilderness, and the unforgiving elements are a constant. Tama and her friends—Kachina and Masou—are on the cusp of completing their education at the temple where they have trained for the past four years. They need only to do one more thing: earn the Goddess Tira’s final anointing. But to do that, they must fight through hordes of corrupted creatures and endure the perplexing obstacles within Mount Orodani.
The road before them is long and bloody, and Tira’s evil sister, Malsumi, won’t stop sending her minions until she is strong enough to break free of her prison. Tama fights valiantly to defend herself and her people from these twisted monsters. But she will soon discover the real threat is much closer than she initially thought…
Review: I had to DNF this read at 32%. The book is just everywhere and I couldn’t concentrate on it enough to make heads or tails of it.
Verdict: It’s good, just not for me.
Book: Temple of Ice
Author: Christian Cura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 263
Synopsis: Meet Tama, an adept winter mage of Khione, a beautiful, dangerous land. Bloodthirsty monsters roam the frozen wilderness, and the unforgiving elements are a constant. Tama and her friends—Kachina and Masou—are on the cusp of completing their education at the temple where they have trained for the past four years. They need only to do one more thing: earn the Goddess Tira’s final anointing. But to do that, they must fight through hordes of corrupted creatures and endure the perplexing obstacles within Mount Orodani.
The road before them is long and bloody, and Tira’s evil sister, Malsumi, won’t stop sending her minions until she is strong enough to break free of her prison. Tama fights valiantly to defend herself and her people from these twisted monsters. But she will soon discover the real threat is much closer than she initially thought…
Review: I had to DNF this read at 32%. The book is just everywhere and I couldn’t concentrate on it enough to make heads or tails of it.
Verdict: It’s good, just not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Off The Record
Author: Camryn Garrett
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: main character is black, bi, and fat and has anxiety. Love interest is bisexual.
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, me too, journalism
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Recommended Age: (Racism, Anxiety rep, Fat rep, Sexual abuse TW, Rape TW, Sexual harassment TW, romance, language)
Synopsis: Ever since seventeen-year-old Josie Wright can remember, writing has been her identity, the thing that grounds her when everything else is a garbage fire. So when she wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine, she’s equal parts excited and scared, but also ready. She’s got this.
Soon Josie is jetting off on a multi-city tour, rubbing elbows with sparkly celebrities, frenetic handlers, stone-faced producers, and eccentric stylists. She even finds herself catching feelings for the subject of her profile, dazzling young newcomer Marius Canet. Josie’s world is expanding so rapidly, she doesn’t know whether she’s flying or falling. But when a young actress lets her in on a terrible secret, the answer is clear: she’s in over her head.
One woman’s account leads to another and another. Josie wants to expose the man responsible, but she’s reluctant to speak up, unsure if this is her story to tell. What if she lets down the women who have entrusted her with their stories? What if this ends her writing career before it even begins? There are so many reasons not to go ahead, but if Josie doesn’t step up, who will?
From the author of Full Disclosure, this is a moving testament to the #MeToo movement, and all the ways women stand up for each other.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I loved the focus of MeToo and the message of standing up for what was right even against powerful people. I also loved how well written the book was. The subject is a really difficult one and I thought the author handled the book very well. The book also discussed sexual abuse and harassment on male and non binary people and I thought it did well to include that side. Not a lot of male people will state abuse that's happened to them, so I hope the book opens a discussion about that in the future. The book also had a well developed world and the character development was amazingly well done. The main character (Josie) was amazingly well written. I loved how she had anxiety and how it reflected my same struggles. I also related to her fatness, as I'm fat and the same conversations she has with herself about that are the ones I have about myself. The romance in this book is also queer (both are bisexual) and I loved how adorable the romance was written. The book was also evenly paced and the plot kept you hooked from beginning to end.
The only issues I had with the book is that it just kind of ends and I don't feel like the love interest got a good resolution in the book. I wanted to see him get some closure, like all of them did with the publication of the article. I also thought that NDAs were null and void if a crime had been committed, which is why the Olympics didn't sue when the female gymnasts didn't break their NDA with the sleaze ball who assaulted them. I would have to see the research on that because I'm pretty sure NDAs don't extend to crimes, but I'm also new to law so maybe it's true, but it bugged me that a crime was being protected because of an NDA in the book.
Verdict: A well done book! Highly recommend.
Book: Off The Record
Author: Camryn Garrett
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: main character is black, bi, and fat and has anxiety. Love interest is bisexual.
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: contemporary readers, ya readers, me too, journalism
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: May 18, 2021
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Recommended Age: (Racism, Anxiety rep, Fat rep, Sexual abuse TW, Rape TW, Sexual harassment TW, romance, language)
Synopsis: Ever since seventeen-year-old Josie Wright can remember, writing has been her identity, the thing that grounds her when everything else is a garbage fire. So when she wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine, she’s equal parts excited and scared, but also ready. She’s got this.
Soon Josie is jetting off on a multi-city tour, rubbing elbows with sparkly celebrities, frenetic handlers, stone-faced producers, and eccentric stylists. She even finds herself catching feelings for the subject of her profile, dazzling young newcomer Marius Canet. Josie’s world is expanding so rapidly, she doesn’t know whether she’s flying or falling. But when a young actress lets her in on a terrible secret, the answer is clear: she’s in over her head.
One woman’s account leads to another and another. Josie wants to expose the man responsible, but she’s reluctant to speak up, unsure if this is her story to tell. What if she lets down the women who have entrusted her with their stories? What if this ends her writing career before it even begins? There are so many reasons not to go ahead, but if Josie doesn’t step up, who will?
From the author of Full Disclosure, this is a moving testament to the #MeToo movement, and all the ways women stand up for each other.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I loved the focus of MeToo and the message of standing up for what was right even against powerful people. I also loved how well written the book was. The subject is a really difficult one and I thought the author handled the book very well. The book also discussed sexual abuse and harassment on male and non binary people and I thought it did well to include that side. Not a lot of male people will state abuse that's happened to them, so I hope the book opens a discussion about that in the future. The book also had a well developed world and the character development was amazingly well done. The main character (Josie) was amazingly well written. I loved how she had anxiety and how it reflected my same struggles. I also related to her fatness, as I'm fat and the same conversations she has with herself about that are the ones I have about myself. The romance in this book is also queer (both are bisexual) and I loved how adorable the romance was written. The book was also evenly paced and the plot kept you hooked from beginning to end.
The only issues I had with the book is that it just kind of ends and I don't feel like the love interest got a good resolution in the book. I wanted to see him get some closure, like all of them did with the publication of the article. I also thought that NDAs were null and void if a crime had been committed, which is why the Olympics didn't sue when the female gymnasts didn't break their NDA with the sleaze ball who assaulted them. I would have to see the research on that because I'm pretty sure NDAs don't extend to crimes, but I'm also new to law so maybe it's true, but it bugged me that a crime was being protected because of an NDA in the book.
Verdict: A well done book! Highly recommend.
Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Stars of Whistling Ridge
Author: Cindy Baldwin
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: mixed race coded characters, side character with two moms, side character who is Indian as well as his family
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: mg, contemporary, magical realism, family, home, found family
Genre: MG Contemporary Magical Realism
Publication Date: June 15, 2021
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 8+ (Environmentalism, Slight romance, Little gore, Animal death, Magical realism)
Synopsis: Ivy Mae Bloom, whose name is one letter away from a complete sentence, has lived her entire life on the road. Her mama is a fallen star who travels near and far to tend to the magic that underpins our world. When Ivy steals Mama's entire supply of wish jars in the hopes of finding a forever home, a series of disasters strands the Blooms in Whistling Ridge, North Carolina, with Mama's two star sisters. Ivy knows her wish has been granted and that Whistling Ridge is her forever home—she just needs to convince her parents to stay.
But something is draining the magic from Whistling Ridge, and the star sisters can't stop it. With help from some new friends, Ivy stumbles across a clue in the town's history that might explain the mysterious force threatening Whistling Ridge . . . but if the town's magic is healed, Mama will want to move on. Ivy must choose: Can she help her mama and aunts lift Whistling Ridge's curse—even if it means losing the only place she's ever called home?
Review: I really enjoyed this audiobook for the most part. I thought the story was really good and for the most part it kept me interested. I really liked the character development in the world building. I also really liked the magical realism elements of the book. I think that this is a very cute and very well done book for Middle graders and even for older readers.
My main criticism of the book is that there's really no explanation for the magic and that the questions around that filled my head more than the story itself.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: The Stars of Whistling Ridge
Author: Cindy Baldwin
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: mixed race coded characters, side character with two moms, side character who is Indian as well as his family
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: mg, contemporary, magical realism, family, home, found family
Genre: MG Contemporary Magical Realism
Publication Date: June 15, 2021
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Pages: 400
Recommended Age: 8+ (Environmentalism, Slight romance, Little gore, Animal death, Magical realism)
Synopsis: Ivy Mae Bloom, whose name is one letter away from a complete sentence, has lived her entire life on the road. Her mama is a fallen star who travels near and far to tend to the magic that underpins our world. When Ivy steals Mama's entire supply of wish jars in the hopes of finding a forever home, a series of disasters strands the Blooms in Whistling Ridge, North Carolina, with Mama's two star sisters. Ivy knows her wish has been granted and that Whistling Ridge is her forever home—she just needs to convince her parents to stay.
But something is draining the magic from Whistling Ridge, and the star sisters can't stop it. With help from some new friends, Ivy stumbles across a clue in the town's history that might explain the mysterious force threatening Whistling Ridge . . . but if the town's magic is healed, Mama will want to move on. Ivy must choose: Can she help her mama and aunts lift Whistling Ridge's curse—even if it means losing the only place she's ever called home?
Review: I really enjoyed this audiobook for the most part. I thought the story was really good and for the most part it kept me interested. I really liked the character development in the world building. I also really liked the magical realism elements of the book. I think that this is a very cute and very well done book for Middle graders and even for older readers.
My main criticism of the book is that there's really no explanation for the magic and that the questions around that filled my head more than the story itself.
Verdict: It was good!
Disclaimer: I received this book in a book box I bought. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Bridge of Souls
Author: Victoria Schwab
Book Series: City of Ghosts Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: mg readers, Fantasy, paranormal, ghosts
Genre: MG Fantasy/Paranormal
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 8+ (HP stuff, Little gore, Violence, Scary moments)
Synopsis: Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows ... unless it's the other way around?
Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents' TV show.
But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city's biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.
Cass takes on her most dangerous challenge yet...
Review: I really enjoy this series and this book was probably my favorite one out of the series so far. I love the continued character development even though this is the third book in the series. I really love the world building and it really feels like you are in New Orleans when you read this book. The plot of this book is intriguing it will keep you on the edge of your seat until you finish.
My only criticism of the book is that during the final Boss scene, if you will, it did get a little hectic reading it and a little confusing but I still enjoyed it.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Book: Bridge of Souls
Author: Victoria Schwab
Book Series: City of Ghosts Book 3
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: mg readers, Fantasy, paranormal, ghosts
Genre: MG Fantasy/Paranormal
Publication Date: March 2, 2021
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 8+ (HP stuff, Little gore, Violence, Scary moments)
Synopsis: Where there are ghosts, Cassidy Blake follows ... unless it's the other way around?
Cass thinks she might have this ghost-hunting thing down. After all, she and her ghost best friend, Jacob, have survived two haunted cities while travelling for her parents' TV show.
But nothing can prepare Cass for New Orleans, which wears all of its hauntings on its sleeve. In a city of ghost tours and tombs, raucous music and all kinds of magic, Cass could get lost in all the colourful, grisly local legends. And the city's biggest surprise is a foe Cass never expected to face: a servant of Death itself.
Cass takes on her most dangerous challenge yet...
Review: I really enjoy this series and this book was probably my favorite one out of the series so far. I love the continued character development even though this is the third book in the series. I really love the world building and it really feels like you are in New Orleans when you read this book. The plot of this book is intriguing it will keep you on the edge of your seat until you finish.
My only criticism of the book is that during the final Boss scene, if you will, it did get a little hectic reading it and a little confusing but I still enjoyed it.
Verdict: Highly recommend!
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Technopaladin: Clarity’s Edge
Author: Elizabeth Corrigan
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For…: sci-fi fans, ya readers
Publication Date: May 17, 2021
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death, grief, kidnapping)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 193
Synopsis: Clarity’s paladin order forbids her from entering the Azure District, the one location in her high tech city that refuses paladin rule and technology. When she receives an illicit invitation to violate the prohibition, spurred on by rumors of suffering in the district, she passes through the crumbling brick entryway into no-man’s land. Within, she finds the residents lack not only the ocular implants and three dimensional computers she takes for granted, but also medicine to fight a disease infecting the children.
Clarity knows her order isn’t perfect—after all, they stole her from her parents when she was a small child to raise her with their values—but she cannot believe they know what’s going on in the Azure District. When she confronts the head of the order, he refuses to aid people who have rejected his help in the past, even the children. Unwilling to take no for an answer, Clarity enlists the help of the leader’s son Cass and takes matters into her own hands.
Desperate both to cure the children and keep her place in the order that is her only home, Clarity engages in increasingly questionable behavior—deleting official records, lying to her friends, and manipulating people who can help her. As the nefarious nature of her actions tarnishes the purity of her cause, she must determine what it truly means to be a paladin, in both name and action.
Review: For the most part I thought this was a well done book. The book had a strong overall plot and the pacing was fairly well done. I really liked the world the author thought up as well and it was developed well.
The only issue I had with the book is that the character development was not as strong as I would have liked it. It just felt like they were flat for the most part.
Verdict: It’s good, just needs a little work on the characters.
Book: Technopaladin: Clarity’s Edge
Author: Elizabeth Corrigan
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For…: sci-fi fans, ya readers
Publication Date: May 17, 2021
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 17+ (violence, gore, death, grief, kidnapping)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 193
Synopsis: Clarity’s paladin order forbids her from entering the Azure District, the one location in her high tech city that refuses paladin rule and technology. When she receives an illicit invitation to violate the prohibition, spurred on by rumors of suffering in the district, she passes through the crumbling brick entryway into no-man’s land. Within, she finds the residents lack not only the ocular implants and three dimensional computers she takes for granted, but also medicine to fight a disease infecting the children.
Clarity knows her order isn’t perfect—after all, they stole her from her parents when she was a small child to raise her with their values—but she cannot believe they know what’s going on in the Azure District. When she confronts the head of the order, he refuses to aid people who have rejected his help in the past, even the children. Unwilling to take no for an answer, Clarity enlists the help of the leader’s son Cass and takes matters into her own hands.
Desperate both to cure the children and keep her place in the order that is her only home, Clarity engages in increasingly questionable behavior—deleting official records, lying to her friends, and manipulating people who can help her. As the nefarious nature of her actions tarnishes the purity of her cause, she must determine what it truly means to be a paladin, in both name and action.
Review: For the most part I thought this was a well done book. The book had a strong overall plot and the pacing was fairly well done. I really liked the world the author thought up as well and it was developed well.
The only issue I had with the book is that the character development was not as strong as I would have liked it. It just felt like they were flat for the most part.
Verdict: It’s good, just needs a little work on the characters.