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popthebutterfly
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Noh Family
Author: Grace K. Shim
Book Series: Standalone… for now?!?
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Korean American MC, Korean side characters, Lesbian side character, Colombian side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, K-Dramas, Korean
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 14+ (parental death, grief, classism, alcohol consumption, DUI, car crash, suicide, exercise and dieting)
Explanation of Above: The book talks about two sets of parental death, one of them through suicide that is mentioned a couple of times in the text, and the grief of those deaths. Classism is shown and mentioned in the text. There is alcohol consumption by the characters, but it’s in a country where they are allowed that. There is a scene with a DUI shown and a car crash, but no serious injuries. There is also exercise and dieting mentioned throughout the book.
Publisher: Kokila
Pages: 373
Synopsis: When her friends gift her a 23-and-Me test as a gag, high school senior Chloe Kang doesn't think much of trying it out. She doesn't believe anything will come of it--she's an only child, her mother is an orphan, and her father died in Seoul before she was even born, and before her mother moved to Oklahoma. It's been just Chloe and her mom her whole life. But the DNA test reveals something Chloe never expected--she's got a whole extended family from her father's side half a world away in Korea. Her father's family are owners of a famous high-end department store, and are among the richest families in Seoul. When they learn she exists, they are excited to meet her. Her mother has huge reservations, she hasn't had a great relationship with her husband's family, which is why she's kept them secret, but she can't stop Chloe from travelling to Seoul to spend two weeks getting to know the Noh family.
Chloe is whisked into the lap of luxury, but something feels wrong. Chloe wants to shake it off--she's busy enjoying the delights of Seoul with new friend Miso Dan, the daughter of one of her mother's grade school friends. And as an aspiring fashion designer, she's loving the couture clothes her department store owning family gives her access to. But soon Chloe will discover the reason why her mother never told her about her dad's family, and why the Nohs wanted her in Seoul in the first place. Could joining the Noh family be worse than having no family at all?
Review: For the most part I loved the book so much! The book is a love story to K-Dramas and if you’re a lover of K-Dramas than this will be the book for you! There are so many twists and turns in this contemporary book that I found myself unable to tear myself away from the book to even eat! The character development was amazing, the world building was well done, and the pacing was on point. I absolutely loved the read and the way the book ends gives me hope there will be a sequel in the future… which I am absolutely hoping for!
However, I did have one little issue I had with the book. There was one line where the character who is lesbian is mentioning dating another friend of the MC and the way she responded to the statement made me a bit uncomfortable. Basically, she responded that she’s dating a male, so she doesn’t swing that way, which kind of erasures bisexuality. It would have been something else if the MC had said “oh no she’s straight” or something like that, but the written response in the book is a bit of an issue with me. I think it was an innocent oversight and nothing malicious, but I’d like to see another book by the author improve upon this.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
Book: The Noh Family
Author: Grace K. Shim
Book Series: Standalone… for now?!?
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Korean American MC, Korean side characters, Lesbian side character, Colombian side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, K-Dramas, Korean
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 14+ (parental death, grief, classism, alcohol consumption, DUI, car crash, suicide, exercise and dieting)
Explanation of Above: The book talks about two sets of parental death, one of them through suicide that is mentioned a couple of times in the text, and the grief of those deaths. Classism is shown and mentioned in the text. There is alcohol consumption by the characters, but it’s in a country where they are allowed that. There is a scene with a DUI shown and a car crash, but no serious injuries. There is also exercise and dieting mentioned throughout the book.
Publisher: Kokila
Pages: 373
Synopsis: When her friends gift her a 23-and-Me test as a gag, high school senior Chloe Kang doesn't think much of trying it out. She doesn't believe anything will come of it--she's an only child, her mother is an orphan, and her father died in Seoul before she was even born, and before her mother moved to Oklahoma. It's been just Chloe and her mom her whole life. But the DNA test reveals something Chloe never expected--she's got a whole extended family from her father's side half a world away in Korea. Her father's family are owners of a famous high-end department store, and are among the richest families in Seoul. When they learn she exists, they are excited to meet her. Her mother has huge reservations, she hasn't had a great relationship with her husband's family, which is why she's kept them secret, but she can't stop Chloe from travelling to Seoul to spend two weeks getting to know the Noh family.
Chloe is whisked into the lap of luxury, but something feels wrong. Chloe wants to shake it off--she's busy enjoying the delights of Seoul with new friend Miso Dan, the daughter of one of her mother's grade school friends. And as an aspiring fashion designer, she's loving the couture clothes her department store owning family gives her access to. But soon Chloe will discover the reason why her mother never told her about her dad's family, and why the Nohs wanted her in Seoul in the first place. Could joining the Noh family be worse than having no family at all?
Review: For the most part I loved the book so much! The book is a love story to K-Dramas and if you’re a lover of K-Dramas than this will be the book for you! There are so many twists and turns in this contemporary book that I found myself unable to tear myself away from the book to even eat! The character development was amazing, the world building was well done, and the pacing was on point. I absolutely loved the read and the way the book ends gives me hope there will be a sequel in the future… which I am absolutely hoping for!
However, I did have one little issue I had with the book. There was one line where the character who is lesbian is mentioning dating another friend of the MC and the way she responded to the statement made me a bit uncomfortable. Basically, she responded that she’s dating a male, so she doesn’t swing that way, which kind of erasures bisexuality. It would have been something else if the MC had said “oh no she’s straight” or something like that, but the written response in the book is a bit of an issue with me. I think it was an innocent oversight and nothing malicious, but I’d like to see another book by the author improve upon this.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
emotional
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders
Author: Kathryn Miles
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Queer characters
Recommended For...: nonfiction, true crime, mystery
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: Nonfiction True Crime
Age Relevance: 18+ (homophobia, murder, violence, gore, sexual assault, rape, language, hate crimes, eating disorders)
Explanation of Above: The book is about murders and there is violence and gore shown in the book. There are also mentions of sexual assault, rape, hate crimes, and eating disorders as well. There is some homophobia in the book and there is cursing.
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 320
Synopsis: A riveting deep dive into the unsolved murder of two free-spirited young women in the wilderness, a journalist's obsession, and a new theory of who might have done it
In May 1996, Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were brutally murdered while backpacking in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, adjacent to the world-famous Appalachian Trail. The young women were skilled backcountry leaders who had met—and fallen in love—the previous summer while working at a world-renowned outdoor program for women. But despite an extensive joint investigation by the FBI, the Virginia police, and National Park Service experts, the case remained unsolved for years.
In early 2002, and in response to mounting political pressure, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that he would be seeking the death penalty for Darrell David Rice—already in prison for assaulting another woman—in the first capital case tried under new, post-9/11 federal hate crime legislation. But two years later, the Department of Justice quietly suspended its case against Rice, and the investigation has since grown cold. Did prosecutors have the right person?
Journalist Kathryn Miles was a professor at Lollie Winans's wilderness college in Maine when the 2002 indictment was announced. On the 20th anniversary of the murder, she began looking into the lives of these adventurous women—whose loss continued to haunt all who had encountered them—along with the murder investigation and subsequent case against Rice. As she dives deeper into the case, winning the trust of the victims’ loved ones as well as investigators and gaining access to key documents, Miles becomes increasingly obsessed with the loss of the generous and free-spirited Lollie and Julie, who were just on the brink of adulthood, and at the same time, she discovers evidence of cover-ups, incompetence, and crime-scene sloppiness that seemed part of a larger problem in America’s pursuit of justice in national parks. She also becomes convinced of Rice’s innocence, and zeroes in on a different likely suspect.
Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders is a riveting, eye-opening, and heartbreaking work, offering a braided narrative about two remarkable women who were murdered doing what they most loved, the forensics of this cold case, and the surprising pervasiveness and long shadows cast by violence against women in the backcountry.
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. I thought it did good to go through the murders and to show what really happened. I liked the true crime aspect of it. The character development was good and the world building was also well done.
However, I thought this was a weird book because it spends a lot of the time talking about the author and her life but the premise of the book really is about the murders. I really would have liked it to put more of the murder in the focal point than the author’s story.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders
Author: Kathryn Miles
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Queer characters
Recommended For...: nonfiction, true crime, mystery
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: Nonfiction True Crime
Age Relevance: 18+ (homophobia, murder, violence, gore, sexual assault, rape, language, hate crimes, eating disorders)
Explanation of Above: The book is about murders and there is violence and gore shown in the book. There are also mentions of sexual assault, rape, hate crimes, and eating disorders as well. There is some homophobia in the book and there is cursing.
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Pages: 320
Synopsis: A riveting deep dive into the unsolved murder of two free-spirited young women in the wilderness, a journalist's obsession, and a new theory of who might have done it
In May 1996, Julie Williams and Lollie Winans were brutally murdered while backpacking in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, adjacent to the world-famous Appalachian Trail. The young women were skilled backcountry leaders who had met—and fallen in love—the previous summer while working at a world-renowned outdoor program for women. But despite an extensive joint investigation by the FBI, the Virginia police, and National Park Service experts, the case remained unsolved for years.
In early 2002, and in response to mounting political pressure, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that he would be seeking the death penalty for Darrell David Rice—already in prison for assaulting another woman—in the first capital case tried under new, post-9/11 federal hate crime legislation. But two years later, the Department of Justice quietly suspended its case against Rice, and the investigation has since grown cold. Did prosecutors have the right person?
Journalist Kathryn Miles was a professor at Lollie Winans's wilderness college in Maine when the 2002 indictment was announced. On the 20th anniversary of the murder, she began looking into the lives of these adventurous women—whose loss continued to haunt all who had encountered them—along with the murder investigation and subsequent case against Rice. As she dives deeper into the case, winning the trust of the victims’ loved ones as well as investigators and gaining access to key documents, Miles becomes increasingly obsessed with the loss of the generous and free-spirited Lollie and Julie, who were just on the brink of adulthood, and at the same time, she discovers evidence of cover-ups, incompetence, and crime-scene sloppiness that seemed part of a larger problem in America’s pursuit of justice in national parks. She also becomes convinced of Rice’s innocence, and zeroes in on a different likely suspect.
Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders is a riveting, eye-opening, and heartbreaking work, offering a braided narrative about two remarkable women who were murdered doing what they most loved, the forensics of this cold case, and the surprising pervasiveness and long shadows cast by violence against women in the backcountry.
Review: For the most part this was an ok book. I thought it did good to go through the murders and to show what really happened. I liked the true crime aspect of it. The character development was good and the world building was also well done.
However, I thought this was a weird book because it spends a lot of the time talking about the author and her life but the premise of the book really is about the murders. I really would have liked it to put more of the murder in the focal point than the author’s story.
Verdict: It was ok.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Alone Out Here
Author: Riley Redgate
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Gay side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, sci-fi, apocolypse
Publication Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Age Relevance: 14+ (religion, death, violence, gore, grief)
Explanation of Above: Religion is mentioned sporadically throughout the book. There is death, violence, and gore mentioned in the book and it talks about the apocalypse. There is also some grief in the book as well.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 400
Synopsis: What do you stand for, when you're one of the last left standing?
The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up.
While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship. But when the apocalypse arrives months ahead of schedule, First Daughter Leigh Chen and a handful of teens from the tour are the only ones to escape the planet.
This is the new world: a starship loaded with a catalog of human artifacts, a frozen menagerie of animal DNA, and fifty-three terrified survivors. From the panic arises a coalition of leaders, spearheaded by the pilot’s enigmatic daughter, Eli, who takes the wheel in their hunt for a habitable planet. But as isolation presses in, their uneasy peace begins to fracture. The struggle for control will mean the difference between survival and oblivion, and Leigh must decide whether to stand on the side of the mission or of her own humanity.
With aching poignancy and tense, heart-in-your-mouth action, this enthralling saga will stay with readers long after the final page.
Review: For the most part I thought the book was ok. It was an interesting set-during-the-apocolypse book and the book was also a good story with a Lord of the Flies aspect. The book had great character development and world building.
However, I had a lot of issues with the book. I thought the book had a horribly confusing beginning and it didn’t immediately grab me. While most of the confusion was cleared up later in the book, it was still overwhelming for me in the beginning. The book had a lot going on as well that wasn’t well explained.
Verdict: It was ok, just not for me.
Book: Alone Out Here
Author: Riley Redgate
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Gay side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, sci-fi, apocolypse
Publication Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Age Relevance: 14+ (religion, death, violence, gore, grief)
Explanation of Above: Religion is mentioned sporadically throughout the book. There is death, violence, and gore mentioned in the book and it talks about the apocalypse. There is also some grief in the book as well.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 400
Synopsis: What do you stand for, when you're one of the last left standing?
The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up.
While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship. But when the apocalypse arrives months ahead of schedule, First Daughter Leigh Chen and a handful of teens from the tour are the only ones to escape the planet.
This is the new world: a starship loaded with a catalog of human artifacts, a frozen menagerie of animal DNA, and fifty-three terrified survivors. From the panic arises a coalition of leaders, spearheaded by the pilot’s enigmatic daughter, Eli, who takes the wheel in their hunt for a habitable planet. But as isolation presses in, their uneasy peace begins to fracture. The struggle for control will mean the difference between survival and oblivion, and Leigh must decide whether to stand on the side of the mission or of her own humanity.
With aching poignancy and tense, heart-in-your-mouth action, this enthralling saga will stay with readers long after the final page.
Review: For the most part I thought the book was ok. It was an interesting set-during-the-apocolypse book and the book was also a good story with a Lord of the Flies aspect. The book had great character development and world building.
However, I had a lot of issues with the book. I thought the book had a horribly confusing beginning and it didn’t immediately grab me. While most of the confusion was cleared up later in the book, it was still overwhelming for me in the beginning. The book had a lot going on as well that wasn’t well explained.
Verdict: It was ok, just not for me.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Uncharted
Author: Alli Temple
Book Series: The Pirate and Her Princess Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Smut: 1.5/5
Diversity: Sapphic, Lesbian MC and LI, non-binary side character, POC side characters
Recommended For...: fantasy, romance, pirates, LGBT, Sapphic
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (homophobia, sexism, violence, gore, death, grief, language, panic attack, alcoholism, sexual assault, rape, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, sexual content, romance, abuse)
Explanation of Above: The book has scenes of violence and gore in it, including death and grief. There are some homophobia and sexism in the book, as well as abuse. Sexual assault and rape are mentioned and attempted sexual assault is shown. There is some cursing and a panic attack shown. There is some mentions of alcoholism and there is a kidnapping shown. There is some small sexual content and romance in the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 350
Synopsis: In a world of arrogant nobles and their punishing laws, Georgina will be hanged if anyone discovers she is a spy. But when the wicked prince proposes marriage, Georgina must accept. Refusing would expose the secrets she has delivered to a hidden resistance and forfeit her life. With her wedding day looming ever closer, salvation comes from an unlikely source.
Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinder’s kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georgina’s own history than either of them expect.
Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The prince’s unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinder’s past threatens to drag them both to the deep.
Review: I was absolutely blown away by this book. I thought the book was well written and it was an amazing pirate adventure with a Sapphic romance! I loved the premise, the story was well done, and the character development was amazing. The story is amazing and I can’t wait for the next installment.
However, I did think that the world building needed to be a bit more developed and I wanted to see more of character development for the MC, but overall I highly enjoyed it.
Verdict: It was amazing!!
Book: Uncharted
Author: Alli Temple
Book Series: The Pirate and Her Princess Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Smut: 1.5/5
Diversity: Sapphic, Lesbian MC and LI, non-binary side character, POC side characters
Recommended For...: fantasy, romance, pirates, LGBT, Sapphic
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 18+ (homophobia, sexism, violence, gore, death, grief, language, panic attack, alcoholism, sexual assault, rape, attempted sexual assault, kidnapping, sexual content, romance, abuse)
Explanation of Above: The book has scenes of violence and gore in it, including death and grief. There are some homophobia and sexism in the book, as well as abuse. Sexual assault and rape are mentioned and attempted sexual assault is shown. There is some cursing and a panic attack shown. There is some mentions of alcoholism and there is a kidnapping shown. There is some small sexual content and romance in the book.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 350
Synopsis: In a world of arrogant nobles and their punishing laws, Georgina will be hanged if anyone discovers she is a spy. But when the wicked prince proposes marriage, Georgina must accept. Refusing would expose the secrets she has delivered to a hidden resistance and forfeit her life. With her wedding day looming ever closer, salvation comes from an unlikely source.
Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinder’s kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georgina’s own history than either of them expect.
Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The prince’s unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinder’s past threatens to drag them both to the deep.
Review: I was absolutely blown away by this book. I thought the book was well written and it was an amazing pirate adventure with a Sapphic romance! I loved the premise, the story was well done, and the character development was amazing. The story is amazing and I can’t wait for the next installment.
However, I did think that the world building needed to be a bit more developed and I wanted to see more of character development for the MC, but overall I highly enjoyed it.
Verdict: It was amazing!!
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book Series: Society of Explorers and Adventurers Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Wheelchair user side character, Japanese American MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 9+ (parental death, grief, violence, kidnapping)
Explanation of Above: There is some mention throughout the book about the main characters’ parent’s deaths. There is some grief mentioned in the book and there are a few scenes with light violence. There is also a kidnapping in the book.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is the first book in a globe-trotting adventure that combines high-tech wizardry, old-world legends and a little bit of magic.
Shinji Takahashi is just an ordinary kid. An ordinary homeschooled smart-alecky orphan kid being raised by his aunt Yui. But when a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, Shinji’s life takes a turn for the extraordinary. Captured by the menacing Hightower Corporation, which is bent on using the guardian’s magic for its own nefarious purposes, Shinji must team up with a brilliant young tech whiz named Lucy and her robot mouse, Tinker, to escape the Corporation’s evil clutches.
Together Shinji and Lucy turn to the venerable Society of Explorers and Adventurers and its ragtag cast of spelunkers, hackers, mapmakers, pilots, and mythology experts (among other things) to return the guardian to its rightful home and release Shinji from its magic—which seems to be draining his life force. Time is ticking, the Hightower Corporation is hot on their tail, and success or failure might depend on one small thing—Shinji finally coming around to the belief that he is anything but ordinary.
Review: For the most part I thought the book was well written. It was a fun read and I loved every moment of it. The story was expansive and I loved that it was Aztec inspired mythology and that the main message of the book is righting the wrongs of the past. I thought the book was well developed story wise and the book did well pacing wise.
However, I do think that the books needed a little bit more character development and world building. I also wish that the book had fully fleshed out a lot of the ideas that it had in it.
Verdict: It was good! Great for kids!
Book: Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl
Author: Julie Kagawa
Book Series: Society of Explorers and Adventurers Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Wheelchair user side character, Japanese American MC
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, mythology
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 9+ (parental death, grief, violence, kidnapping)
Explanation of Above: There is some mention throughout the book about the main characters’ parent’s deaths. There is some grief mentioned in the book and there are a few scenes with light violence. There is also a kidnapping in the book.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 320
Synopsis: Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is the first book in a globe-trotting adventure that combines high-tech wizardry, old-world legends and a little bit of magic.
Shinji Takahashi is just an ordinary kid. An ordinary homeschooled smart-alecky orphan kid being raised by his aunt Yui. But when a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, Shinji’s life takes a turn for the extraordinary. Captured by the menacing Hightower Corporation, which is bent on using the guardian’s magic for its own nefarious purposes, Shinji must team up with a brilliant young tech whiz named Lucy and her robot mouse, Tinker, to escape the Corporation’s evil clutches.
Together Shinji and Lucy turn to the venerable Society of Explorers and Adventurers and its ragtag cast of spelunkers, hackers, mapmakers, pilots, and mythology experts (among other things) to return the guardian to its rightful home and release Shinji from its magic—which seems to be draining his life force. Time is ticking, the Hightower Corporation is hot on their tail, and success or failure might depend on one small thing—Shinji finally coming around to the belief that he is anything but ordinary.
Review: For the most part I thought the book was well written. It was a fun read and I loved every moment of it. The story was expansive and I loved that it was Aztec inspired mythology and that the main message of the book is righting the wrongs of the past. I thought the book was well developed story wise and the book did well pacing wise.
However, I do think that the books needed a little bit more character development and world building. I also wish that the book had fully fleshed out a lot of the ideas that it had in it.
Verdict: It was good! Great for kids!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author for a tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Unbroken
Author: Alli Temple
Book Series: The Pirate and Her Princess Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 2/5
Diversity: Sapphic, Lesbian character and MC, non-binary character
Recommended For...: fantasy, pirates, romance
Publication Date: May 2, 2022
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 17+ (sexual content, violence, gore, homophobia, language, sexual assault)
Explanation of Above: There are some brief mentions of sexual content and sex in the book. There are also some very brief mentions of sexual assault which quickly led to the characters getting revenge. The book has a lot of violence and gore in the book, as well as a lot of cursing. There are also some brief moments of homophobia.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 315
Synopsis: A pirate’s home is the sea, sailing beyond the horizon with her true love.
Aboard the Crimson Siren, Captain Cinder finally has the life she’s always dreamed of. Her freedom is restored, her crew is a trustworthy bunch, and the princess who holds her heart is by her side.
But trouble brewing back in Redmere threatens to pull Cinder and Princess Georgina apart before their future can truly begin. Georgina feels a responsibility to help, while Cinder is vehemently against returning to their former home. Instead, she embarks on a dangerous treasure hunt that could cost her everything. Faced with a deadly threat, Cinder pushes everyone around her away just when she needs them most.
Friendships are tested. Risky alliances forged. Yet as storm clouds darken Cinder’s future, one thing becomes painfully clear: Her home is taking on water, and time to save the people she loves is running out.
Review: I really love this series! The book is a well written pirate story with Sapphic main characters who return from the first book. I loved the premise of the story and how much more pirate this book was. The book had well developed characters and world building. The series has quickly become a favorite of mine and I can’t wait for the third in the series.
However, I did feel like while the character development was really good in this book that we missed out on some strong moments between book 1 and 2. The books are well written, but some of the motives of the group are a bit out there. There were also some definite jumping the shark moments, but overall I enjoyed this one.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Book: Unbroken
Author: Alli Temple
Book Series: The Pirate and Her Princess Book 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 2/5
Diversity: Sapphic, Lesbian character and MC, non-binary character
Recommended For...: fantasy, pirates, romance
Publication Date: May 2, 2022
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 17+ (sexual content, violence, gore, homophobia, language, sexual assault)
Explanation of Above: There are some brief mentions of sexual content and sex in the book. There are also some very brief mentions of sexual assault which quickly led to the characters getting revenge. The book has a lot of violence and gore in the book, as well as a lot of cursing. There are also some brief moments of homophobia.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 315
Synopsis: A pirate’s home is the sea, sailing beyond the horizon with her true love.
Aboard the Crimson Siren, Captain Cinder finally has the life she’s always dreamed of. Her freedom is restored, her crew is a trustworthy bunch, and the princess who holds her heart is by her side.
But trouble brewing back in Redmere threatens to pull Cinder and Princess Georgina apart before their future can truly begin. Georgina feels a responsibility to help, while Cinder is vehemently against returning to their former home. Instead, she embarks on a dangerous treasure hunt that could cost her everything. Faced with a deadly threat, Cinder pushes everyone around her away just when she needs them most.
Friendships are tested. Risky alliances forged. Yet as storm clouds darken Cinder’s future, one thing becomes painfully clear: Her home is taking on water, and time to save the people she loves is running out.
Review: I really love this series! The book is a well written pirate story with Sapphic main characters who return from the first book. I loved the premise of the story and how much more pirate this book was. The book had well developed characters and world building. The series has quickly become a favorite of mine and I can’t wait for the third in the series.
However, I did feel like while the character development was really good in this book that we missed out on some strong moments between book 1 and 2. The books are well written, but some of the motives of the group are a bit out there. There were also some definite jumping the shark moments, but overall I enjoyed this one.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!
Far Side of the Moon: Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman and the Woman Who Gave Him Wings
Liisa Jorgensen, Liisa Jorgensen
slow-paced
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Far Side of the Moon
Author: Liisa Jorgensen
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: history, biography
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Genre: Historical Biography
Age Relevance: 16+ (romance, abuse, PTSD, depression, alcoholism, anxiety)
Explanation of Above: The book shows some of the romance between the main characters, but mostly is a deep dive into how Susan handled Frank’s departure to the moon. There are flashbacks and mentions of abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and alcoholism.
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Pages: 336
Synopsis: The decades-long love story of a NASA commander and the leader of the Astronaut Wives Club
Far Side of the Moon is the untold, fully authorized story of the lives of Frank and Susan Borman. One was a famous astronaut—an instrumental part of the Apollo space program—but the other was just as much a warrior. This real-life love story is far from a fairy tale.
Life as a military wife was beyond demanding, but Susan always rose to the occasion. When Frank joined NASA and was selected to command the first mission to orbit the moon, that meant putting on a brave face for the world as her husband risked his life for the space race. The pressure and anxiety were overwhelming, and eventually Susan’s well-hidden depression and alcoholism finally came to light. Frank had to come to terms with how his “mission above all else” mentality contributed to his wife’s suffering. As Susan healed, she was able to begin helping others who suffered in silence from mental illness and addiction.
Discover how Frank and Susan’s love and commitment to each other is still overcoming life’s challenges, even beyond their years as an Apollo commander and the founder of the Astronaut Wives Club.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the premise of it and I found it a very interesting look at what Susan and Frank went through. I liked how the book was a deep dive into Susan’s past and I found her story far more interesting than others. The book is a well written historical book and it would be a great read for anyone who’s interested in this time period/event. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
However, I found the pacing a bit too slow for my liking and I while I enjoyed the book I found that sometimes the pacing made it hard for me to continue reading.
Verdict: It was good.
Book: Far Side of the Moon
Author: Liisa Jorgensen
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: history, biography
Publication Date: December 7, 2021
Genre: Historical Biography
Age Relevance: 16+ (romance, abuse, PTSD, depression, alcoholism, anxiety)
Explanation of Above: The book shows some of the romance between the main characters, but mostly is a deep dive into how Susan handled Frank’s departure to the moon. There are flashbacks and mentions of abuse, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and alcoholism.
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Pages: 336
Synopsis: The decades-long love story of a NASA commander and the leader of the Astronaut Wives Club
Far Side of the Moon is the untold, fully authorized story of the lives of Frank and Susan Borman. One was a famous astronaut—an instrumental part of the Apollo space program—but the other was just as much a warrior. This real-life love story is far from a fairy tale.
Life as a military wife was beyond demanding, but Susan always rose to the occasion. When Frank joined NASA and was selected to command the first mission to orbit the moon, that meant putting on a brave face for the world as her husband risked his life for the space race. The pressure and anxiety were overwhelming, and eventually Susan’s well-hidden depression and alcoholism finally came to light. Frank had to come to terms with how his “mission above all else” mentality contributed to his wife’s suffering. As Susan healed, she was able to begin helping others who suffered in silence from mental illness and addiction.
Discover how Frank and Susan’s love and commitment to each other is still overcoming life’s challenges, even beyond their years as an Apollo commander and the founder of the Astronaut Wives Club.
Review: For the most part this was a good book. I liked the premise of it and I found it a very interesting look at what Susan and Frank went through. I liked how the book was a deep dive into Susan’s past and I found her story far more interesting than others. The book is a well written historical book and it would be a great read for anyone who’s interested in this time period/event. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
However, I found the pacing a bit too slow for my liking and I while I enjoyed the book I found that sometimes the pacing made it hard for me to continue reading.
Verdict: It was good.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Games in a Ballroom
Author: Jentry Flint
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Smut Rating: 0/5
Recommended For...: romance, historical fiction, Regency era romance
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction Romance
Age Relevance: 16+ (grief, abuse, death, romance)
Explanation of Above: The book contains scenes and flashbacks of abuse. There is death and grief mentioned in the book. There’s also romance with no smut and it’s a slow burn.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 272
Synopsis: She was forbidden to love him.
He only wanted her heart.
Can a childhood game bring them together?
London, 1815
Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, but the men her father deems acceptable are either boring or are only interested in increasing their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia vows to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including Emerson Latham. His devilish smile and flirtatious teasing stirs up feelings she knows she cannot entertain.
Emerson is struggling to rise to his responsibilities after his father's death. Though he is still learning his place, one thing he knows for certain is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Emerson had long ago fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. Yet, without a title, he will never be permitted to court Olivia openly. But he has a plan that may give him a chance to court her in secret.
As the Season kicks off, Emerson proposes a playful game of tag. Olivia's friends are delighted by the idea, though Olivia is wary. After all, the game must be played in secret as they tag each other at dinners and balls. As the romance builds between Olivia and Emerson, so does the risk of being discovered. Not only are their reputations at stake, so is their safety if they are caught by Olivia's strict father.
Can their love find a happily ever after before the game ends?
Review: For the most part I thought the book was interesting. The book had a promising premise and it is a great book for Regency-era romance and slow burns if you’re into that. The characters are developed well and the world building was pretty well done.
However, the book didn’t have a lot going for it plot wise. The book dragged on and on in the middle and it was hard to read after a bit. The book also had really slow pacing and I just didn’t enjoy this one as much.
Verdict: It’s good, just too slow for me.
Book: Games in a Ballroom
Author: Jentry Flint
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Smut Rating: 0/5
Recommended For...: romance, historical fiction, Regency era romance
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction Romance
Age Relevance: 16+ (grief, abuse, death, romance)
Explanation of Above: The book contains scenes and flashbacks of abuse. There is death and grief mentioned in the book. There’s also romance with no smut and it’s a slow burn.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 272
Synopsis: She was forbidden to love him.
He only wanted her heart.
Can a childhood game bring them together?
London, 1815
Olivia Wilde has resigned herself to never finding a love match. Her father has insisted she marry a man with a title, but the men her father deems acceptable are either boring or are only interested in increasing their own diminishing coffers. With her future looking dismal, Olivia vows to enjoy the last few months of freedom with her childhood friends, including Emerson Latham. His devilish smile and flirtatious teasing stirs up feelings she knows she cannot entertain.
Emerson is struggling to rise to his responsibilities after his father's death. Though he is still learning his place, one thing he knows for certain is that he wants Olivia Wilde to be his wife. Emerson had long ago fallen in love with her quick wit, beauty, and passionate heart. Yet, without a title, he will never be permitted to court Olivia openly. But he has a plan that may give him a chance to court her in secret.
As the Season kicks off, Emerson proposes a playful game of tag. Olivia's friends are delighted by the idea, though Olivia is wary. After all, the game must be played in secret as they tag each other at dinners and balls. As the romance builds between Olivia and Emerson, so does the risk of being discovered. Not only are their reputations at stake, so is their safety if they are caught by Olivia's strict father.
Can their love find a happily ever after before the game ends?
Review: For the most part I thought the book was interesting. The book had a promising premise and it is a great book for Regency-era romance and slow burns if you’re into that. The characters are developed well and the world building was pretty well done.
However, the book didn’t have a lot going for it plot wise. The book dragged on and on in the middle and it was hard to read after a bit. The book also had really slow pacing and I just didn’t enjoy this one as much.
Verdict: It’s good, just too slow for me.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Jordie and Joey Fell from the Sky
Author: Judi Lauren
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Twins in Foster Care, Gay character
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, aliens
Publication Date: April 19, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 11+ (bullying, child abuse, child neglect, violence, homophobia, animal abuse, PTSD, running away)
Explanation of Above: There is some bullying mentioned in the book, as well as one scene where a fight is shown between two characters. There is some slight mention of homophobia in the book and mentions of animal abuse (nothing shown for the animal abuse). PTSD is shown in the book in regards to remembering a past traumatic event and child abuse and neglect are shown and mentioned in the book. Most of the story revolves around the twins and a friend running away from home and it shows the consequence of that.
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Pages: 230
Synopsis: Twin brothers Jordie and Joey have never met their parents. Maybe it’s because they aren’t from this planet?
When another kid at school tried to force Jordie to show him the “crop circles” on his back that prove he’s an alien, it was Joey who took the kid to the ground. And when the twins got kicked out of their foster home because Joey kissed the other boy who lived there, it was Jordie who told him everything would be okay. And as long as Jordie and Joey are together, it will be. But when the principal calls their current foster mother about a fight at school, the boys know she’ll be done with them. And, from spying in their file, they also know they’re going to be separated.
Determined to face the world side by side rather than without one another, Jordie and Joey set off to find their birth parents. From Arizona to Roswell to Area 51 in the Nevada desert, the twins begin a search for where they truly belong. But Jordie’s about to discover that family isn’t always about the ones who bring you into the world, but the ones who help you survive it.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. The book is about our MC who believes his real family are aliens and that him and his twin brother were dropped off on Earth before they were taken hostage by the government. The MC is determined to find his family and, after an incident at school, the twins and a friend run away from home to find the twins’ family. I really liked the story overall and I felt like it would be relatable to kids who are in a similar situation as the twins. The book shows a lot of darkness in that situation, but has a hopeful message by the end. The character development is good and the world building is fair. I also want to commend the book for having resources in the back of it for people, especially children, to contact if they are in similar situations as the twins find themselves in.
However, I felt that the book lacked in some areas. I felt like the book was too fast paced for the story and there were some stuff that wasn’t explained well in my opinion. I also felt like the author didn’t know how to end the book and it went on for a bit longer than it should have maybe? It was weird and the book maybe needs another round of revision to perfect it.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Jordie and Joey Fell from the Sky
Author: Judi Lauren
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Twins in Foster Care, Gay character
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, aliens
Publication Date: April 19, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Age Relevance: 11+ (bullying, child abuse, child neglect, violence, homophobia, animal abuse, PTSD, running away)
Explanation of Above: There is some bullying mentioned in the book, as well as one scene where a fight is shown between two characters. There is some slight mention of homophobia in the book and mentions of animal abuse (nothing shown for the animal abuse). PTSD is shown in the book in regards to remembering a past traumatic event and child abuse and neglect are shown and mentioned in the book. Most of the story revolves around the twins and a friend running away from home and it shows the consequence of that.
Publisher: Jolly Fish Press
Pages: 230
Synopsis: Twin brothers Jordie and Joey have never met their parents. Maybe it’s because they aren’t from this planet?
When another kid at school tried to force Jordie to show him the “crop circles” on his back that prove he’s an alien, it was Joey who took the kid to the ground. And when the twins got kicked out of their foster home because Joey kissed the other boy who lived there, it was Jordie who told him everything would be okay. And as long as Jordie and Joey are together, it will be. But when the principal calls their current foster mother about a fight at school, the boys know she’ll be done with them. And, from spying in their file, they also know they’re going to be separated.
Determined to face the world side by side rather than without one another, Jordie and Joey set off to find their birth parents. From Arizona to Roswell to Area 51 in the Nevada desert, the twins begin a search for where they truly belong. But Jordie’s about to discover that family isn’t always about the ones who bring you into the world, but the ones who help you survive it.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. The book is about our MC who believes his real family are aliens and that him and his twin brother were dropped off on Earth before they were taken hostage by the government. The MC is determined to find his family and, after an incident at school, the twins and a friend run away from home to find the twins’ family. I really liked the story overall and I felt like it would be relatable to kids who are in a similar situation as the twins. The book shows a lot of darkness in that situation, but has a hopeful message by the end. The character development is good and the world building is fair. I also want to commend the book for having resources in the back of it for people, especially children, to contact if they are in similar situations as the twins find themselves in.
However, I felt that the book lacked in some areas. I felt like the book was too fast paced for the story and there were some stuff that wasn’t explained well in my opinion. I also felt like the author didn’t know how to end the book and it went on for a bit longer than it should have maybe? It was weird and the book maybe needs another round of revision to perfect it.
Verdict: It was good!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Loteria
Author: Karla Valenti
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Mexican MC and characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy, magical realism, Mexican mythology and lore
Publication Date: September 7, 2021
Genre: MG Fantasy
Age Relevance: 8+ (poisoning, scary moments, death, grief)
Explanation of Above: The MC is poisoned by a scorpion at one point in the book, but is ok. The book shows a character’s death and the grief after it. There are also some scary moments, including a moment with a spider.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 320
Synopsis: It is the hottest hour of the hottest day in Oaxaca City when Life and Death walk into town, ready to begin a new game of Lotería. But first, they need a pawn, a child whose fate will be determined by the winner of the game: a long and prosperous life or an untimely death. Fate finds this child in a robin-egg blue house, tucked beneath a massive jacaranda tree. And so, the game begins.
Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, travelling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
Every card reveals a new twist in Clara's fate: a tree, a scorpion, a fateful arrow, a mermaid, a deer, a treacherous rose. But Clara knows none of this. All she knows is that her cousin Esteban has vanished, and she’ll do whatever it takes to save him, travelling to the mythical Kingdom of Las Pozas in her search. And although it seems her fate was sealed as soon as the cards were dealt, Clara just might have what it takes to shatter the game and choose a new path.
Review: I loved this book! It was a fun read that reminded me a lot of Coco. The book is Mexican Mythology and Lore inspired and had so much culture in it as well. The book is also very informative and offers a ton of information in the back about the card game that is played throughout. The book is also very adventurous and younger children who are just beginning their fantasy reading journey would love this book. The book had well developed characters and world building as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book is that the POV switching was a bit confusing for me as the voices were not that different, but it was still a fun read.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend!