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2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Counterclockwise Heart
Author: Brian Farrey
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, fantasy, German folktale inspired
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some dark moments, war, slight violence, slight gore)
Explanation of CWs: There are some dark moments in this book and parents might want to read this book ahead of their child to judge if it’s appropriate for them. The book does discuss war and it’s central to the story. There is also some slight violence and gore.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . .
Time is running out in the empire of Rheinvelt.
The sudden appearance of a strange and frightening statue foretells darkness. The Hierophants—magic users of the highest order—have fled the land. And the shadowy beasts of the nearby Hinterlands are gathering near the borders, preparing for an attack.
Young Prince Alphonsus is sent by his mother, the Empress Sabine, to reassure the people while she works to quell the threat of war. But Alphonsus has other problems on his mind, including a great secret: He has a clock in his chest where his heart should be—and it’s begun to run backwards, counting down to his unknown fate.
Searching for answers about the clock, Alphonsus meets Esme, a Hierophant girl who has returned to the empire in search of a sorceress known as the Nachtfrau. When riddles from their shared past threaten the future of the empire, Alphonsus and Esme must learn to trust each other and work together to save it—or see the destruction of everything they both love.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! It was so vivid and detailed, but not overbearing with the details. The book did well to convey the story and had me speeding to the end to find out what would happen. The character development was equally as well done and for a darker middle grade fantasy I think the author did well to keep it age appropriate.
The only issues I had with the book are that the German words used might be a bit harder for the younger readers and I felt like the book was too fast paced for me, but it would be excellent for younger readers.
Verdict: It was excellent! Highly recommend!
Book: The Counterclockwise Heart
Author: Brian Farrey
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, fantasy, German folktale inspired
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: MG Fantasy
Recommended Age: 10+ (some dark moments, war, slight violence, slight gore)
Explanation of CWs: There are some dark moments in this book and parents might want to read this book ahead of their child to judge if it’s appropriate for them. The book does discuss war and it’s central to the story. There is also some slight violence and gore.
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 336
Synopsis: Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . .
Time is running out in the empire of Rheinvelt.
The sudden appearance of a strange and frightening statue foretells darkness. The Hierophants—magic users of the highest order—have fled the land. And the shadowy beasts of the nearby Hinterlands are gathering near the borders, preparing for an attack.
Young Prince Alphonsus is sent by his mother, the Empress Sabine, to reassure the people while she works to quell the threat of war. But Alphonsus has other problems on his mind, including a great secret: He has a clock in his chest where his heart should be—and it’s begun to run backwards, counting down to his unknown fate.
Searching for answers about the clock, Alphonsus meets Esme, a Hierophant girl who has returned to the empire in search of a sorceress known as the Nachtfrau. When riddles from their shared past threaten the future of the empire, Alphonsus and Esme must learn to trust each other and work together to save it—or see the destruction of everything they both love.
Review: I absolutely loved this book! It was so vivid and detailed, but not overbearing with the details. The book did well to convey the story and had me speeding to the end to find out what would happen. The character development was equally as well done and for a darker middle grade fantasy I think the author did well to keep it age appropriate.
The only issues I had with the book are that the German words used might be a bit harder for the younger readers and I felt like the book was too fast paced for me, but it would be excellent for younger readers.
Verdict: It was excellent! Highly recommend!
emotional
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Cat’s First Baby
Author: Natalie Nelson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black family and baby shown and central to the story.
Recommended For...: children, picture book lovers, babies, cats, parents
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Recommended Age: 0+ (smug cat thoughts)
Explanation of CWs: There is a cat. He is smug. He is confused by baby and is wondering why if cat size why not cat then?
Publisher: Quirk Books
Pages: 28
Synopsis: I am a cat.
Are you a cat?
Cat is curious. There’s a new addition to the family, but who exactly is this small being? This new arrival doesn’t meow like a cat, or smell like a cat, or even have a tail like a cat. As Cat investigates, he might just come to appreciate this loud, silly family member. After all, they both enjoy a good catnap.
In Cat’s First Baby, the feline companion to Dog’s First Baby, Natalie Nelson captures the wonder and humor of a new family member through a cat’s eyes. Sure to delight kids and cat parents alike, this board book promises to be a repeat read-aloud.
Review: I absolutely loved this little book. I thought the book perfectly encompassed the thoughts of a cat when a new addition in the family appears and I can only hope that every cat comes to love their first baby when/if the time comes.
Verdict: It’s so adorable. Highly recommend.
Book: Cat’s First Baby
Author: Natalie Nelson
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black family and baby shown and central to the story.
Recommended For...: children, picture book lovers, babies, cats, parents
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Recommended Age: 0+ (smug cat thoughts)
Explanation of CWs: There is a cat. He is smug. He is confused by baby and is wondering why if cat size why not cat then?
Publisher: Quirk Books
Pages: 28
Synopsis: I am a cat.
Are you a cat?
Cat is curious. There’s a new addition to the family, but who exactly is this small being? This new arrival doesn’t meow like a cat, or smell like a cat, or even have a tail like a cat. As Cat investigates, he might just come to appreciate this loud, silly family member. After all, they both enjoy a good catnap.
In Cat’s First Baby, the feline companion to Dog’s First Baby, Natalie Nelson captures the wonder and humor of a new family member through a cat’s eyes. Sure to delight kids and cat parents alike, this board book promises to be a repeat read-aloud.
Review: I absolutely loved this little book. I thought the book perfectly encompassed the thoughts of a cat when a new addition in the family appears and I can only hope that every cat comes to love their first baby when/if the time comes.
Verdict: It’s so adorable. Highly recommend.
dark
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: In Every Generation
Author: Kendare Blake
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Part indigenous character, Lesbian character, Black character, Asian side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, urban fantasy, paranormal, retelling, Buffy fans
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 14+ (Violence, Gore, Death, Language, sexual content)
Explanation of CWs: The book had a lot of violence, death, and gore. The book made a few sexual content references, but nothing explicit or romantic. The book also had some slight cursing.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 392
Synopsis: Frankie Rosenberg is passionate about the environment, a sophomore at New Sunnydale High School, and the daughter of the most powerful witch in Sunnydale history. Her mom, Willow, is slowly teaching her magic on the condition that she use it to better the world. But Frankie’s happily quiet life is upended when new girl Hailey shows up with news that the annual Slayer convention has been the target of an attack, and all the Slayers—including Buffy, Faith, and Hailey’s older sister Vi—might be dead. That means it’s time for this generation’s Slayer to be born.
But being the first ever Slayer-Witch means learning how to wield a stake while trying to control her budding powers. With the help of Hailey, a werewolf named Jake, and a hot but nerdy sage demon, Frankie must become the Slayer, prevent the Hellmouth from opening again, and find out what happened to her Aunt Buffy, before she’s next.
Get ready for a whole new story within the world of Buffy!
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this book! I was scared going into it in the beginning because I haven’t watched any of the Buffy episodes so I was worried that this would be above my knowledge level of the series, but it wasn’t. The book did well to explain the important bits and it had a few moments where I think inside jokes would be placed. The book was wonderfully well written with well developed characters and the world building was well done as well. I also really loved where the book left off and I’m excited for the second one already!
The only issue I had with the book is that the book had a lot of POV switching and it was confusing to switch into different people suddenly. The book was also fast paced, which I enjoyed for the most part but I really would have liked some slower moments like during battle.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend for Buffy fans!
Book: In Every Generation
Author: Kendare Blake
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Part indigenous character, Lesbian character, Black character, Asian side character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, urban fantasy, paranormal, retelling, Buffy fans
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy Retelling
Recommended Age: 14+ (Violence, Gore, Death, Language, sexual content)
Explanation of CWs: The book had a lot of violence, death, and gore. The book made a few sexual content references, but nothing explicit or romantic. The book also had some slight cursing.
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 392
Synopsis: Frankie Rosenberg is passionate about the environment, a sophomore at New Sunnydale High School, and the daughter of the most powerful witch in Sunnydale history. Her mom, Willow, is slowly teaching her magic on the condition that she use it to better the world. But Frankie’s happily quiet life is upended when new girl Hailey shows up with news that the annual Slayer convention has been the target of an attack, and all the Slayers—including Buffy, Faith, and Hailey’s older sister Vi—might be dead. That means it’s time for this generation’s Slayer to be born.
But being the first ever Slayer-Witch means learning how to wield a stake while trying to control her budding powers. With the help of Hailey, a werewolf named Jake, and a hot but nerdy sage demon, Frankie must become the Slayer, prevent the Hellmouth from opening again, and find out what happened to her Aunt Buffy, before she’s next.
Get ready for a whole new story within the world of Buffy!
Review: For the most part I really enjoyed this book! I was scared going into it in the beginning because I haven’t watched any of the Buffy episodes so I was worried that this would be above my knowledge level of the series, but it wasn’t. The book did well to explain the important bits and it had a few moments where I think inside jokes would be placed. The book was wonderfully well written with well developed characters and the world building was well done as well. I also really loved where the book left off and I’m excited for the second one already!
The only issue I had with the book is that the book had a lot of POV switching and it was confusing to switch into different people suddenly. The book was also fast paced, which I enjoyed for the most part but I really would have liked some slower moments like during battle.
Verdict: It was great! Highly recommend for Buffy fans!
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: When The World Turned Upside Down
Author: K. Ibura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Various races are mentioned, but nothing exact is specifically mentioned. There is one disabled character, a character with depression, and a non-binary character in the book as well.
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, children’s readers, contemporary, realistic fiction
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (COVID, panic attack, parents fighting, depression, animal starving, police brutality, systematic racism, gore)
Explanation of CWs: COVID, police brutality, and systematic racism are discussed and/or shown in the book as they’re the background of the book. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is depression shown in the book. There are a couple of scenes where some parents are shown fighting. There is one scene where an animal is shown starving (but it is alright and saved). There is also one scene with some slight gore.
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 275
Synopsis: Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too? As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community—and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone.
Review: I really loved this book! The book did so well to show the scariness of the beginning of the pandemic but in a kid friendly manner. The book did well to discuss accurate COVID information (a valuable asset in today’s society) and how scary the sickness can look like. The book also went into detail about the BLM protests and what happened with not only George Floyd but numerous other people who lost their lives due to police brutality. The book showed rioting, but informed it in a manner that it is “…the language of the unheard” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and showed police brutality in the midst of even peaceful protests as well. I absolutely adore this book and its brutal honesty because children are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for and they can understand these bigger topics if you just explain it to them in terms they can understand, such as this excellent book does. I thought the book was extremely well written and the characters sounded their age and were developed well. The world building was great as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that the pacing was a bit too fast for me (but it would be perfect for a child I think!) and the book does randomly change POVs throughout the chapters, so it sometimes gets a little confusing to follow who we’re following at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
Book: When The World Turned Upside Down
Author: K. Ibura
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Various races are mentioned, but nothing exact is specifically mentioned. There is one disabled character, a character with depression, and a non-binary character in the book as well.
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, children’s readers, contemporary, realistic fiction
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: MG Contemporary
Recommended Age: 10+ (COVID, panic attack, parents fighting, depression, animal starving, police brutality, systematic racism, gore)
Explanation of CWs: COVID, police brutality, and systematic racism are discussed and/or shown in the book as they’re the background of the book. There is a panic attack shown in the book. There is depression shown in the book. There are a couple of scenes where some parents are shown fighting. There is one scene where an animal is shown starving (but it is alright and saved). There is also one scene with some slight gore.
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pages: 275
Synopsis: Nobody expected a tiny little virus to change the whole world in such a big way, especially not Shayla, Liam, Ai, and Ben. But when school closes to keep everyone safe, their lives turn upside down. It is one thing to learn that the outside world isn’t safe, but why does it seem that the virus is causing trouble inside their homes too? As they each struggle to adjust to life in quarantine, they discover they are not alone: their apartment building is full of people who need their help. Working together, they begin to see that there is power in numbers. When they cooperate, they can ease each other’s challenges and help their neighbors through tough times. It’s a lesson they’ll need when protests explode in the streets. Soon, each friend has to decide what it means to be part of a community—and how much they’re willing to do to make this world safer for everyone.
Review: I really loved this book! The book did so well to show the scariness of the beginning of the pandemic but in a kid friendly manner. The book did well to discuss accurate COVID information (a valuable asset in today’s society) and how scary the sickness can look like. The book also went into detail about the BLM protests and what happened with not only George Floyd but numerous other people who lost their lives due to police brutality. The book showed rioting, but informed it in a manner that it is “…the language of the unheard” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and showed police brutality in the midst of even peaceful protests as well. I absolutely adore this book and its brutal honesty because children are smarter than a lot of people give them credit for and they can understand these bigger topics if you just explain it to them in terms they can understand, such as this excellent book does. I thought the book was extremely well written and the characters sounded their age and were developed well. The world building was great as well.
The only issue I had with the book is that the pacing was a bit too fast for me (but it would be perfect for a child I think!) and the book does randomly change POVs throughout the chapters, so it sometimes gets a little confusing to follow who we’re following at times.
Verdict: I highly recommend this one!
adventurous
emotional
fast-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 e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Tiger Honor
Author: Yoon Ha Lee
Book Series: Thousand Worlds Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Korean Characters, Nonbinary Character mentioned, Deaf Sapphic Characters mentioned
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, sci-fi, Chinese mythology inspired and based
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, abandonment)
Explanation of CWs: There is some violence in this book. There is also some abandonment of family in this book.
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Pages: 247
Synopsis: Sebin, a young tiger spirit from the Juhwang Clan, wants nothing more than to join the Thousand World Space Forces and, like their Uncle Hwan, captain a battle cruiser someday. But when Sebin's acceptance letter finally arrives, it's accompanied by the shocking news that Hwan has been declared a traitor. Apparently, the captain abandoned his duty to steal a magical artifact, the Dragon Pearl, and his whereabouts are still unknown. Sebin hopes to help clear their hero's name and restore honour to the clan.
Nothing goes according to plan, however. As soon as Sebin arrives for orientation, they are met by a special investigator named Yi and his assistant, a girl named Min. Yi informs Sebin that they must immediately report to the ship Haetae and await further instructions. Sebin finds this highly unusual, but soon all protocol is forgotten when there's an explosion on the ship, the crew is knocked out, and the communication system goes down. It's up to Sebin, three other cadets, and Yi and Min to determine who is sabotaging the battlecruiser. When Sebin is suddenly accused of collaborating with the enemy, the cadet realizes that Min is the most dangerous foe of all...
Review: This is a wonderful sequel to Dragon Pearl! I loved seeing Min again and I am excited to see how Sebin will fit into the story. The book is inspired by Chinese mythology and I loved seeing Sebin’s backstory and how his family clan is female led. The book had a great plotline and I loved seeing Sebin’s development. The character development is great. The world building is marvelous. And I can’t wait for the next book!
The only thing I didn’t like is the pacing is a bit too fast in places and I wanted more of Sebin’s inner conflict and the end scene.
Verdict: It’s great! Highly Recommend.
Book: Tiger Honor
Author: Yoon Ha Lee
Book Series: Thousand Worlds Book 2
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Korean Characters, Nonbinary Character mentioned, Deaf Sapphic Characters mentioned
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, sci-fi, Chinese mythology inspired and based
Publication Date: January 4, 2022
Genre: MG Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 10+ (violence, abandonment)
Explanation of CWs: There is some violence in this book. There is also some abandonment of family in this book.
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents
Pages: 247
Synopsis: Sebin, a young tiger spirit from the Juhwang Clan, wants nothing more than to join the Thousand World Space Forces and, like their Uncle Hwan, captain a battle cruiser someday. But when Sebin's acceptance letter finally arrives, it's accompanied by the shocking news that Hwan has been declared a traitor. Apparently, the captain abandoned his duty to steal a magical artifact, the Dragon Pearl, and his whereabouts are still unknown. Sebin hopes to help clear their hero's name and restore honour to the clan.
Nothing goes according to plan, however. As soon as Sebin arrives for orientation, they are met by a special investigator named Yi and his assistant, a girl named Min. Yi informs Sebin that they must immediately report to the ship Haetae and await further instructions. Sebin finds this highly unusual, but soon all protocol is forgotten when there's an explosion on the ship, the crew is knocked out, and the communication system goes down. It's up to Sebin, three other cadets, and Yi and Min to determine who is sabotaging the battlecruiser. When Sebin is suddenly accused of collaborating with the enemy, the cadet realizes that Min is the most dangerous foe of all...
Review: This is a wonderful sequel to Dragon Pearl! I loved seeing Min again and I am excited to see how Sebin will fit into the story. The book is inspired by Chinese mythology and I loved seeing Sebin’s backstory and how his family clan is female led. The book had a great plotline and I loved seeing Sebin’s development. The character development is great. The world building is marvelous. And I can’t wait for the next book!
The only thing I didn’t like is the pacing is a bit too fast in places and I wanted more of Sebin’s inner conflict and the end scene.
Verdict: It’s great! Highly Recommend.
dark
emotional
slow-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 from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Swan Song for My Era
Author: Elsie Swain
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Malaysian/Asian characters, SE Asian queer vitiligo MC, SE Asian queer MC, Sapphic f/f romance
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, ownvoice, romance, SE Asian
Publication Date: April 19, 2021
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 16+ (Body shaming, Bullying, Divorce, Childhood trauma, Homophobia, Grief, Romance, Slight gore, Slight Language)
Explanation of CWs: There is body shaming, homophobia, and bullying in this book. The book touches on divorce and childhood trauma. There is slight gore and some cursing. There is romance in this book and it’s Sapphic friends to lovers. The book shows grief as well.
Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
Pages: 415
Synopsis: What happens when Hope Vale, an aspiring Vitiligo make-up artist who wants to eradicate the market of whitening products meets Spes Zrey, an arrogant Hugo-Boss awardee struggling to shape her Designer dream, as they envision reshaping Asia into the next Fashion empire together?
'Set in Malaysia, this Contemporary Fiction is all about the gruelling ambition against all hurdles of reality to break the confinements of Gender and the stereotypes of preferred white beauty in Asia.
'Set in Malaysia, this Contemporary Fiction is all about the gruelling ambition against all hurdles of reality to break the confinements of Gender and the stereotypes of preferred white beauty in Asia.
Review: For the most part this was an okay book. The book did well to talk about Asian beauty standards and it takes them down. The book is ownvoice and is honestly written. The book has well developed characters and beautifully detailed world building. I also loved the romance and the platonic interactions in this book.
However, this book takes forever to get into. The book is so slow paced and the beginning feels like a crawl instead of a walk. The book finally picked up at 40% but there were a lot of times I wanted to DNF it. The book is also very flowery in its writing and that took a bit for me to work out.
Verdict: It’s great, just hard to get into.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Beyond the Lavender Fields
Author: Arlem Hawks
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, French Revolution, romance
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, sexual content, violence, gore, death, language)
Explanation of CWs: There is romance and some slight sexual content in this book. There was some violence, death, and gore in this book. There is also some slight cursing in this book.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 368
Synopsis: 1792, France
Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.
A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’s efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.
As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together in a world that forces people to choose sides.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. I thought it was a very well done and well researched story about the French Revolution. The book was well written. The book had well described characters and world building. The pacing was also on point. I really liked how realistic this book felt and I’ve become a fan of this author’s work now.
The only issue I really had with this book is that I felt like the plot got a bit away from the author in the middle of the book, but for the most part I enjoyed reading this one.
Verdict: It was well done! Highly recommend.
Book: Beyond the Lavender Fields
Author: Arlem Hawks
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended For...: historical fiction, French Revolution, romance
Publication Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, sexual content, violence, gore, death, language)
Explanation of CWs: There is romance and some slight sexual content in this book. There was some violence, death, and gore in this book. There is also some slight cursing in this book.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 368
Synopsis: 1792, France
Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.
A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’s efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.
As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together in a world that forces people to choose sides.
Review: I really liked this book for the most part. I thought it was a very well done and well researched story about the French Revolution. The book was well written. The book had well described characters and world building. The pacing was also on point. I really liked how realistic this book felt and I’ve become a fan of this author’s work now.
The only issue I really had with this book is that I felt like the plot got a bit away from the author in the middle of the book, but for the most part I enjoyed reading this one.
Verdict: It was well done! Highly recommend.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Monster Within
Author: Daniel Charles
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy
Publication Date: August 30, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Explanation of CWs: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 242
Synopsis: There is something dark and disturbing about the town of Fowlrenberg. Through the woods, down the streets, and shut behind the door of the only house near the woods lives a terrible monster that plagues the people of Fowlrenberg. People tend to go missing in Fowlrenberg, but no one knows why. The Werewolf of Fowlrenberg fiercely hunts under the moonlight, bringing it's victims back to the crumbly old house that would be their final resting place. It is then up to Row and his friends to save his older brother, Landry and friends, as they get caught up in a terrible night of chaos. Coming face to face with the Werewolf, can Row and his friends end years of terror?
Review: I had to DNF this one at 50 pages. The book sounds interesting, but I wasn’t able to get into it much and it’s just not for me.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
Book: The Monster Within
Author: Daniel Charles
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: fantasy
Publication Date: August 30, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Explanation of CWs: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 242
Synopsis: There is something dark and disturbing about the town of Fowlrenberg. Through the woods, down the streets, and shut behind the door of the only house near the woods lives a terrible monster that plagues the people of Fowlrenberg. People tend to go missing in Fowlrenberg, but no one knows why. The Werewolf of Fowlrenberg fiercely hunts under the moonlight, bringing it's victims back to the crumbly old house that would be their final resting place. It is then up to Row and his friends to save his older brother, Landry and friends, as they get caught up in a terrible night of chaos. Coming face to face with the Werewolf, can Row and his friends end years of terror?
Review: I had to DNF this one at 50 pages. The book sounds interesting, but I wasn’t able to get into it much and it’s just not for me.
Verdict: Not for me but maybe for you!
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Vanish Me
Author: Lee Matthew Goldberg
Book Series: Runaway Train Book 3
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Lesbian MC, gay and asexual characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, 90s themed, book series
Publication Date: February 10, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (depression, postpartum depression, pregnancy, bipolar, running away)
Explanation of CWs: Different mental health issues are discussed and shown, like depression, bipolar, and postpartum. Pregnancy is mentioned and shown. There is some running away as well.
Publisher: Wise Wolf Books
Pages: 251
Synopsis: When former singer Nico Sullivan goes missing, her estranged daughter, Love, finds her mom’s old diary. Using each entry as a clue to her mother’s whereabouts, Love takes a trip to L.A. with her best friends Frankie and Caden where she discovers that her feelings for Frankie may run deeper than she’s willing to let on.
While diving deeper into her mother’s old life, Love struggles with her own social insecurities and abandonment issues. But as she’s searching for lost parts of herself, Love also discovers something unexpected—a deep-rooted and shared love of 90s grunge music with that of her missing mother.
At turns heartbreaking, inspiring and mysterious, Vanish Me is a portrait of a teenage girl desperate to find herself among the cracks her mother left behind.
Review: For the most part I loved this book more than the other two. The book did well to show themes of friendship and family. I loved the self discovery into the main character’s sexuality. And I loved the ending as well. The characters were well done. The world building was well done as well and the pacing was on point.
The only issue I really had is that I wish the book had more to it and with the mystery in it.
Verdict: It was great!
Book: Vanish Me
Author: Lee Matthew Goldberg
Book Series: Runaway Train Book 3
Rating: 4.5/5
Diversity: Lesbian MC, gay and asexual characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, 90s themed, book series
Publication Date: February 10, 2022
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (depression, postpartum depression, pregnancy, bipolar, running away)
Explanation of CWs: Different mental health issues are discussed and shown, like depression, bipolar, and postpartum. Pregnancy is mentioned and shown. There is some running away as well.
Publisher: Wise Wolf Books
Pages: 251
Synopsis: When former singer Nico Sullivan goes missing, her estranged daughter, Love, finds her mom’s old diary. Using each entry as a clue to her mother’s whereabouts, Love takes a trip to L.A. with her best friends Frankie and Caden where she discovers that her feelings for Frankie may run deeper than she’s willing to let on.
While diving deeper into her mother’s old life, Love struggles with her own social insecurities and abandonment issues. But as she’s searching for lost parts of herself, Love also discovers something unexpected—a deep-rooted and shared love of 90s grunge music with that of her missing mother.
At turns heartbreaking, inspiring and mysterious, Vanish Me is a portrait of a teenage girl desperate to find herself among the cracks her mother left behind.
Review: For the most part I loved this book more than the other two. The book did well to show themes of friendship and family. I loved the self discovery into the main character’s sexuality. And I loved the ending as well. The characters were well done. The world building was well done as well and the pacing was on point.
The only issue I really had is that I wish the book had more to it and with the mystery in it.
Verdict: It was great!
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Legend of the Dream Giants
Author: Dustin Hansen
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, children, fantasy
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age: 11+ (scary moments, grief, death, violence)
Explanation of CWs: There are some scary moments that might not be appropriate for some young readers. Themes of grief and death are explored. There is also some slight violence.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 240
Synopsis: When he was very young, Berg’s mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother’s satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He’s really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold—a giant and a monster. Whoever this Ünhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn’t run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says Ünhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching Ünhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn’t safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
The story follows Berg on his journey and is told through text and graphic novel-style illustrations of beautiful dream sequences that reveal Berg’s hopes and memories. Berg’s mother appears to him in his dreams as a white bear, patient, nurturing and protective, and he sees himself as a little bear cub. Berg is often unsure what exactly the dreams mean, but sometimes they describe things which are about to happen or give him answers to problems he is facing.
This tender and unique story-within-a-story is a riveting tale of loss, longing, adventure, being yourself, and finding the true meaning of friendship.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. It did good to set up some themes of grief and death, but also kindness and courage. The book is gorgeous with beautiful illustrations and great character development. The book also has a fairytale feel to it.
However, the book is very sad. It’s a really upsetting story and I don’t think it would be appropriate for some children like how I don’t think that The Giving Tree is appropriate for some children as well. Some of the themes are great, and maybe if you are trying to prepare the child for grief and death it would be good, but this probably wouldn’t be a book you should pick out for a bedtime story. However, you know your children better than I do so please read the book and decide how it would be best for your children.
Verdict: It was ok.
Book: The Legend of the Dream Giants
Author: Dustin Hansen
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: middle grade, children, fantasy
Publication Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended Age: 11+ (scary moments, grief, death, violence)
Explanation of CWs: There are some scary moments that might not be appropriate for some young readers. Themes of grief and death are explored. There is also some slight violence.
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 240
Synopsis: When he was very young, Berg’s mother hid him in a cave and led an angry mob of villagers away, sacrificing her own life to protect her son. In all the years since, Berg has lived alone, the only reminders of his family are his mother’s satchel and his recurring dreams of a white bear who shares a magical sand from a fallen star. When the white bear touches Berg with the star-blue sand, he feels safe and happy in his dreams. Sometimes, when he feels lonely, he will risk entering a village to trade a smooth river rock or a feather for food. He’s really searching for kindness, companionship, and, maybe one day, someone who will want to get to know him and be his friend. But with every attempt he makes, people only see his massive size and cruelly chase him away, thinking he is Ünhold—a giant and a monster. Whoever this Ünhold is, Berg also fears him and hopes they never meet.
In his travels, Berg comes upon a new town, a city made of iron where blacksmiths construct all kinds of ironworks from gates to sculptures to chains and weapons. Berg meets a little girl, Anya, who doesn’t run and scream in fear like everyone else does. To his amazement and delight, Anya knows about the dream-sand and says she wants to be his friend.
The mayor convinces the villagers of the benefit of having a giant around who can protect their city from the dangers he says Ünhold has in store for them. Anya has learned about the dream-sand from secretly watching Ünhold use it to trade for food and trinkets, and she suspects the mayor is planning something different than what he says. Fearing the city isn’t safe for Berg, she warns her giant friend to flee. When a secret plot is revealed to capture Berg, the young giant has to figure out where he can place his trust.
The story follows Berg on his journey and is told through text and graphic novel-style illustrations of beautiful dream sequences that reveal Berg’s hopes and memories. Berg’s mother appears to him in his dreams as a white bear, patient, nurturing and protective, and he sees himself as a little bear cub. Berg is often unsure what exactly the dreams mean, but sometimes they describe things which are about to happen or give him answers to problems he is facing.
This tender and unique story-within-a-story is a riveting tale of loss, longing, adventure, being yourself, and finding the true meaning of friendship.
Review: For the most part this book was ok. It did good to set up some themes of grief and death, but also kindness and courage. The book is gorgeous with beautiful illustrations and great character development. The book also has a fairytale feel to it.
However, the book is very sad. It’s a really upsetting story and I don’t think it would be appropriate for some children like how I don’t think that The Giving Tree is appropriate for some children as well. Some of the themes are great, and maybe if you are trying to prepare the child for grief and death it would be good, but this probably wouldn’t be a book you should pick out for a bedtime story. However, you know your children better than I do so please read the book and decide how it would be best for your children.
Verdict: It was ok.