Tuesday, December 31, 2019

They Called Me The Feather-Crowned Queen

Crown of Feathers
~Crown of Feathers~
Book 1
By Nicki Pau Preto
Amazon ~ Powell's

I had a sister, once…

In a world ruled by fierce warrior queens, a grand empire was built upon the backs of Phoenix Riders—legendary heroes who soared through the sky on wings of fire—until a war between two sisters ripped it all apart.

I promised her the throne would not come between us.

Sixteen years later, Veronyka is a war orphan who dreams of becoming a Phoenix Rider from the stories of old. After a shocking betrayal from her controlling sister, Veronyka strikes out alone to find the Riders—even if that means disguising herself as a boy to join their ranks.

But it is a fact of life that one must kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

Just as Veronyka finally feels like she belongs, her sister turns up and reveals a tangled web of lies between them that will change everything. And meanwhile, the new empire has learned of the Riders’ return and intends to destroy them once and for all.

Sometimes the title of queen is given. Sometimes it must be taken.

Crown of Feathers is an epic fantasy about love’s incredible power to save—or to destroy. Interspersed throughout is the story of Avalkyra Ashfire, the last Rider queen, who would rather see her empire burn than fall into her sister’s hands.

I read this through the RivetedLit (Simon Teen) 25 Reads of December, 2019. They grant free access to one book each day in December (up to Dec 25), but I've found that so long as you bookmark/open the book on the featured day, you can continue accessing it on that device afterwards... Don't know how long it'll last, but I have access to this one nearly a whole month past the free date.

Anyway, since I thought I was on a time-crunch, I jumped straight in without seeing much past the cover. And, let's just say, I did not expect a lot of what I got here.

Monday, December 23, 2019

Only Absolute Misfits Would Think Up Such an Outrageous Scheme

The Magic Misfits
~The Magic Misfits~
Book 1
Written by Neil Patrick Harris
Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hinton
Amazon ~ Powell's

When street magician Carter runs away, he never expects to find friends and magic in a sleepy New England town. But like any good trick, things change instantly as greedy B.B. Bosso and his crew of crooked carnies arrive to steal anything and everything they can get their sticky fingers on.

After a fateful encounter with the local purveyor of illusion, Dante Vernon, Carter teams up with five other like-minded illusionists. Together, using both teamwork and magic, they'll set out to save the town of Mineral Wells from Bosso's villainous clutches. These six Magic Misfits will soon discover adventure, friendship, and their own self-worth in this delightful new series.


A great read filled with awe, humor, and (most importantly) magic. If one isn't familiar with the author (where have you been? under a rock?), this will no doubt endear them to his charm and talents. As Neil is very outspoken of his love of magic, music, and his non-nuclear family, it was great seeing small (and not so small) winks and nods to various passions of his.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Welcome To Artemis

Artemis
~Artemis~
By Andy Weir
Amazon ~ Powell's

Jazz Bashara is a criminal.

Well, sort of. Life on Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you're not a rich tourist or an eccentric billionaire. So smuggling in the occasional harmless bit of contraband barely counts, right? Not when you've got debts to pay and your job as a porter barely covers the rent.

Everything changes when Jazz sees the chance to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But pulling off the impossible is just the start of her problems, as she learns that she's stepped square into a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself—and that now, her only chance at survival lies in a gambit even riskier than the first.



Having not read Weir's previous book, The Martian, I didn't know what to expect. Would it be too science-y to get into? Would I get lost in too much detail? I heard it was about "a heist on the moon" but would it be enough to keep me engaged? Well...yes.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

I Think My Feelings Are Warranted

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books in the Shatter Me series, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT
Defy Me
~Reveal Me~
Shatter Me
Book 5.5

By Tahereh Mafi
Amazon ~ Powell's

This fourth companion novella to Tahereh Mafi’s New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series is narrated by fan favorite character Kenji Kishimoto!

The explosive revelations in Defy Me have left readers reeling and desperate for answers. This fourth and final novella in the series will bring readers back to the world of the Shatter Me before the final novel installment hits shelves in winter 2020.


Another fun(?) romp with Kenji. While the events of these novellas could easily encompass a chapter or two in the main stories, I've loved getting to know Kenji more intimately. Picking up exactly where we left off, Kenji is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. We knew he did that to some extent, but it's different when we're directly in his head. I legitimately felt bad for him during his anxiety attacks.

His super weird romance with Nazeera was also super sweet. Even if they're going through kind of a rough patch in this story. You don't really think about how someone's upbringing could shape them until it's thrown in your face, and then it's all you can think about. I really do love how the author shows kids being kids, drama and all, even in the middle of a war. It's one of the reasons I vastly prefer Shatter Me to The Hunger Games.

I'll definitely be reading this again in my lead-up to the final(?) book of the series coming next year. I just hope we finally stop with the heart-wrenching, mind-bending cliffhangers!

Monday, December 9, 2019

Out of the Underworld and Back to Life

Heir to the Underworld

Feisty Frederica Fitzgerald is just one day shy of her sweet sixteen when she’s nearly run over by a tall, dark dreamboat on a big black horse. Freddy can deal with the running over part—no harm done. The problem is the rider, Mr. Sex Bomb himself: Polydegmon, son of Hades and heir to the Greek Underworld.

Freddy’s hooked on Polydegmon from the start (although dude, togas went out of style several thousand years ago), being near him is enough to make her tingle down to her toes. He’s got secrets he isn’t sharing, though, and trouble follows him closer than his own shadow: rabid dogs running around the suburbs, insane crows stalking Freddy and, worst of all, the feral fairies of the Wild Hunt trolling her hometown for their next bit of human game.

The closer Freddy gets to Deg, the weirder her life becomes, until Freddy discovers something about her own past that changes everything she ever thought she knew about herself. And her world…


This wasn't the book for me.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

One Who Bears the Mark

Mark of the Dragon Queen

Kira has led a sheltered life, brought up by her widowed father, whom she adores. When he is arrested and imprisoned for a murder he allegedly committed 18 years before, she is devastated. So when she overhears an ex-student of her father's planning to visit the prison, Kira decides to go, too. However, the student - Arun - is not who she thinks he is, and she soon learns that her father has not always been the man of integrity she has known for fifteen years.

Caught in a rebellion against the Lord High Councillor who would return the country to Wizard Rule, Kira finds that there is one more lesson she has to learn - about herself. Success depends on her, but is she willing to make the sacrifice it will require?



I don't know if it's the time this book was written, but I found it hearkening back to books I read in middle school, both in tone and in character. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's a far cry from what typical YA is like these days.

Monday, December 2, 2019

A Never-Ending Cycle of Reunion, Romance, and Tragedy

Class Action
~Spellbound~
Book 1
By Cara Lynn Shultz
Amazon ~ Powell's

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.



This book found me under the worst circumstances possible. Having just finished Laini Taylor's Strange the Dreamer, I was desperate for something as magical as that. This was not the book I needed.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

More Gods, More Chaos

The Chaos of Stars

Isadora's family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, when you're the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that comes with the territory.

Isadora's sick of living a life where she's only worthy of a passing glance, and when she's offered the chance to move thousands of miles away, she jumps on it. But as much as Isadora tries to keep her new world and old world apart, she quickly realizes there's no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family.



A nice decompress from the super serious books I've been reading. The Chaos of Stars centers around Isadora, the mortal daughter of Egyptian Gods with a bad case of existential nihilism (aka life doesn't matter because it isn't eternal). So she's got quite the chip on her shoulder when it comes to other things that don't last forever, like love. Not only was her issue believable and justified from her background, but her growth was equally so. You could say she's a 'typical snarky teen', and yeah I do have a soft spot for those characters, but she's also motivated, afraid, and confused, which makes her all the more real, despite her fantastical upbringing.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Airborne, Nothing Frightened Me

Airborn
~Airborn~
Matt Cruse
Book 1

By Kenneth Oppel
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sailing toward dawn, and I was perched atop the crow's nest, being the ship's eyes. We were two nights out of Sydney, and there'd been no weather to speak of so far. I was keeping watch on a dark stack of nimbus clouds off to the northwest, but we were leaving it far behind, and it looked to be smooth going all the way back to Lionsgate City. Like riding a cloud. . . .

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt's always wanted; convinced he's lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies. It is only after Matt meets the balloonist's granddaughter that he realizes that the man's ravings may, in fact, have been true, and that the creatures are completely real and utterly mysterious.

A very fun read. Taking place in an alternate reality where blimp-like airships rule the skies instead of airplanes, it read much like a high-seas adventure with pirates, shipwrecks, and dangerous island encounters. I'd call it steampunk, but besides a different form of air transportation, there wasn't anything steamy or punkish about it. If anything, it reminded me most of Airman by Eoin Colfer mixed with Treasure Island.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

It’s Time To Tie Up Loose Ends

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Virals, Seizure, Code, and Exposure, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Terminal
~Terminal~
Virals
Book 5

By Kathy & Brendan Reichs
Amazon ~ Powell's

The Virals are back—but they’re not the only pack in town anymore. Terminal finds Tory Brennan—grandniece of the famous forensic anthropologist (star of the hit show Bones)—and the rest of the Morris Island gang tracking a pack of rogue Virals who call themselves the Trinity. The new pack was infected by a strain of supervirus created by Tory’s nemesis and sometimes-crush, Chance Clayborne, who accidentally infected himself, too.

These red-eyed Virals have openly challenged Tory’s pack for domination of Charleston, bringing on the attention of a shadowy government organization intent on learning the secret to their powers. Surviving it all is going to test the limits of the gang’s abilities.



I couldn't have asked for a better ending to a great series.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Gamble Everything? Risk Exposure?

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Virals, Seizure, and Code, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Exposure
~Exposure~
Virals
Book 4

By Kathy & Brendan Reichs
Amazon ~ Powell's

Morris Island has barely had a chance to return to normality after the high profile trial of the Gamemaster, when two local students seem to vanish into thin air.

Tory Brennan and the Virals pack move quickly in their attempts to discover what has happened to their twin classmates. But the pack's canine powers are growing wilder, and it is becoming ever harder to conceal the secret which protects them.

When Tory and her friends find evidence of blood in the students' basement, they realize that the disappearance is no game.

But in order to save the twins, the Virals must risk the exposure of their powers, and in doing so put even their own lives in terrible danger.



I could not stop reading this book - it was sooo much better. The tug-of-war with boys wasn't nearly as bad! Tory wasn't a controlling/manipulative bitch! All other women were not considered stupid or shallow! Issues were finally talked through! I learned something!

Thursday, November 14, 2019

We’d Opened a Puzzle Box and Cracked a Coded Message

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Virals & Seizure, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Code
~Code~
Virals
Book 3

By Kathy & Brendan Reichs
Amazon ~ Powell's

The Virals are put to the ultimate test when they find a geocache containing an ornate puzzle box. Shelton decodes the cipher inside, only to find more tantalizing clues left by "The Gamemaster." A second, greater geocache is within reach—if the Virals are up to the challenge.

But the hunt takes a dark turn when Tory locates the other box—a fake bomb, along with a sinister proposal from The Gamemaster. Now, the real game has begun: another bomb is out there—a real one—and the clock is ticking.



Maybe I'm getting too old for these, but I wasn't nearly as sympathetic to Tory in this book as I have been previously. I like Tory, and I get that she has a lot of drama and stress on her shoulders, but her relationships are getting awfully manipulative.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Seizing The Opportunity

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Virals, or don't mind knowing spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT

Seizure
~Seizure~
Virals
Book 2

By Kathy & Brendan Reichs
Amazon ~ Powell's

Lost treasure. Perilous adventures. Deadly foes.

Tory and her friends are just starting to get a handle on their super-heightened wolf-like capabilities—contracted during a medical experiment gone horribly wrong—when they find out funding is being pulled from the institute where their parents work. The pack now faces its greatest fear—separation. So when Tory stumbles across ancient lore hinting at a lost pirate treasure, the Virals devise a risky plan that pits them against fiendish traps, headless corpses, and deep underground tunnels. But they're not the only ones looking, and the competition could be lethal. They'll need to work as one mystery-solving canine force if they to hope to uncover the lost fortune, save the institute, and stick together!



Goonies with mutants. Ok, definitely more complex than that, but you get the gist.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

It's Part of the Game When You're an Inquiry Agent

The Inquiry Agent
~The Inquiry Agent~
By William King
Amazon

London 1841: a city on the edge. Corruption is everywhere. The poor are starving in the streets. The wealthy fear an explosion of anarchy and insurrection.

Amidst the turmoil, a wealthy merchant and his spoiled, beautiful ward hire former Bow Street Runner Jack Brodie to recover incriminating documents from the lawless rogues that robbed them. It is no easy task even for a man with Brodie's criminal connections because an old and vicious enemy has returned from the penal colony of New South Wales seeking vengeance for the slaying of his brother. As Brodie hunts through the thieves dens hidden in the rookeries of Dickensian London, it is only a matter of time before their paths cross and murderous violence ensues.



Got this free on Amazon ages ago. Looking for stand-alone books to serve me in the middle of other series, I finally got around to reading it.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Maybe Love IS a Disease

SPOILER ALERT
These reviews are for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Delirium and Pandemonium, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Requiem
~Requiem~
Delirium
Book 3

By Lauren Oliver
Amazon ~ Powell's

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has transformed. The nascent rebellion that was underway in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight. After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven. Pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels.

As Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain of the Wilds, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancée of the young mayor. Requiem is told from both Lena and Hana's points of view. They live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.



I think this was a greatly satisfying end to this series. Most of the major events happened at the end, so I can't go into too much detail, however I just want to say a couple things I didn't understand.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Stained Everywhere With Love

SPOILER ALERT
These reviews are for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Delirium and Pandemonium, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Annabel
~Annabel~
Delirium
Book 0.5

By Lauren Oliver
Amazon ~ Powell's

Lena Halloway's mother, Annabel, supposedly committed suicide when Lena was only six years old. That's the lie that Lena grew up believing, but the truth is very different. As a rebellious teenager, Annabel ran away from home and straight into the man she knew she was destined to marry. The world was different then—the regulations not as stringent, the cure only a decade old. Fast forward to the present, and Annabel is consigned to a dirty prison cell, where she nurtures her hope of escape and scratches one word over and over into the walls: Love.

But Annabel, like Lena, is a fighter. Through chapters that alternate between her past and present, Annabel reveals the story behind her failed cures, her marriage, the births of her children, her imprisonment, and, ultimately, her daring escape.



An interesting look into Lena's mother's past and time in the Crypts.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Love, the Deadliest of All Deadly Things

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Delirium, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT

Pandemonium
~Pandemonium~
Delirium
Book 2

By Lauren Oliver
Amazon ~ Powell's

The old life is dead. But the old Lena is dead too. I buried her. I left her beyond a fence, behind a wall of smoke and flame. In this electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller Delirium, Lauren Oliver sets Lena on a dangerous course that hurtles through the unregulated Wilds and into the heart of a growing resistance movement. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.


It's been a while since I read the first book, but why leave a good series unfinished?

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Brothers Again—Once and for Always

Hope Rides Again
~Hope Rides Again~
Obama Biden Mysteries
Book 2

By Andrew Shaffer
Amazon ~ Powell's

Following a successful but exhausting book tour, Joe Biden is looking forward to returning home. However, before he does, he's got one last stop to make: Chicago, where the Obama Foundation is holding its first annual global economics forum. Barack Obama has invited Joe to meet a wealthy left-leaning philanthropist, whose deep pockets Joe will need if he decides to run for president. Joe isn't even sure if wants to run...but he's not going to pass up a rare chance to reconnect with his one-time governing mate.

Joe and Obama barely have time to catch up before another mystery lands in their laps: Obama's prized Blackberry is stolen. When the suspect turns up comatose from a gunshot wound, local police are content with writing it off as just another gangland shooting. But Joe and Obama smell a rat.

In a race to find the shooter, Joe and Obama butt heads with their former compadre, Mayor Rahm Emanuel; follow a trail of clues through Chicago's South Side; go undercover inside a Prohibition-era speakeasy; and scale the Tribune Tower in a Die Hard-worthy final set-piece.

Robert Frost said "the woods are dreary, dark, and deep." So are the waters of Lake Michigan...and if Joe and Obama aren't careful, that's where they could wind up spending their retirement.


I don't know if the author got my memo from the last book, but this time around there's a lot more camp. Maybe it's because Obama's in more of the story this time? Can't go wrong with more bromance.

Monday, October 21, 2019

He Gave Me the Devil’s Own Smile

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Red-Headed Stepchild, The Mage In Black, and Green-Eyed Demon, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Silver-Tongued Devil
~Silver-Tongued Devil~
Sabina Kane
Book 4

By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Now that the threat of war has passed, Sabina Kane is ready to focus on the future. Her relationship with Adam Lazarus is getting stronger and she's helping her sister, Maisie, overcome the trauma of her captivity in New Orleans. Even Giguhl is managing to stay out of trouble thanks to the arrival of Pussy Willow and his new roller derby team. But as much as Sabina wants to feel hopeful about the future, part of her doesn't believe that peace is possible.

Her suspicions are confirmed when a string of sadistic murders threatens to stall treaty negotiations between the mages and the vampires. Sabina pitches in to find the killer, but her investigation soon leads her down dark paths that have her questioning everyone she thought she could trust. And the closer she gets to the killer, the more Sabina begins to suspect this is one foe she may not be able to kill.



It's been a while since I was last in Sabina's world, but it took no time at all to ease myself back into their story and get hooked again.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Getting a Green Light from the Universe

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Red-Headed Stepchild & The Mage In Black, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Green-Eyed Demon
~Green-Eyed Demon~
Sabina Kane
Book 3

By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Things to do:

1. Rescue sister.
2. Murder grandmother.
3. Don't upset the voodoo priestess.

The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. Her sister has been kidnapped by her grandmother, the Dark Races are on the brink of war, and a mysterious order is manipulating everyone behind the scenes.

Working on information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks--a sexy mage named Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, a Mischief demon--head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and - perhaps most frightening of all - humans.

But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won't be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about most, she must save herself from the ghosts of her past.



I had a feeling I'd get to add a LGBT tag to one of these, and I was finally right! Absolutely LOVED Brooks as soon as he came on page. While arguably not a main character, Brooks and Giguhl's interactions were gold, and with my own sibling in a similar situation, I'm happy to add the tag. It didn't feel tacked on at all, as Brooks did play a major part in the story, and his history was nicely fleshed out. Overall, I wish Brooks could continue in the series...

Monday, October 14, 2019

Black With the Shadow of Fear

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Red-Headed Stepchild, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT

The Mage in Black
~The Mage in Black~
Sabina Kane
Book 2

By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, the leader of the vampire race, just tried to kill her. When she arrives in New York to meet the mage side of her family, the reunion takes the fun out of dysfunctional.

On top of that, the Hekate Council wants to use her as a pawn in the brewing war against the vampires. Her mission will take her into the bowels of New York's Black Light district, entangles her in mage politics, and challenges her beliefs about the race she was raised to distrust. And Sabina thought
vampires were bloodthirsty.


A nice, quick read following a tortuous series of ugh. You know, it's nice to be reading a book and actually enjoy what's going on. And it's another plus when the % complete ticker actually moves up at a decent pace. It took me 5 days to read this book, whereas the last took 5 months. And that book was YA!

Thursday, October 10, 2019

All Vampires Have Red Hair

Red-Headed Stepchild
~Red-Headed Stepchild~
Sabina Kane
Book 1

By Jaye Wells
Amazon ~ Powell's

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.



You know, I'd forgotten what it was like just to read something without analyzing it. I really didn't have to think about much of anything, just go with the flow. But then, kick-ass female protagonists in paranormal romance are kind of my fluff genre.

Monday, October 7, 2019

No More October Left to Play

October Girls

Momma warned her not to consort with the dead and tried to teach her the magic spells that would close the portal to the afterlife. But Crystal doesn’t want to be a trailer-trash witch like Momma. She has dreams of going to community college and escaping the Appalachian town of Parson’s Ford.

Her best friend Bone is only too happy to escape the afterlife and help Crystal break the rules. Bone died too young, and she’ll do whatever it takes to remain among the living.

Then a teen movie maker comes to Parson’s Ford, and he has a very special project in mind: a horror movie starring a real ghost. The kids who watch his movies turn into brainwashed zombies. And to totally complicate matters, Crystal thinks he’s kind of a hunk, and she’s afraid her boyfriend Pettigrew only loves her because of Momma’s magic spells.

Now it’s Halloween, the night when the portal to the afterlife is widest, and somebody’s been messing with Momma’s potions. The fate of the world is in Crystal’s hands, but she hasn’t been paying attention to her lessons. And a mysterious figure in the afterlife is urging Bone to stay loyal to her own kind instead of to Crystal.

The movie is rolling, the creatures are stirring, and the brainwashed teenagers are ready to welcome a new star from the other side of the grave.

Crystal and Bone must overcome drama queens, coffin cuties, and mangled magic if they want to remain best friends forever—but at this rate, forever may not last much longer.


While this claims to be the first of a series, there haven't been any installments in 8 years, so I'd consider it abandoned. And I can't say I blame it.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

It Comes Out of Nowhere and Just Hits You

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal
~Struck By Lightning~
The Carson Phillips Journal
By Chris Colfer
Amazon ~ Powell's

Struck By Lightning: The Carson Phillips Journal follows the story of outcast high school senior Carson Phillips, who blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application; his goal in life is to get into Northwestern and eventually become the editor of The New Yorker.

At once laugh-out-loud funny, deliciously dark, and remarkably smart, Struck By Lightning unearths the dirt that lies just below the surface of high school. At a time when bullying torments so many young people today, this unique and important novel sheds light with humor and wit on an issue that deeply resonates with countless teens and readers.



I'm still kinda in shock over the ending...not quite the resolution I was expecting...

Monday, September 30, 2019

Suffer the Fate, For All Else is Delusion

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Carve the Mark, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT
The Fates Divide
~The Fates Divide~
Carve the Mark
Book 2

By Veronica Roth
Amazon ~ Powell's

Fate brought them together. Now it will divide them.

The lives of Cyra Noavek and Akos Kereseth are ruled by their fates, spoken by the oracles at their births. The fates, once determined, are inescapable.

Akos is in love with Cyra, in spite of his fate: He will die in service to Cyra’s family. And when Cyra’s father, Lazmet Noavek—a soulless tyrant, thought to be dead—reclaims the Shotet throne, Akos believes his end is closer than ever.

As Lazmet ignites a barbaric war, Cyra and Akos are desperate to stop him at any cost. For Cyra, that could mean taking the life of the man who may—or may not—be her father. For Akos, it could mean giving his own. In a stunning twist, the two will discover how fate defines their lives in ways most unexpected.



It's refreshing to finish a series before you were necessarily expecting it, yet not feel cut off in the least.

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Holding on to Each Other in a Very Large Expanse of Sea

A Very Large Expanse of Sea

It’s 2002, a year after 9/11. It’s an extremely turbulent time politically, but especially so for someone like Shirin, a sixteen-year-old Muslim girl who’s tired of being stereotyped.

Shirin is never surprised by how horrible people can be. She’s tired of the rude stares, the degrading comments—even the physical violence—she endures as a result of her race, her religion, and the hijab she wears every day. So she’s built up protective walls and refuses to let anyone close enough to hurt her. Instead, she drowns her frustrations in music and spends her afternoons break-dancing with her brother.

But then she meets Ocean James. He’s the first person in forever who really seems to want to get to know Shirin. It terrifies her—they seem to come from two irreconcilable worlds—and Shirin has had her guard up for so long that she’s not sure she’ll ever be able to let it down.



This book is set in 2002, but was published in 2018. I'm making assumptions here, but something tells me it wasn't just the author's schedule that kept this story from releasing sooner, and that can tell you a lot about the state of this country. Plus, it's Banned Books Week, which should also tell you a lot about the state of our country...

Monday, September 23, 2019

Lines of Kill Marks From Wrist to Shoulder

Carve the Mark
~Carve the Mark~
Book 1
By Veronica Roth
Amazon ~ Powell's

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.
The Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?



A fantastic opening to what is sure to be a great series/duet. The characters were strong, complex, and intriguing. The worlds were diverse and nuanced. The plot was twisty and enthralling. There were multiple times I thought we'd reached a perfect cutoff point / cliffhanger to lead into the sequel, only to have half the book still to go. I don't know whether that speaks more to the length and depth of the story, or to my lowered expectations involving YA romance series.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Hidden From Hunters and the Pride Alike

Hidden
~Hidden~
Firelight
Book 3

By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....



A meh finish to a meh series. Besides not liking the characters much, I didn't find the trilogy led them anywhere. Jacinda didn't seem any different at the end than when she began, other than being able to make decisions because shitty people weren't in charge anymore. Will never changed. Cassian's only change came in accepting that he wasn't irresistible to Jacinda, and Tamra only changed physically and situationally. Things happened in the series, but nothing changed in the characters, just to the characters.

Monday, September 16, 2019

The Shader of Our Pride

Vanish
~Vanish~
Firelight
Book 2

By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?



Though not as infuriating as the first book, I still wasn't thrilled with the characters, especially Jacinda. I guess I'm not big on the cult-ish pride the draki live in either. Everybody keeps talking about how there are big things planned, but that usually just means making babies. Yes, they're still on about forced child bearing being normal. Ugh. But I will go on the record as being team Cassian. He seems like they only one with any conscience, logic and real feelings in the entire town. Of course, I'm also for him getting with Tamra, since I can't stand Jacinda.

Long story short, this book doesn't have the main character improving, just being in a terrible place so we can feel sorry for her. It's what I call the Gone With The Wind Effect.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

View all my reviews

Thursday, September 12, 2019

The Pride's Precious Fire-Breather

Firelight
~Firelight~
Firelight
Book 1

By Sophie Jordan
Amazon ~ Powell's

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a drakia descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will’s dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She’ll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy. Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.



Maybe I'm getting too old. Maybe this book is too old compared to the current climate of strong females in YA lit. Maybe I shouldn't read this type of stuff after coming off of a long run of books featuring literal heroines. But...

Monday, September 9, 2019

Of Vampires And Humans

Team Human
~Team Human~
By Justine Larbalestier
& Sarah Rees Brennan

Amazon ~ Powell's

Mel is horrified when Francis Duvarney, arrogant, gorgeous, and undead, starts at her high school. Mel’s best friend, Cathy, immediately falls for the vampire. Cathy is determined to be with him forever, even if having him turn her could inadvertently make her a zombie.

And Mel is equally determined to prove to her BFF that Francis is no good, braving the city’s vampire district and kissing a cute boy raised by vampires as she searches evidence in this touching and comic novel.



You know the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, this one definitely fits that. If you thought you were getting a dark, edgy, super serious book about humans fighting vampires in a dystopian world, or something like that, yeah not so much. The title works fine, but that cover art is way out of line with the tone of the actual story.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Whichwood Was a Distinctly Magical Village

Whichwood
~Whichwood~
Furthermore
Book 2

By Tahereh Mafi
Amazon ~ Powell's

Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair, and her own ever-increasing loneliness and fear.

But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appears, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.



This book is REALLY dark. Like, darker than even I (at 30) was comfortable with at times.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Homework Is Unconstitutional

Class Action
~Class Action~
By Steven B. Frank
Amazon ~ Powell's

NO. MORE. HOMEWORK.

That’s what sixth grader Sam Warren tells his teacher while standing on top of his desk. He's fed up with doing endless tasks from the time he gets home to the time he goes to sleep. Suspended for his protest, Sam decides to fight back. He recruits his elderly neighbor/retired attorney Mr. Kalman to help him file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all students in Los Angeles. Their argument? Homework is unconstitutional.

With a ragtag team—aspiring masterchef Alistair, numbers gal Catalina, sports whiz Jaesang, rebel big sister Sadie and her tech-savvy boyfriend Sean—Sam takes his case to federal court. He learns about the justice system, kids’ rights, and constitutional law. And he learns that no matter how many times you get knocked down, there's always an appeal...until the nine justices have the last say.

Will Sam's quest end in an epic fail, or will he be the hero who saves childhood for all time?


Just in time for school to start again!

A fun and thought provoking story. I personally don't remember much about my homework in school. I remember having it, but quantifying how much I had...I don't think it was as much as these kids have. Considering I had enough time for band and family and tv and books, I either didn't have much or got enough done in class to offset it. Granted, there was never enough time for sleep, and I doubt that will change any time soon.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Furthermore is Very Hungry for Magic

Furthermore
~Furthermore~
Furthermore
Book 1

By Tahereh Mafi
Amazon ~ Powell's

Twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow has only three things in the world that matter: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; triplet brothers, who never knew her; and Father, who always loved her.

The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him, so some said he’d gone to measure the sea. Others said the sky. The moon. Maybe he’d learned to fly and had forgotten how to come back down. But it’s been almost six years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other. No matter the cost.

It’s a kind of fairytale, a story where magic is a must, adventure is inevitable, and friendship is found in the most unexpected places.



I remember reading stories like The Phantom Tollbooth or The Neverending Story, imagining this wise British narrator (along the lines of the Winnie the Pooh movies) telling a fantastical tale in their knowing way. A twinkle in their eye, and a wide-set grin, and a character all their own, breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to us. Now imagine that type of storytelling but with progressive ideals.

Monday, August 26, 2019

The Kingsbane, The Lady of Death

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, Furyborn, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for it.
SPOILER ALERT
Kingsbane
~Kingsbane~
Empirium Trilogy
Book 2

By Claire Legrand
Amazon ~ Powell's

Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien—but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist.

Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity's long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption—fear of becoming another Rielle—keeps Eliana's power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted by embracing her mother's power or rejecting it forever.



This was not the best time for me to read this book. Then again, I don't know if there's ever a good time to read a book like this, but definitely not when you're already feeling depressed. It's not uncommon for the 2nd book in a trilogy to be more depressing than the first, what with needing to set up for the more triumphant finale, but this one, I think, takes it to a new extreme. I mean, I don't even think Catching Fire (The Hunger Games) was this disheartening.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

The One Who Rises, The Furyborn Child

Furyborn
~Furyborn~
Empirium Trilogy
Book 1

By Claire Legrand
Amazon ~ Powell's

When assassins ambush her best friend, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing herself as one of a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light, and a queen of blood. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven elemental magic trials. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

One thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a fairy tale to Eliana Ferracora. A bounty hunter for the Undying Empire, Eliana believes herself untouchable—until her mother vanishes. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain and discovers that the evil at the empire's heart is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world—and of each other.



This book is one helluva ride. Switching between the perspectives of two formidable women, it was never easy to put this book down, and I loved it.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Word Collecting is a Snicker of Magic

A Snicker of Magic

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster.

Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.



I didn't know much going into A Snicker of Magic. Honestly, I first picked it up as a Christmas gift because the cover was so cute. But, since I'd be loathe to give away a bad book, I decided I had to read it for myself. And I'm so glad I did.

Thursday, August 15, 2019

This Insider Feels Only Hope

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Disney After Dark, Disney At Dawn, Disney In Shadow, Power Play, Shell Game and Dark Passage, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT
The Insider
~The Insider~
Kingdom Keepers
Book 7

By Ridley Pearson
Amazon ~ Powell's

Deep within the catacombs beneath an Aztec temple, a Disney witch doctor is summoning powers that should be left alone. As terrifying wraiths and demons attack the Archives on the Walt Disney Studios lot, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, Finn, Willa, Philby, Maybeck, and Charlene are summoned to Disneyland fresh from high school graduation. They must stop an enemy that hasn't been clearly identified.

In this, the final installment in the epic Kingdom Keepers series, betrayal and ambition push the boundaries of loyalty. Chasing scattered clues in pursuit of a long-lost icon--whose magic offers a fighting chance against an evil that Walt Disney himself created--the Keepers find their hearts and minds tested in the park where it all began. Bonds that once threatened to fray are renewed under the pressure for survival. As the five are pushed to their limits--and then beyond--feelings intensify behind self-imposed walls of well-kept secrets.

With its dazzling action sequences and moments of touching intimacy,
Kingdom Keepers VII: The Insider will leave readers breathless, cheering, and biting their nails. It's a winner-take-all battle for magical good--but then why is Disneyland burning out of control?

Not only was this the longest of the series, it also dragged way, way, WAY too long. The Insider included everything, plus the kitchen sink, yet still managed not to expand on anything other books set up. It took me three borrows from the library to get through this, and even then I almost ran out of time on the 3rd try.

Monday, August 12, 2019

You Will Never Reach That Passage

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Disney After Dark, Disney At Dawn, Disney In Shadow, Power Play, and Shell Game, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Dark Passage
~Dark Passage~
Kingdom Keepers
Book 6

By Ridley Pearson
Amazon ~ Powell's

The five Kingdom Keepers and their core friends have uncovered a startling truth: Maleficent and the Overtakers (Disney villains) are plotting a catastrophic event that could have repercussions far beyond the world of Disney.

Aboard the Disney Cruise Line’s inaugural passage through the new Panama Canal, the Keepers and their holograms uncover a puzzle hidden within the pages of a stolen journal. The point of that puzzle will reveal itself in the caves of Aruba, the zip lines of Costa Rica, and the jungles of Mexico. A destructive force, dormant for decades, is about to be unleashed. The five Kingdom Keepers are to be its first victims.


I'm so glad I'm almost done with this series. This book took me forever to actually get to reading - I made just about any excuse not to have to read it.

Monday, August 5, 2019

The Game is Never Over

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Disney After Dark, Disney At Dawn, Disney In Shadow, and Power Play, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT
Ignite Me
~Shell Game~
Kingdom Keepers
Book 5

By Ridley Pearson
Amazon ~ Powell's

As the Disney Fantasy joins the cruise fleet, a special treat is in store for guests aboard its inaugural sail from Cape Canaveral to Los Angeles: the Disney Host Interactive teenage guides will be part of the Fantasy crew.

Finn, Maybeck, Charlene, Willa, and Philby are to attend the cruise as celebrity guests, and to perform a ribbon cutting for the DHI server to go live. The Fantasy is now the most advanced cruise ship in the world.

But all is not right belowdecks. Strange things are happening. Unexplained phenomena. Only the Kingdom Keepers know the truth behind their invitation: nearly every Disney villain is represented onboard the new ship: whether on its decks or in its theaters. It's believed the Overtakers have infiltrated the cast and are "stowaways." Worse: it is believed they have stolen an important journal that once belonged to Walt Disney himself--Finn has been having dreams about this--and that some kind of mission is planned.

The ship sets sail filled with enthusiastic guests and crew, and the battle is on in new and exotic arenas: the beaches of Castaway Cay, the caves of Aruba, the locks of the Panama Canal, Costa Rica's rain forest zip line . . . But the end game is far more complicated and intense than anything the Kingdom Keepers had planned on. If the Overtakers get their way, a power will be unleashed that no one will have the ability to vanquish: Chernabog, dormant for years, is about to have his full powers restored. . . .


First things first, this series has no concept of continuity, as further evidenced in Book 5. And I don't even mean stuff that's changed from previous books, I mean stuff that happens all within this book.

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Cut Off The Power

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Disney After Dark, Disney At Dawn, and Disney In Shadow, or don't mind knowing major spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

Power Play
~Power Play~
Kingdom Keepers
Book 4

By Ridley Pearson
Amazon ~ Powell's

For the five teens who modeled as Disney Hologram Imaging hosts, life is beginning to settle down when an intriguing video arrives to Philby's computer at school. It's a call for action: the Overtakers, a group of Disney villains, seem to be plotting to attempt a rescue of two of their leaders, both of whom the Disney Imagineers have hidden away somewhere following a violent encounter in Epcot. A staged attack by new Overtakers at Downtown Disney, startles the group. One of their own, Charlene, is acting strange of late. Has she tired of her role as a Kingdom Keeper or is there something more sinister at play? When caught sneaking into Epcot as her DHI, acting strictly against the group's rules, Finn and Philby take action. Has the 'impossible' occurred? Have the Overtakers created their own holograms? Have they found a way to 'jump' from the Virtual Maintenance Network onto the Internet, and if so, what does that mean for the safety of the parks, and the spread and reach of the Overtakers? Are they recruiting an army from outside the parks? A dark cloud in the Kingdom Keeper era is unfolding, and with dissention in their own ranks, it's unclear if there's any chance of escape.

Don't know if it's because of the break between the first three and this one, or if the writing has actually improved, but I liked this book a lot more than the others. That said, I still have a bit of nit-picking to bring up.