They Say There Are Spies Everywhere These Days

~Spy x Family~
Missions 1-17
Vol. 1-3
By Tatsuya Endo
Translated By Casey Loe
Amazon ~ Powell's

Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions for the betterment of the world. But when he receives the ultimate assignment—to get married and have a kid—he may finally be in over his head!

Not one to depend on others, Twilight has his work cut out for him procuring both a wife and a child for his mission to infiltrate an elite private school. What he doesn’t know is that the wife he’s chosen is an assassin and the child he’s adopted is a telepath!


I first heard about this story from my go-to AniTuber, Geoff Thew @ Mother's Basement when the anime was set to air this spring. It sounded cute and funny, with the chance of maybe some heartfelt moments? Who am I kidding‐it was promised to have heartfelt moments, plus some neat spy and assassin action, so I jumped straight in. And I'm glad I did.

The Lost Girls Who Could’ve Been So Much More

~The Lost Girls~
By Sonia Hartl
Amazon ~ Powell's

When Elton Irving turned Holly Liddell into a vampire in 1987, he promised her eternal love. But thirty-four years later, Elton has left her, her hair will be crimped for the rest of immortality, and the only job she can get as a forever-sixteen-year-old is the midnight shift at Taco Bell.

Holly’s afterlife takes an interesting turn when she meets Rose McKay and Ida Ripley. Having also been turned and discarded by Elton—Rose in 1954, and Ida, his ex-fiancée, in 1921—they want to help her, and ask for her help in return.

Rose and Ida are going to kill Elton before he turns another girl. Though Holly is hurt and angry with Elton for tossing her aside, she’s reluctant to kill her ex, until Holly meets Parker Kerr—the new girl Elton has set his sights on—and feels a quick, and nerve-wracking attraction to her.


Another YA pick for Maven's Vampire Book Club, and a shorter one at that. Mainly this was due to scheduling issues that cropped up in January, pushing back the official discussion of that month's book a couple weeks, so she figured a shorter option would be easier to slot in and get things back on track. Besides the length, and the GoodReads blurb citing "dark humor and queer love," I really didn't know anything going in. Would this vampire story edge more cutsie, or have some real bite?

Unrestrained Emotion Unlocked Something Deep Inside

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous eight books in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Unlocked~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 8.5
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

In this extra special installment of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, the story picks up right from Legacy’s particularly devastating cliffhanger. But chapters alternate between Sophie and Keefe’s perspectives to give readers deeper insights into both beloved characters. New powers will be discovered. Hard truths from the past will come to light. And all of your favorite characters will find themselves tested in ways they never imagined.


My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw the page-count of this book. I was fully intending to have a double-review-week, featuring the latest novellas of two series, but then this one showed up with a 750+ page-count! Luckily there's lots of extra non-story-based extras helping to fill out this "novella," so it shouldn't take nearly as long to finish as I feared. So with the premise clearly established by the devastating cliffhanger from the last book, I jumped in.

I’ve Just Made My Own Legacy and I Can’t Wait to Show You

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous seven books in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Legacy~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 8
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster wants answers. But after a lifetime of lies, sometimes the truth is the most dangerous discovery. Even the smallest secret comes with terrifying new responsibilities.

And Sophie’s not the only one with blank spots in her past, or mysteries surrounding her family. She and her friends are part of something much bigger than they imagined—and their roles have already been chosen for them.

Every clue drags them deeper into the conspiracy. Every memory forces them to question everything—especially one another. And the harder they fight, the more the lines blur between friend and enemy.


Coming off the ending of the last book, I was eager to jump straight into this one. Not only might we finally get the answers to some deep-seated questions we've been pondering from the very beginning, but we might get to advance the romance! So without further ado...

Never Underestimate the Power of a Flashback

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous six books in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Flashback~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 7
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster doesn’t know what—or whom—to believe. And in a game with this many players, the worst mistake can be focusing on the wrong threat.

But when the Neverseen prove that Sophie’s far more vulnerable than she ever imagined, she realizes it’s time to change the rules. Her powerful abilities can only protect her so far. To face down ruthless enemies, she must learn to fight.

Unfortunately, battle training can’t help a beloved friend who’s facing a whole different danger—where the only solution involves one of the biggest risks Sophie and her friends have ever taken. And the distraction might be exactly what the villains have been waiting for.


I didn't mean to let so much time pass before continuing the series, but I guess it's better late than never? Honestly, I was dreading this one. The title and cover image kinda evoke hints at time travel, and though it wasn't mentioned in the summary, I haven't had the best track record with time travel working out right... But maybe if it works, I won't have had such a long break between books! Haha, but really, I guess it's best to just jump in.

I Was Going to Tell You When I Was Sure You’d Keep Your Promise

~The Promised Neverland~
Introduction & Jailbreak Arcs
Vol. 1-5
By Kaiu Shirai & Posuka Demizu
Translated By Satsuki Yamashita
Amazon ~ Powell's

Norman, Emma, and Ray are the brightest kids at the Grace Field House orphanage. And under the care of Isabella, who they refer to as "Mom," all the kids have enjoyed a comfortable life. Good food, clean clothes, and the perfect environment to learn- what more could an orphan ask for? One day, though, Emma and Norman uncover the dark and twisted truth of the outside world they are forbidden from seeing.

Emma swears that she'll never lose another family member and starts gathering information in order to survive. They eventually bring Ray into the fold, and together the three start planning a way to escape.

I first heard about this story through praise of its anime adaptation. One of my favorite Ani-Tubers, Geoff Thew (aka Mother's Basement) has been gushing about its story, characters, and tension for years. And then they made a second season and absolutely slaughtered any good will they'd built up from the first. So, I decided to take him up on his suggestion and dive into the manga to see just what I'd been missing out on.

I decided to stop at the same place Season 1 of the anime stopped, just at the end of the Jailbreak arc (the second arc of the manga), which took me through the better part of 5 volumes, or 37 chapters. I figured that was the best way to get a good taste of the story and characters (ha), without leaving off on too big of a cliffhanger (like each volume tended to do).

Damned to Darkness for All Eternity

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous book, The Beautiful, or don't mind knowing spoilers for it. This book, however, will not be spoiled.
SPOILER ALERT

~The Damned~
The Beautiful
Book 2
By Renée Ahdieh
Amazon ~ Powell's

Following the events of The Beautiful, Sébastien Saint Germain is now cursed and forever changed. The treaty between the Fallen and the Brotherhood has been broken, and war between the immortals seems imminent. The price of loving Celine was costly. But Celine has also paid a high price for loving Bastien.

Still recovering from injuries sustained during a night she can’t quite remember, her dreams are troubled. And she doesn’t know she has inadvertently set into motion a chain of events that could lead to her demise and unveil a truth about herself she’s not quite ready to learn.

Forces hiding in the shadows have been patiently waiting for this moment for centuries. And just as Bastien and Celine begin to uncover the danger around them, they learn their love could tear them apart.


This is the first sequel The Vampire Book Club has picked thus far, so I was pretty excited to enter this world. I caught up on The Beautiful earlier this week and really enjoyed it, finding it a fun and well-crafted mix of familiar modern and classic stories. With that experience fresh in my mind, and a bombastic ending to boot, I was eager to continue the story and see just where Bastien and Celine got to next.

It May Be Beautiful, but Beauty Is a Danger to Behold

~The Beautiful~
Book 1
By Renée Ahdieh
Amazon ~ Powell's

In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret.

When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface.


This is the first of the Vampire Book Club picks that I've gotten to from before I joined. That's right, it's time I catch up on some of the prior club picks...so I can read the current club pick, the sequel to this book! I swear, I'll get to more of the previous club books (I'm especially interested in A Discovery of Witches), but this makes as good excuse as any, right? Honestly didn't know anything going in other than the cover was pretty, it has vampires, and the first line of the summary places it in the 1800s. What have I got to lose?

Gilda Had Written the Stories of Their History

~The Gilda Stories~
By Jewelle L. Gómez
Amazon ~ Powell's

Before Buffy, before Twilight, before Octavia Butler's Fledgling, there was The Gilda Stories, Jewelle Gómez's sexy vampire novel.

This remarkable novel begins in 1850s Louisiana, where Gilda escapes slavery and learns about freedom while working in a brothel. After being initiated into eternal life as one who "shares the blood" by two women there, Gilda spends the next two hundred years searching for a place to call home.

An instant lesbian classic when it was first published in 1991, The Gilda Stories has endured as an auspiciously prescient book in its explorations of blackness, radical ecology, re-definitions of family, and yes, the erotic potential of the vampire story.


Breaking out of my reading slump to read last month's pick in Maven of the Eventide's (aka Elisa Hansen's) Vampire Book Club proved to be no easy feat. Unfortunately, my library did not carry the audiobook, and it turned out I had other obligations the night of the meeting. Luckily I found a copy of the audio online, and, as always, the book club meetings are saved for posterity, so while I wasn't there for the live discussion, I was able to participate in some ways (unlike the previous month's when my library didn't even carry a text copy for The Silver Kiss). And though I'd never heard of this book before the club picked it out, the premise seemed especially intriguing and I was eager to experience it. Let me just say, wow.

The Star Only Rises at Nightfall

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous five books in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Nightfall~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 6
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster is struggling. Grieving. Scrambling. But she knows one thing: she will not be defeated.

The Neverseen have had their victories—but the battle is far from over. It’s time to change tactics. Make sacrifices. Reexamine everything. Maybe even time for Sophie to trust her enemies.

All paths lead to Nightfall—an ominous door to an even more ominous place—and Sophie and her friends strike a dangerous bargain to get there. But nothing can prepare them for what they discover. The problems they’re facing stretch deep into their history. And with time running out, and mistakes catching up with them, Sophie and her allies must join forces in ways they never have before.


After the game-changing ending of Lodestar I was ready for this series to take a new, more progressive turn. After all, a main character just died on-screen, an inter-species summit was just blown up, and Sophie's human family has just been kidnapped. If ever there was a time for serious repercussions to come in, this would be it. And yet...

This is About the Lodestar Initiative

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous four books in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Lodestar~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 5
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster is back in the Lost Cities—but the Lost Cities have changed. The threat of war hangs heavy over her glittering world, and the Neverseen are wreaking havoc.

The lines between friend and enemy have blurred, and Sophie is unsure whom to trust. But when she’s warned that the people she loves most will be the next victims, she knows she has to act.

A mysterious symbol could be the key—if only she knew how to translate it. Every new clue seems to lead deeper into her world’s underbelly and the Black Swan aren’t the only ones who have plans. The Neverseen have their own Initiative, and if Sophie doesn’t stop it, they might finally have the ultimate means to control her.


With the last book leaving us on a rather precarious cliffhanger, I knew I'd be back at this series soon. I mean, who doesn't love Keefe? Judging from the fan comments on GoodReads, not many. So I just hoped for the best as I dove in, and...I think I came out okay?

The Magic Misfits Need All the Luck They Can Get

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books of The Magic Misfits or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~The Fourth Suit~
The Magic Misfits
Book 4
Written by Neil Patrick Harris
Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hinton
Amazon ~ Powell's

Ridley Larsen is everything you want in a friend. She's tough as nails, she's fiercely loyal, and she's smart as a whip. But she can be a harsh critic, which has put her position with the Magic Misfits on the rocks, even as the threat of the group's longtime enemy Kalagan looms large. Ever since his recent appearance in Mineral Wells, the kids know that a showdown with the vicious magician is imminent.

They must first deal with a series of odd instances and random attacks, though, all of which they use to bring themselves closer to discovering where Kalagan may be hiding, and the nature of his true identity. But can Ridley finally master her temper and put her essential magical skills to good use? She'll do anything to protect her friends, and when the time comes, she'll find that the Magic Misfits are strongest when they all work together.


Obviously after reading the first three I had to continue into the finale. Ridley was always my favorite of the Misfits, due in no small part to her prickly attitude but fierce loyalty to her friends (tough on the outside, gooey on the inside are my favorite characters), so I was always most excited to read her POV. And for it to be the finale to the series? All the better!

Further Chaos With the Neverseen

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Exile and Everblaze, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Neverseen~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 4
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster is on the run—but at least she’s not alone.

Her closest friends from the Lost Cities have gone with her to join the Black Swan. They still have doubts about the shadowy organization, but the only way to find answers is to start working with them. And as they settle into their new lives, they uncover secrets bigger than anything they’d imagined.

But their enemies are far from done, and unleash a terrifying plague that threatens the safety of an entire species. Sophie and her friends fight with everything they have—with new allies joining them—but every choice has consequences. And trusting the wrong person could prove deadly.

In this game-changing fourth book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must question everything to find a truth that will either save her world—or shatter it.


I was extremely exited for this one—after all, we're finally joining the rebellion full-time and getting into all the secrets. Right? ...Right?

A Wall of Fragmented Memories Blazing With Unstoppable Flames

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books, Keeper of the Lost Cities and Exile, or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~Everblaze~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 3
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster is ready to fight back.

Her talents are getting stronger, and with the elusive Black Swan group ignoring her calls for help, she’s determined to find her kidnappers—before they come after her again.

But a daring mistake leaves her world teetering on the edge of war, and causes many to fear that she has finally gone too far. And the deeper Sophie searches, the farther the conspiracy stretches, proving that her most dangerous enemy might be closer than she realizes.

In this nail-biting third book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must fight the flames of rebellion, before they destroy everyone and everything she loves.


Well, I was expecting things to heat up, but this was a little more than I bargained for. Dad jokes aside, I was excited to continue Sophie's saga and see where things headed to next. Only book 3 of this 8+ book series, and we're already approaching Deathly Hallows territory.

This is the Gateway to Exile

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

~Exile~
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Book 2
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Sophie Foster thought she was safe. Settled into her home at Havenfield, surrounded by friends, and using her unique telepathic abilities to train Silveny--the first female alicorn ever seen in the Lost Cities--her life finally seems to be coming together.

But Sophie's kidnappers are still out there. And when Sophie discovers new messages and clues from the mysterious Black Swan group, she’s forced to take a terrifying risk—one that puts everyone in incredible danger.

As long buried secrets rise to the surface, it’s once again up to Sophie to uncover hidden memories—before someone close to her is lost forever.

In this second book in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must journey to the darkest corners of her luminous world in a sequel that will leave you breathless for more.


Continuing from the last book, I was curious to see what was next for Sophie. Having just scored a new power and an antagonistic teacher, not to mention discovering that she was created by a secret rebellion for some unknown purpose, there was a lot to look forward to (to say nothing of the multiple romance options cropping up). Some things delivered...some did not...

The Lost Cities Are Real—But Human Stories Rarely Get Anything Right

~Keeper of the Lost Cities~
Book 1
By Shannon Messenger
Amazon ~ Powell's

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath — someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory — secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.


I first came upon Shannon Messenger in her Sky Fall series, and since I loved that so much I decided to check out her other books. This is her debut work, but the series is still ongoing, so I figured what the hey, let's dive in.

Be Brilliant, Be Brave, Be Curious, Be Kind, Be A Misfit

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books of The Magic Misfits or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~The Minor Third~
The Magic Misfits
Book 3
Written by Neil Patrick Harris
Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hinton
Amazon ~ Powell's

Theo Stein-Meyer loves being part of the Magic Misfits. Armed with his trusty violin bow, he completes the team with his levitation skills, unflappable calm, and proper manners. But when a girl named Emily begins to spend time with the group, Theo is surprisingly drawn to her. She seems to understand the pull he feels between music and magic, between family and friends.

Then a famous ventriloquist arrives in town, and the Misfits are sure he (and his creepy dummy) are up to no good. With their mentor, Mr. Vernon, suddenly called away and tension simmering among the friends, can they come together to stop another member of the villainous Emerald Ring? It's time for Theo to make a choice about where--and with whom--he belongs.

Join the Magic Misfits as they discover adventure, friendship, and more than a few hidden secrets in this unique and surprising series. Whether you're a long-time expert at illusion or simply a new fan of stage magic, hold on to your top hat!

Definitely not what I was expecting. I mean, you'd think lighthearted kids books about performing magic wouldn't be so grim and foreboding, but this one takes that minor key thing seriously.

Secrets & Stories, Truth & Lies

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

~The Second Story~
The Magic Misfits
Book 2
Written by Neil Patrick Harris Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hinton
Amazon ~ Powell's

Growing up in an orphanage, Leila was bullied for being different. But she turned her hardship into skill by becoming an escape artist—a valuable trait when belonging to a group of magical best friends. When a famous psychic comes to town, however, Leila and her pals won't be able to escape the big mystery heading their way. Whether chasing mad monkeys or banishing ghosts from haunted hotels, these six friends will do their best to keep Mineral Wells safe—but can they still protect themselves in the process?

Join the Magic Misfits as they discover adventure, friendship, and more than a few hidden secrets in this delightful new series. Whether you're a new fan of stage magic or a longtime expert at illusion, Magic Misfits is sure to delight even more than sawing your assistant in half!


I'm really getting to like this series. There are just so many clever aspects to love, starting with just the cover. First, the center character on each cover is the narrative focus of the story. Second, each upsidedown image is one of the members of the previous secret magic club, and serves as a major player in this book's story - though not always the antagonist (after all, the first book had Mr. Vernon on the cover, not Bosso).

Only Absolute Misfits Would Think Up Such an Outrageous Scheme

~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.

The Graveyard Kept Its Secrets

~The Graveyard Book~
By Neil Gaiman
Amazon ~ Powell's

Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place—he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings—such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him.

Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead? And then there are beings such as ghouls that aren't really one thing or the other.


My second book of Gaiman's (following Stardust), I grabbed this mostly due to the enthusiasm I'd heard online. I think the best word I have for it would be "quaint".