Saving Savannah: A Book Review

Saving Savannah takes a close look at America in 1919, particularly with African American social changes. Savannah is a high-born African American struggling to find her place among her race and her high society. Tonya Bolden writes in a lyrical prose full of style and experimentation, which made it both fun to read and confusing at times.

The plot is slow in Saving Savannah. We follow Savannah closely through her thought processes and mini adventures (which are few). In fact, nothing much happens until the last 60% of the book. I also found little character development. In fact, most of the story elements were missing or underwhelming, and I wonder if this is because the history of this time overshadowed everything else. This book's purpose seems to be educating teens and young adults about the social issues in this time rather than telling a thrilling story. This is fine, but not what I was expecting. I would have appreciated more story.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 2
Overall: 2

Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC! This book will be published January 14, 2020.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Woven in Moonlight: A Book Review

Woven in Moonlight is a spellbinding adventure in Bolivia, complete with magic, decoys, political wars, weaving, romance, friendships, tyrants, secrets, and cute woven animals. I enjoyed the plot that surrounded political war between two groups of people and a main character as a decoy in an enemy place. The side characters are also well developed and I grew to love them. Bolivian culture is also a strong point in this novel with plenty of Spanish words and descriptions of Bolivian food.

This is a solid fantasy novel. I enjoyed reading it, especially because it's different than any other fantasy novel I've ever read. I do wish there was more romance. And I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. But I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves YA fantasy! I great debut by Isabel Ibanez. I can't wait to read her next book.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you Page Street Publishing for the ARC! This book will be published January 7, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Refraction: A Book Review

I never read sci fi. Never. In fact, Refraction by Naomi Hughes is the first sci fi book I've picked up in 2019. And I absolutely loved it. The description on the back of the book drew me in right away. Monsters coming out of mirrors? Fog and monsters taking over the world? A character in an illegal mirror trade? It sounded so intriguing and unique that I had to give it a try. I'm so glad I did.

The story follows Marty, an illegal mirror trader who is trying to find his brother who he hasn't seen since the alien ship came and monsters started coming out of mirrors. But he gets caught by the mayor's son, Elliot, and they get exiled to an abandoned city in the fog where the monsters run wild. And as they try to survive their exile, they start to find out more about the the monsters, the mirrors, and the destruction that's coming. It's one of those books you can't put down.

One of my favorite things about this book is the enemies-to-friends relationship between Marty and Elliot. It is perfectly done and adds a great element to the story. I also love the OCD representation through Marty. It plays a real part in his life and this book has some great messages to those who are dealing with it and how to help those who are dealing with it.

Pick this book up if you want a great sci fi story that has twists you won't see coming and a unique concept. It will keep you hooked until the end and I guarantee I'll keep thinking about it for days to come.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you Page Street Publishing for the ARC! This book will be published November 5, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Echo North: A Book Review

I have been searching for a new retelling of East of the Sun and West of the Moon for years after East by Edith Pattou claimed my heart. I've always loved this fairytale and I've read so many renditions of it. However, none have captured my heart like Echo North by Joanna Ruth Meyer. This is the retelling I've been looking for.

It has everything I could want. There is more romance in this book than other retellings, which I have been wanting to see in this fairytale. There is more world building, complete with a mysterious, living house and a magical library that lets you live inside and experience the story rather than merely read it. And to top it all off, there is enchantment, a main character that I love, and beautiful writing. I love every element of this book.

Echo North will definitely go on my all-time-favorites list and I will be recommending it to anyone who loves fairytales (especially this one) and magical libraries.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you Page Street Publishing for the review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Holly Banks Full of Angst: A Book Review

Holly Banks's arrival in the village of Primm brings on a crazy adventure, complete with a crazy PTA president, her daughter's first days of kindergarten, and learning the "hip" ways of Primm. Every chapter has craziness, humor, cringing, and mom life, and the plot moves quite fast, taking place in only a week. In fact, the plot is so fast that I needed a break from all the craziness. And many of the things that happened seemed too unrealistic and too crazy to me. How many bad things can happen in a week? Apparently a lot. It was like watching a mom version of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day on repeat and it gave me anxiety, if I'm being honest. I also don't know if I am supposed to take this book seriously, or if it's a satire on mom life and the PTA. Maybe both?

The writing in this book is perfect. I loved the fake swearing, the screenplay, texting, and email formats thrown in, and the humor. The characters are also entertaining, though perhaps somewhat unrealistic (looking at you, Mary-Margaret). I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the positive message of standing up for yourself, working together, and loving people around you.

Overall, this book is fun, if not a little crazy. I would recommend it to moms who want a good laugh and want a reminder that it could be a lot worse, especially in the village of Primm.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 3.5
Overall: 3

Thank you Lake Union Publishing for the ARC! This book will be released November 1, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Girl the Sea Gave Back: A Book Review

With a gorgeous cover comes a gorgeous novel. While this book moved slower than Sky in the Deep, it still had the marvelous character development, the melodic writing, and all the Viking aesthetic I could ever wish for. I loved the addition of a new character, Tova, and her journey to find out who she is and where she belongs. And I absolutely loved seeing all the characters I miss from Sky in the Deep. It makes my heart so happy to know what Eelyn and Fiske have been up to, and this book made me fall in love with Halvard.

This book is deeply intrenched in the Viking aesthetic, which was my favorite part about reading it. The lore with the gods and their relationships with the people are fascinating and well constructed. In this book, the gods and fate had a greater part to play, especially with Tova, and I enjoyed that different aspect of this world. It seems like the world building grew so much from Sky in the Deep.

I do wish this book was longer. I wanted more substance with Tova's relationships with Jorrund, Gunter, and Halvard. I also just want more of Tova. I feel this book barely scratched the surface of who she is, leaving me with wanting more. However, I did love the insights from the chapters set in the past, and I enjoyed the changing point-of-views between Tova and Halvard.

At its core, this book is about fate and choice, an interesting contradiction to explore. I think it's a worthy sequel to Sky in the Deep, even though it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I still enjoyed it and would reread it again along with Sky in the Deep. Adrienne Young has a talent for storytelling, and I'm quite sad this is her last Viking novel for the time being. But I'm gearing up for her next book, Fable, releasing next year. Without a doubt, she is one of my favorite authors of all time.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Widow of Pale Harbor: A Book Review

Hester Fox is a master of authentic and engaging historical fiction. I absolutely loved The Witch of Willow Hall that came out last year, so much that it became my favorite historical fiction book. I'm pleased to say that The Widow of Pale Harbor is not far behind it! I devoured this book in two sittings, the sittings consisting of fighting off goosebumps, swooning and shipping the romance, and nail biting. The perfectly-paced plot continued to thicken with plot twists and a beautiful romance, and I couldn't have asked for a better autumn book.

The characters were so rich in this story. All of them fascinated me, especially Helen. Every single character jumped off the page, not being confined to words or the plot. They each had their own life outside and inside the plot, and I loved learning more about them, especially their pasts and the psychology behind their actions.

I have a few other details that I loved in this story. I really enjoyed all the Poe references and even the plot surrounding Poe's stories. It added so much depth and creepiness. I also loved the transcendentalism references that made this book seem authentic. And it had a lighthouse. Hester Fox must know that lighthouses are my weakness.

If you're looking for a book that will put you in the autumn mood, don't hesitate to pick this one up. It's a perfect balance of creepy, history, romance, and mystery. I'm already looking forward to Hester Fox's next book.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you to Graydon House (and especially Lisa Wray) for the ARC and for having me be a part of the blog tour! This book will be released on September 17, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Stolen Kingdom: A Book Review

I was intrigued by this Aladdin retelling, complete with a runaway princess, Jinnis, a lamp, and an evil villain. But unfortunately, it fell short for me. I expected a stronger and more interesting main character, as well as a faster-moving romance. The plot was strung along far too slowly, and I was bored for much of the book. I also expected more world-building details. The world, characters, plot, and writing all fell too flat for me.

Would I recommend? Perhaps. I think I would recommend to those who love retellings. While I didn't find anything special about this particular retelling, others might.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 2.5
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you to Bethany Atazadeh for the ARC!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Three Ways to Disappear: A Book Review

I honestly don't know how to rate this. I love tigers and India with all my heart, so I expected to love this book. And I just...didn't. However, it did shake me and cause me to feel deeply about how horrible the injustices of the world are.

This story follows two sisters and their journeys to finding happiness after a horrible past in India. Quinn, a wife and mother in Kentucky, tries to survive under the weight of her terrible secret. Her sister, Sarah, returns to India to find her peace by joining the Tiger Survival, a conservationist group dedicated to protecting tigers. The story follows their relationship, their relationships with others, and their relationships with their pasts. And after I finished it, I hated the world for a while because of all its ironies and injustices.

I think my expectations were too high. I expected more tigers and India. Halfway through the book, the focus shifts from tiger conservation to Quinn's and Sarah's major life problems. I should have expected this, especially because the heart of the novel is understanding human nature and relationships. But for some reason, it didn't deliver in the way I wanted it to. Also, the ending felt rushed. I felt empty. The whole story felt like a deflated balloon with too many loose ends.

I would recommend this book to those who love conservationist books, and who love adult literary fiction more than I do. The writing is fluid and easy to read, and the characters full of depth and reality. I think this book could be easily loved by others, but just not by me.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 2.5
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you to Ashland Creek Press for the review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Coral: A Book Review

Coral is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid" with multiple perspectives of mental health. And while I applaud the mental health representation, this book left me feeling confused and frustrated. Here are my reasons why:

1. The writing style wasn't easy for me to read. There were too many sentence fragments and one-word sentences for it to be comfortable.

2. I felt it was too jarring to go from a mythical mermaid perspective to a modern day one.

3. The multiple points of view felt disjointed. I felt that some perspectives got more depth at different parts of the book, and while that may have been on purpose, I like reading perspectives that are equal in quantity and quality so I can understand all of their experiences. For example, Coral's perspective dies out near the midpoint, then picks up again later. Instead, Coral's voice should have been at its strongest. That midpoint and onward left me confused at her character and the plot.

4. The timeline of events gets very jumbled near the end in order to serve the author's "big reveals." I felt frustrated because it felt like the author was willingly withholding information from the reader in order to make the plot seem bigger than it actually was. Big pet peeve. Even now having finished it, I'm still confused with the timeline, and I don't think I could accurately summarize what happened.

5. The mental health message is bigger than the story and characters. Don't get me wrong—I like messages in stories, and I think Coral offers a great one about having hope when going through depression and anxiety. But I don't think the message was weaved into the story and characters enough. The characters and plot seemed to serve the message too much, making the characters seem unreal and the plot fabricated.  In an effort to preach mental-health awareness, it just didn't flow like a believable story.

I do think this story could be a powerful read for those struggling with mental health. Perhaps I didn't fully understand this book because I've never had the experiences that the characters had. But I do feel like the story was lost and the characters too underdeveloped.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 2.5
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 2
Overall: 2

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC! This book will be released on November 12, 2020.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Below: A Book Review

Inspired by Inuit mythology about the Face Stealer, this book is an action-packed story about a girl named Apaay who tries to get her sister's face back. She becomes trapped in a labyrinth and has to use every bit of strength––mental and physical––to overcome the evil Yuki and Numiak. And along the way, she discovers who she really is, even when all hope is lost.

As soon as I saw the words "Inuit mythology" and saw the gorgeous cover, I was hooked. Then I read the first page. Alexandria Warwick's writing is absolutely divine. Possibly the best I've ever read. The descriptions are sensory and visceral, the tension thick, and the flow effortless. For this reason alone, this book could have received five stars. But there's so much more to it.

Apaay is a character many people can relate to: she wants to be strong for her family and make them proud, even when they doubt her. She also wants to prove her strength to herself and find her place in the vast world. And she loves so deeply and unconditionally, even to the point that it perhaps becomes a fault. She is incredibly deep, and her character arc is strong.

The other characters are also well-done. They have secrets and lives outside of the story, bringing tension to the relationships and plot. I can't wait to learn more about them in later books.

As I mentioned, this book is fast paced and action packed. It doesn't take long to get sucked into the story because of its tension and intrigue. I do feel like the middle got a bit repetitive in the labyrinth, but it never slowed me down. And I also wish there was a romance. I suspect there will be romance in later books, so I'll hold out for that.

This book, without a doubt, is the best Indie-published book I've ever read. And I highly recommend it to fantasy lovers and those interested in Inuit mythology. I learned so much about the Inuit culture, and more generally, about the human heart. Treat yourself to this book.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4.7
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you to Alexandria Warwick for the ARC! This book will be released on February 4, 2020.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Tiger Queen: A Book Review

This thrilling YA novel, by Annie Sullivan, is an expansive, adventurous retelling of Frank Stockton's short story "The Lady, or the Tiger?", which is one of my favorite short stories. I enjoyed the fast pacing of this story, the well-rounded character development, and the political mysteries of the desert kingdom Achra. The story left me constantly thinking about it, and I had to have my water nearby because I was always thirsty. The descriptions and dialogue were clear and compelling. It is a worthy retelling.

I think the strongest part of this book is the character development. Our main character, Kateri, starts off as a villain. She is a strong fighter, trained to beat her suitors in an arena to prove she is the strongest in the kingdom. But difficult circumstances mold and shape her into a completely different character, and I grew to love her. I do wish other characters in this book had as strong of a character arc. And I do wish that the romance wasn't so slow burning.

All in all, I liked this book. I would recommend this book to those who love retellings, and settings in mythical deserts.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, NetGalley and Blink, for the ARC!  This book will be released on September 10, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Crowns of Croswald: A Book Review

D. E. Night's The Crowns of Croswald is a magical, middle-grade adventure that follows Ivy, a special sixteen-year-old who escapes her horrible life as a scaldrony maid go to a magical school. Along the way, Ivy discovers magical creatures, friends and foes, mysterious secrets, and some of her own magic.

This book is magically written. Almost every page reminded me of Harry Potter with its whimsical creatures and similar plotline. I think it's a fantastic read for kids who find Harry Potter too large and intimidating, or want more of the magical world. This being said, I do wish this book departed from Harry Potter more. The plot, magic system, and the magic school were too similar to Harry Potter, making this book pale in comparison. I also felt like the characters were too disconnected from the reader and there was too little character growth. And there were many chapters that I felt could have been taken out without hindering the plot.

Simply, this book puts world building first, plot second, and characters third. I read books for the characters, so I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to. But it is still magical, especially for younger audiences.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 2
Overall: 3

Thank you, Stories Untold Press, for the free review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Crown of Coral and Pearl: A Book Review

I went into this book not knowing anything about it (I didn't even read the synopsis). And I completely loved it. The story is fascinating: each generation, the princes of Ilara marry the most beautiful girl from an ocean village. But when Nor goes in her sister's place, she discovers the dark secrets of Ilara and finds out that her people are in danger. There's so much more to the plot, and so many characters I grew to love.

I loved the sea aesthetic coupled with a formidable mountain castle. Nor is a strong character and it's easy to get lost in her point of view and engage with the story. Also, the slow-burning, chemistry-filled romance in this book is divine. This book has everything: sea folklore, tension, betrayal, magical reefs, sisterly bonds, romance, political intrigue, and hope. It's an uplifting book, and one I think I would return to.

Mara Rutherford's writing is fantastic. As I said, it's easy to get lost in her writing and in the story. The plot moved effortlessly. My only reservations are that I wish it had a little more resolution and a little more romance. I wanted to see their bond strengthen, especially at the end, and I felt that this book is missing that. But still a well-told, entertaining book.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4.5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the ARC! This book will be released on August 27, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

100 Days of Sunlight: A Book Review

Abbie Emmons's debut novel, 100 Days of Sunlight, is a charming love story between two teenagers: a temporarily blind girl and a boy with no legs. After Tessa becomes temporarily blind after a car crash, Weston begins to help her write poetry for her blog, not telling her that he doesn't have legs. But he can understand her disability like no one can, and their relationship grows from its rocky beginning. At the heart of this book, these two teenagers are figuring out how to love themselves, trust each other, and overcome their fears.

I love the idea of this book. The premise caught my eye, even if the plot was a bit predictable. The book started off pretty rocky for me though. I couldn't connect to the characters because they didn't seem believable--Weston was too happy and Tessa was too annoyingly mean. There were also pages of unnecessary dialogue and exposition that didn't move the plot along, so that was hard to muddle through. But by the middle of the book, the characters had changed enough that I was interested in finishing (even if the ending was a bit predictable, as I mentioned before).

If I had to choose a couple words to describe this book, it would be cute, slow moving, predictable, and conventional. Is it worth reading? I would say yes to those who live for contemporary.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 3.5
Overall: 3

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC! This book will be released on August 7, 2019.

Beasts of the Frozen Sun: A Book Review

Another fantastic Viking-themed story! This book, written by Jill Criswell, has gods, magical gifts, chilling warriors, and so much action I could barely put it down. The story follows Lira, a soul reader who saves an enemy warrior from death. As Lira and Reyker's forbidden bond grows stronger, they discover that the threat from an evil warlord grows stronger, and they must find a way to save themselves, their souls, and their people.

This book has so many elements to it. Even the synopsis falls short of doing this book justice. There's incredible relationships, twisting magic, and vengeful gods. The plot continues to build until the last page, leaving me wishing for more. I know without a doubt I'll be continuing with this series because I absolutely love Lira, Reyker, and the world building. I think it's one of the best Viking reads I've read, and I wouldn't hesitate to group it with Sky in the Deep and Warrior of the Wild.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Would I recommend? Yes! This book is for readers who love Vikings, fantasy, battles, and the enemies-to-lovers trope.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, for the ARC! This book will be released on August 6, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Dark Soul Experiments: A Book Review

This book surprised me. It has such an interesting plot! Ren, a normal sixteen-year-old, is transported in the past when a boy gives her charm bracelet. She soon discovers that her soul has been cursed, splintered, and reincarnated for a long time, and that she is forced to die too early in each lifetime. As she starts to discover each of her past lifetimes, she starts to uncover the secrets of her past and present, she has to decide whether the experiments will help her future or doom her present. It was a page turner for me! I think the plot is the strongest part of this book—it is solid and engaging. I think I'll be reading the next books in this series when they come out!

I do have some reservations. There were a good number of punctuation and grammatical mistakes, and some of the characters didn't seem to have a life outside of the story. But all in all, this book surprised me and I'm glad I read it.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 3.5
Overall: 3.5 (rounded up to 4 on Goodreads)

Would I recommend? Yes.

Thank you, Bre, for the ARC! This book gets released on August 6, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Girl He Used to Know: A Book Review

I'm forever grateful to my bookish friends who lead me to books like this (Sarah, I'm pointing to you!). The Girl He Used to Know touched me so deeply, gave me so much hope and happiness, and made me sob after finishing it because I didn't know how to understand all the emotions I was feeling. If nothing else, this book made me FEEL, more than any other book I've read so far this year.

The characters in this book are so real that I often thought about them outside of reading. First and foremost, I believe this book is about Annika overcoming her struggles with autism and fear, and how Jonathan helps her and loves her unconditionally. They bring out the best in each other, and they struggle together. I think their relationship is one of my favorite literary relationships of all time. I can't get enough of it.

There are things in this book that I never saw coming. There were parts when I cried, laughed, and smiled because my heart was full. This is a book I will always remember, and probably reread every year. The writing is wonderfully compelling and easy to understand and get lost in. Tracey Garvis Graves wrote a remarkable book, one that both entertains and educates (especially about autism). This book is so dear to my heart and I can't give it anything but a solid five stars.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Would I recommend? Yes, yes, yes! Though content warnings include some swearing and explicit (but matter-of-fact) sex scenes.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Tiger at Midnight: A Book Review

I've been longing for a young adult fantasy focused on Indian culture and mythology ever since The Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck. And this book, by Swati Teerdhala, fulfilled every longing, every expectation, and rekindled my love of Indian-themed books. The best part? It's a trilogy! I'll be waiting not-so-patiently for the next books to come out.

Besides the rich Indian culture and mythology, I loved the characters. Kunal is an endearing character—easy to love, understand, and root for. I think it's because he is incredibly loyal and has goodness deep in his bones. It's interesting to watch his character development as his world crumbles around him. Esha, on the other hand, is as morally gray as they come. She seeks revenge and is a fierce fighter. But she too is easy to love and root for. Together, Kunal and Esha have an amazing, dynamic relationship as they play cat and mouse and discover secrets that could threaten everything they know. Their witty banter wasn't cliche (I so hate cliche, witty banter. But theirs was believable and clever), the passion between them was undeniable, and the issues holding them apart was captivating. The characters are the strongest element of this book, and that's the reason why I give this a solid five stars. I want to return to Kunal and Esha again soon, and can't wait to continue their story.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Would I recommend? Yes! Especially if you love the enemies-to-lovers trope, mythical fantasy, Indian culture, political intrigue, and slow-burning romance.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Finale: A Book Review

Finale gave a great ending to a magical, crazy series. And while I don't think it held the same magic and wonder as the first two books, I feel that it was needed to tie everything up and give us the answers we needed to part with this world.

Overall, Caraval was a thrilling series. I devoured the first two books in a matter of days, and was so impressed with the talented writing, magical world building, and fascinating characters. I think I'll be rereading this series in the future, but I'll be sure to savor them and appreciate every detail. I really think the greatest strength to this series is the mystical world and Stephanie Garber's writing. I got lost in these books, especially the first two. It's a great series that I would recommend to all fantasy lovers.

Ratings for Finale:

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 3.5
Character Development: 4.5
Overall: 4

Ratings for the Caraval series:

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Spin the Dawn: A Book Review

Spin the Dawn is a masterful story pitched as Mulan meets Project Runway. I agree with this for the first half of the book, but the second half was so much more powerful and complex. This book tells the story of a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to compete to be the master tailor for the emperor. She must make three dresses: one from the sun, one from the moon, and one from the stars. This spurs an epic adventure that tests her skills and determination. And I think it's now one of my favorite story adventures.

There's something for everyone to love in this book: magic, love, long journeys, sacrifices, discovery, fights, and the power of a young girl who can beat the odds with her skill and determination. All around, the story kept me engaged and I finished it in three days because I couldn't put it down. The characters are wonderfully real, burdened by their responsibilities and the deepest wishes of their hearts.

I loved Elizabeth Lim's writing style and I wouldn't hesitate before reading another one of her books. I'm despondent that I have to wait for the second book of this series, though. I need Maia's story to continue now! Until then, I'll recommend this one to anyone who loves fantasy, Chinese culture, and fairy tales.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House) and NetGalley for the free review copy! This book will be released July 9th, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Call It What You Want: A Book Review

From the author of A Curse So Dark and Lonely comes a breathtaking contemporary novel about two teenagers trying to find their places in the world. I adored this book much more than I thought I would. I haven't picked up a contemporary for a long time, but this book made me want to only read contemporaries for the next month! So beautifully and thoughtfully done.

I loved the two main characters, Rob and Maegan. Both Rob and Meagan have their issues (like a father's failed suicide after being caught embezzling money and cheating on the SAT, respectively), and both are social outcasts. So when they are paired together for a AP Calculus project, they discover that they have more in common than they thought. To me, their relationship was the best part of the book. I loved watching it grow and develop, and even struggle at times. They felt so real to me, and I felt like I was a part of their world.

Brigid Kemmerer's writing is astounding. I'm shameful to admit that this is my first read by her, but already I know I want to read everything she writes. The pace of this book was engaging and well done. Even the premise grabbed me. It has everything a YA contemporary should have: realistic relationships (romantic, friends, and otherwise), diversity, secrets, truth, real-life problems, and hope. And I appreciated that the swearing was kept to a minimum and that I didn't have to skip any sex scenes.

Overall, Call It What You Want was a wonderful, quick read for me. It's on my list of favorite YA contemporaries, and definitely one I would reread and recommend.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4.5
Overall: 4

Thank you Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the free review copy!  This book will be released June 25, 2019.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Lost Roses: A Book Review

Lost Roses is a worthy prequel of Lilac Girls. I don't read a lot of WWI fiction, so I enjoyed the fresh take this book offered. Like Lilac Girls, it focuses on three characters' points of view, one from America (Eliza, who is Caroline's mother from Lilac Girls) and two from Russia (Sofya and Varinka). I loved the focus on the Bolshevik Revolution and its impact on Russian nobles and peasants alike. The book did have a lot of tragedy, death, and other hard issues like sexual abuse and torture, so it was sometimes hard to read. But I loved the historical insight into this time period.

As always, Martha Hall Kelly's characters were strong, well presented, and real. It was hard for my attention to stay with Eliza though, because I was more interested in the Russian part of the story rather than the American part. Also, Varinka is a piece of work. I can't decide if I hate her or like her. I think that's a sign of a true, real-life character.

I felt the plot moved well, similar to Lilac Girls. It kept me entertained. Kelly's writing style is clear and captivating, and she crafted a beautiful story.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes! Especially if you read Lilac Girls, or love books about the Bolshevik Revolution/the Romanovs.

Thank you Penguin Random House for the free review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Candle and the Flame: A Book Review

Happy release day to this gorgeous book, The Candle and the Flame!

After reading this book, I finally understand what the author, Nafiza Azad, meant when she said, "This book is about many things but it is mostly about women being women in the most fantastic ways possible." I absolutely agree with this. The Candle and the Flame is rich with culture and themes surrounding women empowerment and diversity. I love the many women characters in this book, and how their strengths are all different. The book carries a great message that each woman is strong and capable in her own way.

I've been waiting for this type of book. I loved reading about the wide variety of cultures, religions, and people in the city of Noor. The descriptions of food and clothing were superb, and I felt like my view of the city was intimate and mind-opening. The characters themselves were rich and wonderful representations of their culture and religions. I also loved learning about Islam through this book.

This book is incredibly different from anything I've ever read. First, the language is different in that the book is written in third person omniscient, which is a point of view I don't read much of. It was quite jarring at first, and this, coupled with a lot of political explanation, made the first part of the book move slowly. It was hard to get into. But once I got used to the language and tried to make sense of the various politics and the Islamic religion, I devoured this book. I worry for more impatient readers, but I think this book is well worth the patience and work.

The plot moved very well, the overall idea of Djinn fire was interesting, and I liked the many characters' points of view. The story was engaging, the characters worth rooting for, and the romance slow burning. I do wish we could have had more romance, but I still think it was artfully done.

I already want to reread this book, just because there is so much to learn. I feel like I could read it multiple times and get something out of it each time. And again, it is such a powerful book with themes of diversity and women empowerment.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.7
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes! Just give yourself time and patience to get into it. 

A big thank you to Scholastic Press for the ARC!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe: A Book Review

Ally Condie's newest book did not disappoint. I'm a fan of her expressive, choppy writing style and I was so glad to sink into it again. This book felt familiar, almost as if I was picking up Matched again, but the storyline and characters were completely different than Matched. I appreciated the different, darker feel to this book.

One thing I adore about this book is the deepness of the characters. They were constantly changing, constantly surprising me, but they also had consistent personalities and habits. I trusted none of them, but at the same time I was intrigued by them. Having a main character bent on revenge was also new to me, and added some interesting dynamics in relationships, political loyalty, and personal perception.

I also loved the pacing. It was active, tense, and took place in a short amount of time (a couple days maybe?). I liked that, especially because most of the book plots I've been reading span over long periods of time. The change of pace in this book was fresh.

I do have some critiques. I missed the deep world building of Matched. Somehow, I didn't understand the political world of this book, especially within a futuristic setting. I wish there was more to help me settle into it, and to make the ending more well-rounded and complete.

All in all, I enjoyed it and couldn't easily put it down. For that reason, I'll give it a low four stars.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Sure! A must-read for Ally Condie fans.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Huntress: A Book Review

This book holds a whole new view of World War II, a view that I found fascinating and original. It follows the perspective of three people: Nina, a Soviet air pilot who bombs German forces; Ian, a British war correspondent who captures fugitives from the war; and Jordan, an American girl who loves her camera and is deeply observant. I loved learning about WWII and its aftermath through these three different characters. I've never read a Russian perspective of the war before, or a book that takes place soon after the war. I think this is why The Huntress captivated me initially.

Another thing that captivated me is the intrigue, mystery, and tension of the novel. Every chapter had tension, either with character development or surrounding the hunt for the huntress. That's what kept me reading, and I couldn't put this book down.

The Huntress is a solid book. The characters are deep and likable, the plot is twisty and tense, and the history is fascinating and well-mixed with the storyline. My one issue with it is it does start out slowly. But once I was a third of the way through, I found it deeply satisfying and entertaining, and not easy to put down.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.7
Plot/Movement: 4.5
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes! A must-read for historical fiction lovers.

*Thank you HarperCollins for the free review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Phantom Tree: A Book Review

I finally finished this! After a lot of false starts (which had nothing to do with the book and everything to do with library/book review deadlines), I finished this stunning historical fiction masterpiece. However, the book did start slow for me, and I didn't feel fully invested until about halfway through. But after that, I couldn't put it down.

I love the focus on the mysterious Mary Seymour. We don't know much about her life, but I love the possibility of her being a seer witch. I also love the added fictional character Alison. Their enemy/friend relationship was an interesting twist, though I viewed them more as friends than enemies.

I also thought the time travel was well done. I don't love books with time travel, especially when it involves characters in modern time looking for clues. But it was okay in this book. Perhaps because I felt the focus of the story was with Mary, not necessarily with Alison (which is strange, because the entire goal of the story is to find Alison's son). I loved reading Mary's side a lot more, and thought that the plot surrounding her was well done and interesting.

There are some reservations I have with this book. As I mentioned before, it does have a slow start. And I wish there was more relationship building between Alison and Adam. Even though they had a past relationship, I wanted to see more of their present one.

To end on a positive note, I did end up loving this book. I loved the characters, the time travel, and especially the ending. I think I would read this again.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 3.5
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes, especially to those who love historical fiction.

*Thank you Sarah for the giveaway copy! Forever ago....

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Wicked Saints: A Book Review

Well. This book unlike any other book I've ever read. I have to admit it was horrifying, gruesome, and thrilling, which is usually not my thing. In fact, I often avoid horrifying, scary, gruesome stories. But the book's description interested me and once I started it, I couldn't put it down. That is purely due to the magic of Emily A. Duncan's writing.

First, the characters. Wicked Saints has some DEEP characters. Ones that have secrets on top of secrets and unbelievable magical abilities. I think every character in this book had some shade of darkness, some degree of moral grayness. And I'm surprised how much I enjoyed that. Sure, it got a little annoying when I would trust a character, then get whiplashed, and then trust them again, then get whiplashed. But that just shows the depth of the characters behind the scenes. Truly masterful.

Overall, I liked it. I thought the plot and pacing was engaging, the writing style poetic and fast-paced, and the world building excellent. However, in order to get through this book, you have to put on your "blood dripping from the sky/people's eyes and mouths/self-inflicted wounds doesn't bother me" hat. It's a rather hard hat for me to put on. For that reason, I would be careful about who I recommend this to. It's a masterpiece, but could be damaging if in the wrong hands.  Be warned.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Carefully, yes.

*Thank you St. Martins / Wednesday Books for the free review copy!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

The Queen's Resistance: A Book Review

I loved this book, even more than the first one! I couldn't put it down. 

Continuing Cartier and Brienna's story was an amazing decision on Rebecca Ross's part. After finishing the first book, I wanted more from their story and their relationship. The Queen's Resistance explored their relationship more fully and gave it the challenges it need to grow. I also loved having chapters in Cartier's point of view. I feel like this change was needed for the plot of the book, but also for the reader to connect and understand him more as a character.

The pacing of this book was incredibly active, engaging, and interesting. I find it refreshing that, at the end of book one, Isolde didn't simply become queen overnight. In reality, there would be some resistance. I liked exploring that through this book.

A fantastic sequel to The Queen's Rising. This sequel will go in the list of "sequels that are better than the first."

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? Yes!

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!

Where the Forest Meets the Stars: A Book Review

You know how some books fall into your lap at the perfect time you need them? This is one of those books. I wasn't expecting a lot from this book, especially because I read next to no reviews and hadn't heard anything about it, but I ended up loving it. (I received this book for free through Amazon's First Reads program.)

The characters in this story are dear to my heart. I felt so close to Jo and loved learning about her life through the story. She is an extremely likable character and it's easy to get under her skin and feel like you're sharing her story. Gabe is another character like that. He is also easy to love and his relationship with Jo was one of my favorite arcs of the book. Their relationship had my favorite elements: sarcastic and witty one-liners, working through some tough histories and lingering trials together, and some slow-growing chemistry. And I can't forget Ursa, who completes the character trio. I normally dislike the all-knowing kid trope, but Ursa didn't seem smart-alecky or moral enough to bug me. In fact, I grew to like her too, and what she did for Jo and Gabe.

This story was intriguing and refreshing, and kept me reading through grammar classes and late at night. It's a book that I haven't read or seen before, and it truly touched my heart with its themes of love (not just romantic), nature, kindness, patience, hope, and acceptance.

I hope I won't ever forget this one. I think it's a definite re-read down the road. HIGH four stars.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 4
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 5
Overall: 4

Would I recommend? YES, especially if you love feel-good books.

For more ratings and reviews and to see what I'm currently reading, visit my Goodreads page here!