Night: A Book Review

I didn't think it was possible for Alexandria Warwick to top Below, the first book in this series. But she totally did. The world gets bigger in Night, and the characters grow so much more. The plot adds on new layers and new twists, setting up bigger problems and questions for the next two books to answer. The only thing I'm angry about is having to wait for the next books to come out. I NEED THEM NOW.

This book starts out slowly. Apaay has a lot of trauma to overcome, and she doesn't trust people easily, especially the Face Stealer. And although it moved a little too slowly for my tastes, I love how accurate Apaay's journey through her trauma is. I've obviously never been tortured by a girl and a demon, but Apaay's feelings seem justified. I think her journey can bring hope to a lot of people, and Warwick's dedication even says: "To those who look for light in dark places."

We see twice as many characters in this book, and go deeper into the characters we already know. Ila plays an even greater role, and I found her character growth to be absolutely empowering. The Face Stealer in all his mysterious glory also plays a huge role. I honestly can't get enough of him. We learn a lot more about his background and his personality in this book, and let me just say he's fascinating.

My favorite, favorite part of Warwick's books is her writing. WOW. Talk about one of the best writers I've ever seen. Even if the plot didn't grip me at first, her writing did. It's perfectly lyrical, and every word carries weight. She does some amazing things with rhythm and syntax that make my editor's heart giddy. She carefully crafts unique dialogue for each character, making them jump off the page. And she's laid the groundwork for an incredible series. Do yourself a favor and start this series!!! You won't regret it.

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

Thank you, Alexandria Warwick, for the ARC! This book will be released on October 8, 2020.

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

The Shadows Between Us: A Book Review

I've never met a Tricia Levenseller book I didn't like. The Shadows Between Us was everything I hoped for and more: a wicked, clever main character that I somehow admire, a mysterious, handsome king, a slow, steaming romance, and threats of murder and blackmail at every turn. Honestly, it's a solid read because it has all the elements that make a fantasy book unforgettable: the characters are unique, the plot tense and driving, and the writing both humorous and deep. Levenseller keeps setting the bar higher and higher for herself, and she never fails to disappoint. I can't wait to read more from her. She deserves all the stars!

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

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

The Life and (Medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly: A Book Review

Jamie Pacton's debut is perfect for the feminist YA readers of the world. Kit works as a serving wench (waitress) at a medieval-themed restaurant and dreams of being promoted to a knight so she can earn money for college and help her mom pay the bills. But the company and her boss want to keep it medieval and traditional, meaning only guys can be knights. So Kit takes things into her own hands, riding out as a knight and raising awareness for gender restrictions and spurring a whole new set of problems.

As far as contemporary YA goes, this book has a cute story. There's lots of pop-culture references in here and lots of inclusion with sexualities, races, etc. The characters are entertaining, the restaurant setting is original and interesting, and the writing is pleasant. But to be honest, none of these characteristics really set it apart from other contemporaries. I took greatest issue with the plot, which seemed to move quite slowly and felt like a play-by-play of Kit's everyday life. I wanted more punchy scenes and less showering, eating, driving, and studying. I also didn't love the romance. It felt non-existent until the end, and by then it felt forced. Unfortunately, this book fell a bit flat for me, but it was still entertaining and cute.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 2.5
Character Development: 3
Overall: 3

Thank you, Page Street Publishing, for the ARC! This book will be released on May 5, 2020.

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

The Sound of Stars: A Book Review

Alechia Dow's debut, The Sound of Stars, tells the story of Earth after it's been invaded by aliens called the Ilori. The Ilori have banned art, books, and music, but that doesn't stop teenage Ellie from reading and loaning her books out to others in their detention center. But everything changes when Ellie meets a nice Ilori named M0Rr1s (Morris) who collects illegal music. Together, they may be the key to rebelling against the Ilori and saving Earth and its humans.

The cover really drew me into this book. The rich blues, pinks, and purples really make this book stand out and promise a whimsical science fiction. But unfortunately . . . the book didn't live up to my expectations. While it has an interesting premise and plenty of tense action scenes, the characters didn't grab me. Ellie is a black, bisexual, anxiety-ridden teenager who struggles being vulnerable, and it seems like she was just a stock character chock-full of characteristics that check various representation boxes. I'm not saying that characters can't have all the characteristics that Ellie has. I'm saying that Ellie felt the need to explain and dwell on these characteristics for several pages for the reader. Instead, I would have liked to see a character that normalizes these characteristics and trusts the reader to not be a racist or sexist or whatever. Anyways, Ellie just seemed a little too didactic at parts.

Another issue I had was the plot. It was paced rather slow, especially the transitions from place to place, and I was often bored. It also ended rather abruptly, with a rushed explanation using a big reveal and the "big problem" still unsolved. I guess I placed my expectations too high for this book.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 2
Character Development: 2
Overall: 2.5

Thank you, Inkyard Press, for the ARC!

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

Night Spinner: A Book Review

I've never read a retelling of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. But I am thoroughly impressed with Addie Thorley's Night Spinner. Enebish is a monster. After destroying a caravan of innocent people with her dark night magic, she is disfigured and sent to live a traitorous and lonely life in a monastery. But her life changes yet again when her stepsister offers her the opportunity to be reinstated as a warrior if Enebish captures a deserter in the midst of a war. But when she leaves the monastery, she discovers that the war is a lot worse than she thought and she's not sure who to trust anymore.

This book is chock full of twists and turns, and I honestly didn't see hardly any of them coming. I loved Enebish as a character because she is an ugly, maimed traitor—you don't see this a lot in YA fiction. Enebish was refreshing, and I learned and was betrayed right alongside her. Her character arc is strong, and I can't wait to see it fulfilled in the next book.

Speaking of the next book, I need it immediately. Night Spinner took me a couple chapters to get into, but after that it sucked me in and I had to finish it as soon as possible. This is a fantastic story for fantasy and magic lovers, and especially for those who want to see something new in the YA world.

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

Thank you, Page Street Publishing, for the ARC!

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

The Henna Artist: A Book Review

This beautiful, lush story takes place in vibrant India in the 1950s. Lakshmi, after running away from her abusive husband, makes a living by making herbal remedies and being a henna artist. But everything changes when her little sister she never knew she had turns up, homeless, lost, and known as the "Bad Luck Girl." 

It's no secret that I love reading about India and its culture. The Henna Artist delivered. It is so richly drenched in Indian culture with food, clothing, castes, hennas, herbs, and Jaipur, India. I felt drawn to Lakshmi because of her ambition, work ethic, reason, feminism, and loyalty. It was an absolute pleasure to follow her throughout the book. She has a solid character arc as well as her sister, Rahda. The plot is well paced and had lots of tension to keep me reading—I couldn't put this book down all day. The writing flows very well. I would definitely recommend to those who love reading about India and about woman fighting for their future. A great debut by Alka Joshi.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for the ARC!

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

Ashlords: A Book Review

As soon as I found out that Ashlords is about phoenix horses and a legendary race, I was all in. And while I struggled to get into the story, I still enjoyed the rich Hunger Games-like world and the three main characters, all from different classes/castes in the kingdom. Each character has a good reason to win the race and I couldn't help but cheer each one on, even though they were all obviously enemies.

A few things bothered me in the beginning. I didn't like how one point of view was in second person, for seemingly no reason at all. I didn't like how one of the characters, a big, burly guy, calls his dad "Daddy." I didn't like how the Gods were real and could visit people (but I rarely like this in any book). And I didn't like that the race didn't start until 50% through the book. But at the same time, I understand why it took so long. There is a lot of intricate world building that sets up this duology, and I think it may have felt rushed if the race came earlier.

I will definitely read the second book to this series because I am invested in all three of the characters. It's so interesting to read from such different points of view and I wonder if they will all stay enemies. All in all, a fantastic fantasy. I want my own phoenix horse now.

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

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

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