Back of Book: 

Flora has spent her entire life hiding in the trees and ignoring the cursed, poisonous larkspur growing from her ankle and eating away at her life. She lets her anxiety and fear control her, but fate forces her hand when her adopted mother is kidnapped by a cruel witch. The only way to save her is to find the magic shards of her family’s amulet scattered throughout her land.

With no time to waste, Flora sets out with her best friend, and along the way they meet a darkly intriguing stranger. But Flora is running out of time and can’t succumb to distractions. If she trusts the wrong person or lets her anxiety win, Flora risks losing more than just her mother… 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A lush fantasy story based in Icelandic folklore that follows an anxious teenager as she journeys across the natural world to find four shards that may just be the key to saving her kingdom. . . and herself. 

Flora has always been a quiet girl who depends on her friends and family to help her out of any hard situations. She's avoided the poisonous curse that has plagued her entire life which involves larkspur that grows from her ankle and saps away her lifeforce. Unfortunately, things are taken out of her hands when her adopted mother, Rosie, is kidnapped by a vile which and gives Flora an ultimatum—find the four magical shards that come together to form a magical amulet that has long been in Flora's birth family and bring them to the Sage Witch or her mother dies. With time being her most valuable resource, Flora sets off on the adventure of a lifetime accompanied by her best friend, Anise. Is it possible for a socially awkward and anxious girl to save the very kingdom from the secrets that have long time wronged it? 

This review has been a long time coming. I started this book a while ago as an ARC copy on my Kindle, but I ended up soft DNFing it due to other bookish commitments. I'm glad that I finally carved out the time to give this one a read, because it ended up being a pretty great read! It took me a little bit to get into it, but the story picks up quite quickly after Flora sets off on her journey. 

Flora is such a relatable main character and I really latched onto her way of thinking. Not only is she super anxious, but she also tries her best to please people, avoid conflict, and be a goody two shoes. These are all things that I can certainly relate to, though just like Flora, I'm trying to make progress on all of these categories. The fact that she is a plant lover is also awesome. Flora, as her name suggests, is so in tune with nature, and I found it fascinating to read about her relationship with the natural world around her. 

Kaanan is a fascinating travel companion. From the first moment I met him, he very much gave me trickster vibes, meaning that it was unclear from the start whose side he is on. I love ambiguous characters with dubious origins, so I found myself latching on to Kaanan early on. The fact that he is a charming, caring young lad doesn't hurt either. His magic is also pretty neat, if I do say so myself. 

Flora has quite a rocky relationship with her best friend, Anise. At the start of the story, Flora keeps most of her thoughts to herself and allows Anise to control pretty much every aspect of their friendship. Luckily, as the story progresses, Flora works toward expressing her true intentions and her and Anise's status gets much healthier. I love how this story showcases how friendships can shift and evolve over time. Even things between you and your bestie should shift because we as people are always changing. 

I thought that the intros to each chapter were unique and did a good job of alluding to what would occur in the coming section. Having little pieces of folklore, parent backstory, and info about the land really made the world feel super immersive and definitely had me better understanding the towns and other locales the characters visit along their journey.  

The folklore/fairy tale vibes in this story are quite strong. There are witches, trolls, evil kings, poisonous flowers, and charming enchanters, among other things. At certain points, this book reminded my of Neil Gaiman's "Stardust" mostly due to the nature of Flora and Kaanan's relationship, Flora's semi-secret backstory, and the final fight scene. Seeing Flora grow into her powers was done quite well, especially because she often grapples with the difference between "good and evil" and "right and wrong." Seeing how she distinguishes the two is an important thing that all of us need to learn at some point in our lives. No one person is one hundred percent good or bad, and it is a fine line between the two that we all walk in this life. 

Overall, "The Age of Larkspur" is a fantastical tale that features two really relatable main characters, an Icelandic inspired magic system, and some inspiring messages. I'm glad that I finally got around to reading this one, because there were many things about it that I appreciate greatly about it. I am very curious to see what Parke decides to write next! I would definitely recommend this one to lovers of folklore, magic systems centered around nature, and forced proximity romances. 

Back of Book: 

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamed of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all Rio’s hopes for the future are shattered when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected choice, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long silenced—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the corrupted system constructed to govern the Divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Dystopia 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟 

A dystopian novel featuring an Earth shattered by the great Divide, which split the world into the toxic Above and the watery Below. 

Rio has always dreamed of feeling the sand between her toes in the land Above. But she's no Ariel. Rio grew up in the underwater world of Atlantia in the Below, where she has accepted that she will live the rest of her life in torment and in silence. At least she has her twin sister, Bay, to keep her company. That is, until Bay betrays Rio and decides to journey to the Above on her own. Now, Rio is left alone with a dangerous power that she has suppressed her entire life. With no hope left, Rio begins to plan an illegal way to the surface despite the dangers that such a journey would entail. Rio will do anything to join the world she's dreamed of all her life and to be reunited with her sister, the only person that truly understands her. 

FYI, this book is not a fantasy romance about mermaids, despite the cover, the title, and the taglines. I totally thought that it was based on how this novel was designed, but it's not. In reality, it is a dystopian novel about two sisters and the plights that they put themselves through in the pursuit of happiness. It is a pretty low stakes book, so it reads at a much slower pace than the average dystopian novel. This book does lean much more fantasy than science fiction though, so I wasn't entirely wrong. 

And to be fair, sirens are super important to the plot; they just aren't mermaids. Sirens are people who are born with the ability to persuade and charm others with their voices alone. Our main character, Rio, is a secret siren, which is pretty much the only thing at stake for the first half of this novel. The inclusion of the sirens is the most unique part of this particular dystopian novel, but I didn't find it cool enough to propel the entire story forward. 

Honestly, I think I enjoyed the slower first half of the novel more than than the latter half. The first chapter did a great job of hooking me and I couldn't believe that Bay would do that to Rio, despite the fact that I had just met both of them. Seeing Rio trying to raise enough money to buy supplies with the help of True was truly the most engaging part of this whole book, even if the last third of the novel is technically filled with more action. Sadly, the romance wasn't very strong, but I really appreciated Rio and True's friendly relationship in the beginning of the book. 

Can I just take a minute to comment on the names? Rio and Bay are super cringe names, even for a book in which the characters live underwater. I'm not saying that Oceania and Maire are necessarily great names, but these two at least seemed passable. And True might just be the worst thing you can name a child that isn't overtly offensive to others. *covers face with hands* I just couldn't get over the names of the characters in this book. 

I think the biggest thing about this one for me, was that nothing seemed that original. I know that this book was written a while ago and many dystopian books have been released after it, but still. The dystopian set-up wasn't anything too shocking with Earth sending some people into the ocean because the air is too toxic to breathe. The themes mostly focused on the importance of family, the importance of taking care of the Earth, and using your voice to inspire change. These are pretty common messages for dystopian novels, so it really just seemed like a dime a dozen book that had me feeling pretty passive towards it the whole way through. 

Overall, I wasn't very impressed by "Atlantia," but I still found it a decent read. It reads pretty similarly to many other dystopian novels I've read and didn't feel all that unique. Some choices felt a little cringey, especially when it came to naming things and characters making decisions, but I could overlook most of these incidents. I've been a fan of Condie's in the past, so I was a little let down by this one. I still haven't read her "Matched" trilogy yet, so hopefully I'll find that dystopian series to be a better fit for me than "Atlantia" was. 

Back of Book: 

The day the rains came was like any other, blistering air coating the canyon in a heavy stillness...

Just as the rains come after ten long, dry years, a young wizard, Wayland North, appears, to whisk Sydelle Mirabil away from her desert village. North needs an assistant, and Sydelle is eager to see the country—and to join him on his quest to stop the war that surely will destroy her home. But North has secrets—about himself, about why he chose Sydelle, about his real reasons for the journey. What does he want from her? And why does North's sworn enemy seem fascinated by Sydelle himself?

Through a journey that spans a country, magic and hard-won romance are woven together with precision and brilliant design by a first-time novelist.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Back of Book: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches and Wild is the Witch comes a lush romantic fantasy about forbidden love, the choices we make, and the pull between duty and desire.

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was born: she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat.

Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual—a fatal mistake—there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe.

Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive.

As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A bewitching romantasy that explores what happens when one young woman decides to follow her heart's desires rather than fulfill the duty she has long been anticipating. 

Tana Fairchild's destiny is practically fated in the stars. As the only daughter of the New Coven leader, Ingrid Fairchild, Tana has been set to marry the governor's son for as long as she can remember. There are things that Tana will miss about her home on the island, but she is more than willing to marry Landon and secure a protected future for both her homeland and her coven. That is, until she meets a mysterious witch by the name of Wolfe who introduces her to another world of magic and shakes up her entire existence. Can Tana still fulfill her sacred duty when her heart belongs to another man and her soul belongs to a different form of magic than the one she was raised on? 

One of my favorite booktubers, Just Ali, praised this book to the moon and back, so I felt inclined to give it a read. And my, I was not disappointed in the slightest. "Bring Me Your Midnight" is not only a really great romantasy read, but it is filled to the brim with so much nuance and heartache that I couldn't help but adore this book. 

The magical world in this book is stunning. All of the lore that goes into how the New Coven was formed is really intriguing and their fear comes from a very realistic place. Their passive magics that they use to make perfumes, teas, and other such goods is neat, and I thought that the Island had a really cozy vibe. All of the secrets that the coven hides are also really interesting and the dirt on the moonflowers had me in suspense for most of the story. The way that the magic is also so heavily involved in nature is awesome. Nature based magics are some of my favorite kinds, and it was super cool to explore Tana's affinity with the sea and all the plants she has harvested over the years. 

Right away, I was a bit turned off by Wolfe (mostly due to his name, to be honest). But once we got to know the sweet, caring boy under the icy exterior, I came to really enjoy him as a character. He is just as flawed as Tana is, which balanced out the problems that their relationship endures during this story. Tana and Wolfe's love came on a little strong a tad to quickly for me to truly adore, but I love the world that Wolfe introduces her to. I can understand the allure that she felt for Wolfe and why she would sacrifice so much for him. Speaking of sacrifices, man did Tana and Wolfe's relationship get tested in the latter half of this novel. 

Besides Wolfe, Tana also has some rock-solid relations with some other important characters. She adores her dad so much, and I ate up all the small moments they shared with one another. Tana's relationship with her mother is much more complex, but this added some much needed tension to the plot. My favorite relationship in this book though, is Tana and Ivy's bond. These two are tighter than tight and it pained me to see them go through any rough patches. Despite this, Tana and Ivy were always there for each other and my day was always made lighter any time Ivy graced the page. 

The pull between duty and desire is a theme that I've seen explored quite frequently as of late. Tana has so much on the line when it comes to her coven's safety if she marries Landon. Seeing all this pressure on her was hard to read at times, but I also understand what was trying to be done. I really like that this book showcased both sides of Tana's life (her duty to her coven and her desire to be wild and choose a life she desired) having pros and cons. Neither life would be perfect and both would require sacrificing so much. I just think that the nuance in which this topic was approached was stellar and hyper realistic. 

Overall, I ate up every aspect of "Bring Me Your Midnight." I enjoyed the nature magic, the complex politics, the witchy vibes, the romance, the familial complications, as well as the cast of supporting characters. This book is shooting up on my list of books to recommend to people, especially those who like fantasy romances that aren't too heavy on the spice and showcases the "duty vs desire" trope. I can't wait to check out more books by Rachel Griffin; hopefully they are all as good as "Bring Me Your Midnight." 

Back of Book: 

Storms and pirates are nothing compared to the evil within men’s hearts.

After a lifetime of abuse at the hands of superstitious townsfolk, Ophelia Young, a bastard child of the notorious pirate queen, is tired of paying for the sins of her mother. Despite playing by the rules her whole life, she’s earned nothing but spite and suspicion. So when a naval officer saves her from the jeering crowd at her mother’s hanging, Ophelia hatches a new hope of enlisting in the navy to escape her mother’s legacy and redeem her own reputation for good. But Ophelia soon discovers that a life at sea isn’t as honorable as she hoped.

Betsy Young is as different as she could be from her half-sister Ophelia. She’s a nervous homebody who wants to keep her family safe and longs to be in love. So naturally, she’s devastated when the son of their family’s business partner rejects her hand in marriage and her sister joins the navy. But when her father contracts a life-threatening illness as well, Betsy has to bring Ophelia home to save the family business.

Unfortunately for the Young sisters, Betsy trying to get Ophelia recalled reveals that Ophelia enlisted fraudulently under Betsy’s name, a secret which Ophelia struggles to keep from crewmates who would kill her if they knew she was the pirate queen’s daughter. To save Ophelia from the naval authorities, Betsy will have to board a ship during hurricane season and brave all the dangers of the sea to get them both home safe. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Historical | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟 

A pirate adventure featuring two sisters who are trying to find their place in the world. 

People hate Ophelia Young due to her being a bastard child of the infamous pirate queen, Ophelia Cray. After a naval officer saves her from the crowd's hatred at her mother's hanging, Ophelia decides that she's sick of how she's being treated and is going to enlist in the royal navy. However, they would never accept her as Cray's daughter, so she steals the identity of her sister, and enlists under the name Elizabeth Young. Betsy is desperate to save her sister from hanging just like her mother did and sets off to rescue Ophelia. Ophelia and Betsy soon find that life on the open sea isn't easy and are confronted by bloodthirsty pirates at every turn. 

I have been looking forward to reading this one for a while now. I mean, a pirate adventure featuring two sisters? Of course I'm intrigued! Unfortunately, I didn't love it as much as I thought I would, and I think this was mainly due to the pacing. It took forever for either sister to leave their hometown, which made the beginning feel like it went on forever. And then once they were at sea, it was mostly just constant drama between pirates and mutineering crewmates. 

One of my favorite parts about this book is the authentic way that it portrays sibling bonds. Ophelia and Betsy often butt heads, but at the center of their relationship, they are always set on trying to help each other. They don't part on the best of terms, so the two girls spend a ton of time hoping that they'll be reunited again so they can express their true sentiments toward one another. It is so sweet that Betsy treats Ophelia as a true sister, even though they are only half siblings. This isn't always the case, so it is nice to see that these two mostly get along. Ophelia often feels as though she isn't a true part of the family, though, and that they only deal with her out of pity. This is obviously untrue, so it is good to see the two sisters realize just how much they mean to one another. 

Other important messages deal with finding where one belongs, letting go of one's past burdens, and coming to terms with who one truly is. Ophelia is desperate to become a naval officer and prove that she is worthy enough to everyone that hates her just because of who her mother is. Betsy wants to be braver and less of a homebody. Both girls are searching for something, and it takes them a bit to realize that what they truly need has always been right in front of their noses. 

The pirate aspects of this book were full throttle for most of the story. Ophelia's crew is constantly fighting pirates, doing roguish things when they stop at ports, and even having to deal with a mutiny or two. Despite all this action, I was more intrigued by Betsy's side of the story, especially when her crew runs into some unexpected guests. Let's just say, Fiona's character is etched into my brain and I'll fear her for many years to come. 

I want to make a final comment saying that this book contains only the slightest hints of fantasy. It feels more historical with a touch of magical realism, but it also takes place in a made-up world, so that has it leaning more into the fantasy genre. 

Overall, "The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray" is an entertaining pirate adventure that keeps sibling relations front and center the whole way through. I wasn't overly attached to anything in this story, but the premise as well as the dramatic sequence of events kept me invested from start to finish. It is a bit slow paced but contains a ton of action. If you are willing to wait to reap the reward of an interesting pirate tale, this may be just the book for you. 

Audiobook Note: This was a pretty mid-level performance in my brain. I wasn't the biggest fan of how Jesse Vilinsky did male voices, but I absolutely adore her voices for Betsy and Fiona. I think listening to this one as an audiobook kept me more focused on the plot than I would have been if I read this one on paper. Ophelia and Betsy's story was certainly more exciting than folding laundry, but I could have seen my brain drifting away more if I tried to sit down and read this one straight through. 

Back of Book: 

After inadvertently starting rumors of a haunted cemetery, a teen befriends a ghost in this brand-new young adult novel exploring Indigenous identity from the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of The Marrow Thieves series.

Winifred has lived in the apartment above the cemetery office with her father, who works in the crematorium all her life, close to her mother's grave. With her sixteenth birthday only days away, Winifred has settled into a lazy summer schedule, lugging her obese Chihuahua around the grounds in a squeaky red wagon to visit the neglected gravesides and nursing a serious crush on her best friend, Jack.

Her habit of wandering the graveyard at all hours has started a rumor that Winterson Cemetery might be haunted. It's welcome news since the crematorium is on the verge of closure and her father's job being outsourced. Now that the ghost tours have started, Winifred just might be able to save her father's job and the only home she's ever known, not to mention being able to stay close to where her mother is buried. All she has to do is get help from her con-artist cousin to keep up the ruse and somehow manage to stop her father from believing his wife has returned from the grave. But when Phil, an actual ghost of a teen girl who lived and died in the ravine next to the cemetery, starts showing up, Winifred begins to question everything she believes about life, love and death. Especially love. 

Book Number: Stand Alone

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Contemporary | Paranormal | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟 

A young teen lives in a haunted cemetery with her grief-stricken father in this young adult coming of age story that explores identity. 

Winifred has spent her entire life living within the grounds of a cemetery, only feet away from the grave of her deceased mother. As a near sixteen-year-old in the summertime, she has very little to do, so she spends most of time wandering the cemetery at all hours of the day. These actions have started a rumor that the grounds are haunted, which might just be the thing to spice up her summer. At least, that's what Winifred thinks until she discovers that the cemetery is actually haunted and that all the attention drawn to the grounds is putting her new best friend in danger. 

It pains me to report how much I hated this book. I found it to be disjointed, confusing, and just plain boring. Nothing happens in the book until almost halfway through, and even then, nothing really caught my attention. This isn't that long of a book, but I struggled to finish this one over multiple day and considered DNFing it (even when I only had a dozen pages left to go). And mind you, I don't DNF books, so this one was really driving me batty. 

I personally found the way that indigenous culture and the LGBTQIA+ community was explored and talked about in this one to be a bit cringe. There's one character who dresses up in traditional buckskin clothing and performs ridiculous rituals to summon ghosts, and I just found this to be so gross. Winifred, the MC, also hated it, but that doesn't fix anything. Winifred has also been cut off from her native heritage after her mother dies, which would be super painful, but it kept this story from exploring the depth of indigenous culture that could have slightly redeemed this story for me. 

If this book wouldn't have weaved from random story to random story, I may have been able to follow it a bit easier. Unfortunately, so much of this book was made up of random side tangents that had nothing to do with anything (or were super boring), so I just found myself completely uninvested in everything that was happening. 

This book was also incredibly crass, which I didn't appreciate. The characters swear, shame each other relentlessly, and are all in all just not great people. Not liking literally any of the characters was another thing that really put a damper on this one for me. 

Overall, I didn't have any expectations going into "Funeral Songs for Dying Girls," but man, did I end up really disliking this one. The structure of the book was confusing, the characters were extremely unlikable, and I found many aspects of this book to be plain offensive. I really did not enjoy my time reading this one and I considered just stopping multiple times. It definitely didn't redeem itself in the end, so I'm leaving this one with a pretty bitter experience. 

Back of Book: 

Deadly storms have ravaged Mina’s homeland for generations. Floods sweep away entire villages, while bloody wars are waged over the few remaining resources. Her people believe the Sea God, once their protector, now curses them with death and despair. In an attempt to appease him, each year a beautiful maiden is thrown into the sea to serve as the Sea God’s bride, in the hopes that one day the “true bride” will be chosen and end the suffering.

Many believe that Shim Cheong, the most beautiful girl in the village—and the beloved of Mina’s older brother Joon—may be the legendary true bride. But on the night Cheong is to be sacrificed, Joon follows Cheong out to sea, even knowing that to interfere is a death sentence. To save her brother, Mina throws herself into the water in Cheong’s stead.

Swept away to the Spirit Realm, a magical city of lesser gods and mythical beasts, Mina seeks out the Sea God, only to find him caught in an enchanted sleep. With the help of a mysterious young man named Shin—as well as a motley crew of demons, gods and spirits—Mina sets out to wake the Sea God and bring an end to the killer storms once and for all.

But she doesn’t have much time: A human cannot live long in the land of the spirits. And there are those who would do anything to keep the Sea God from waking…

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance | Retelling 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

An immersive Korean fantasy tale that showcases what can happen when you let fate chase you rather than chasing it down yourself. 

For the last hundred years, Mina's homeland has been cursed with dangerous storms that have been dubbed the wrath of the Sea God. In a desperate ploy to appease him, a single girl is sacrificed in the hopes that they are the Sea God's true bride and that she will be able to heal his curse. When Shim Cheong is about to be sacrificed, Mina cannot accept it. Her brother, Joon, loves Cheong with his entire heart. And Mina loves her brother with her entire soul. Mina decides the only thing to do is take Cheong's place and throws herself into the sea instead. After arriving in the Spirit Realm, Mina will do whatever it takes satisfy the Sea God and save her family. 

My favorite thing about this one is most definitely the writing style. It is so immersive and atmospheric; it really feels as though someone is telling you a fairy tale aloud. There were portions of this book I couldn't resist reading aloud to myself due to the storytelling vibes. This book is based on the Korean story "The Tale of Shim Cheong," which I wasn't aware of going into this novel, but it gives me serious "Beauty and the Beast" vibes with Cheong sacrificing herself for her father. If it isn't clear by now, I really like the vibe of this one. 

I've really been enjoying the Asian fantasies that I have discovered recently. The Spirit Realm is filled with all sorts of interesting gods, spirits, and dragons that I couldn't help but find endearing. The Red String of Fate is another concept that I think is really cool. Fate and destiny are topics that I love exploring and discussing, so the Red String of Fate really brings an interesting discussion point to the table. I've seen so many Asian fantasy books with red strings on the covers recently, so I'm guessing this is a super popular thing throughout Asian mythology. I should most definitely check out more of these books. Anyway, I love how willing Mina is to go against the legends and defy her fate to achieve her true destiny. 

Mina is willing to go through so much for her family and people, which I think is so sweet. I love books that feature strong sibling bonds, so I appreciate Mina and Joon's relationship. The importance of one's ancestors is also brought up in this book, and I found it neat how they helped aid Mina's journey in restoring the Sea God to his former glory. The fact that Mina grapples with following her heart versus fulfilling her duty is another interesting topic that this book delves into. Mina is such a strong main character, and it was inspiring seeing her journey through the Spirit World. 

Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere, the themes, and the deep dive into Korean mythology in "The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea." I may not have been one hundred percent engaged in every single page, but I really loved the vibe of this novel. Fairy tale-esque retellings are always so fun, and it's so nice seeing more diverse versions hitting the mainstream markets. Axie Oh truly has a way with words, and I can't wait to keep diving into more of her books! 

Back of Book: 

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland—the infamous Queen of Hearts—she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next queen.

Then Cath meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the king and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship. Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Back of Book: 

A breath-taking Japanese inspired YA fantasy, highly illustrated with stunning Manga art, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Xiran Jay Zhao and R. F. Kuang. Meet the Hakai Family Purveyors of artisan hells and unlucky days to inflict upon your enemies. 

They'll make it personal... But for a price!

Hyo Hakai is a hellmaker. But when a curse destroys her village, she and her brother are forced to flee to the Island of Onogoro - a place where Gods live among humans. 

Hyo expects the bodies when they show up, but as she investigates she is drawn into a tangled web of ens, death, conspiracy and secrets. 

A unique YA debut from author and illustrator Mina Ikemoto Ghosh. This beautiful package is highly illustrated with Manga style art.  Drawing on Japanese traditions and classic mystery storytelling, Hyo's world will captivate readers from start to finish. Perfect for fans of Six of Crows, Iron Widow and Spirited Away.   

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Mystery | Horror 

Review: 🌟🌟 

A horror-filled murder mystery novel inspired by Japanese mythology in which gods and demons walk among humanity. 

Hyo Hakai is a hellmaker and a paranormal investigator. When a deadly curse destroys her home, Hyo and her brother flee to Onogoro, a land in which gods walk among humans. Upon their arrival, Hyo is hired to investigate a mysterious death. This leads her down a tumultuous path that may get her killed (or worse) if she's not careful. 

I wish I could have enjoyed this one more. Honestly, the story itself was decently interesting, the characters had potential to be cool, and the art was really neat. However, this wasn't enough to make this one an interesting read for me. I mean, this book is over five hundred pages long! If this story would have been condensed into a novella, I'm sure I really could have enjoyed my time with it. As it is though, not so much. 

There are some parts of this book that I found to be pretty interesting, and they all have to do with the Japanese folklore side of things. The concepts of en and life fire are super intriguing and the whole demon pear thing was quite unique. This book really pushes that we all have a life fire inside of us and as long as that fire burns, we can still help those that we share en with. En are magical connections that we share with those we bond with. And the demon pears are something so creepy and grotesque I think one has to read about them oneself to get the full picture. 

The illustrations were definitely another of this book's redeeming factors. The pictures are honestly amazing, and I love how expressive Hyo's face is throughout the images in this book. It made me feel a kinship with her, as I watched her react to all the crazy demon curses and other such insanity that was happening around her. It's especially cool that the author drew the illustrations herself. 

However, these couple of things weren't enough to redeem this one. It was just too long, which had me growing incredibly bored in some portions. My brain had a hard time comprehending the importance of the fake quotes from in-world texts at the start of every chapter. I feel they added quite a bit of read time for practically no reason. The mystery element was sort of intriguing, but I mostly found myself wondering where this story was going and then found the ending mostly unsatisfying. I thought that the characters had potential to be really original and unique, but the felt more like caricatures playing a role than real life people. 

Overall, I may not have had the best experience while reading "Hyo the Hellmaker," but I was very intrigued by this book going into it, so I can't say I'm upset that I read it. The illustrations throughout were very unique, and the creepy Japanese folklore was a fun thing to experience. If this book would have been way shorter, there's even a chance that I would have really enjoyed this one. 

Back of Book: 

When Sarah wakes up  dead at the Mall of America, she learns that not only was she murdered, her killer is still on the loose.   

When you’re sixteen, you have your whole life ahead of you. Unless you’re Sarah. Not to give anything away, but... she’s dead. Murdered, in fact. Sarah’s murder is shocking because she couldn’t  be any more average. No enemies. No risky behavior. She’s just the girl on the sidelines.

It looks like her afterlife, on the other hand, will be pretty exciting. Sarah has woken up dead at the Mall of America—where the universe sends teens who are murdered—and with the help of her death coach, she must learn to move on or she could meet a fate totally worse than death: becoming a mall walker.

As she tries to finish her unfinished business alongside her fellow dead teens, Sarah falls hard for a cute boy named Nick. And she discovers an uncanny ability to haunt the living. While she has no idea who killed her, or why, someone she loves is in grave danger. Sarah can’t lose focus or she’ll be doomed to relive her final moments again and again forever. But can she live with herself if she doesn’t make her death matter?

Book Number: Stand Alone  

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance

Review: 🌟🌟

Learning to forgive is no easy task in the Mall of the Dead. . . especially when you've just been murdered.

One moment, Sarah is having the time of her life at her father and stepmother's wedding. The next, she wakes up dead at the mall. Yes, she's still wearing the ugly mango-colored dress that her stepmother adores, but that's not her biggest problem. Sarah soon learns that she was murdered, and that her killer is out to get her father next. Her death coach wants her to move on and be reborn to a new and better life, but how can Sarah move on when she left so many unfinished things behind in her old life? With the help of her new dead friends, Sarah learns to reconcile with the things she never got to do when she was alive and hopefully save her dad in the process.

This book wasn't exactly horrible, but there wasn't much that I liked about it either. And there was quite a few things that drove me completely crazy while reading, including how choppy the sentences were and the fact that Sarah's thoughts were written in parentheses. Sheehan's attempts to include death/ghost humor into this book was also not good and somehow made this book cornier than it already was.

The plot of this book wasn't horrendous, but it was also pretty cliché and flat. After death, Sarah has to reconcile with her past in order to stop existing as a ghost and move on. I must say, the fact that ghosts with unfulfilled lives went to a giant shopping mall while they were in limbo was pretty unique, but everything else, not so much. The way that Sarah goes about trying to save her dad isn't exactly interesting and there is zero urgency that he is actually going to die, due to the fact the reader knows what is going on with him the entire time.

The only other thing I really have comments on is the romance. The first thing I want to say about Sarah and Nick's relationship is that it is very illogical to fall in love with someone while you are both ghosts who are trying to put their past live's behind them and be reborn. Luckily, this was eventually realized. The other thing I want to mention is that they knew each other for like a week and then felt that they were destined to be with each other throughout eternity/all their lives. Which I guess is fine if one believes in the whole soulmate thing, but I felt even for a "love at first sight" romance, this relationship escalated pretty quickly and somehow didn't amount to much of anything. Also, the ending of the book ended a bit too perfectly to keep their relationship alive to my liking.

Overall, "I Woke Up Dead at the Mall" wasn't the worst book, but there isn't much to write home about either. The characters are rather dull, the plot is overused and predictable, and the writing is borderline cringey at times. I didn't hate this one, but I didn't find that there was much to be gleaned from it either.

Back of Book: 

A young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel.

Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean.

That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

THIS BOOK!!! Oh my goodness, words are hard. I'm not sure if I can accurately portray how much I love this book but I will do my best!

"In Deeper Waters" is at its core a gay retelling of "The Little Mermaid," but it is so much more than that. The story follows Prince Taliesin (Tal) as he sets off on his coming-of-age tour. He has never been outside of the walls of his castle due to the deadly magic he possess that is outlawed in his own kingdom. Only days into his journey, the ship's crew rescues a mysterious prison by the name of Athlen from an abandoned ship. Tal is tasked with watching over the newly found prisoner and Tal soon finds himself with intense feelings for Athlen. But their relationship is cut short when Athlen jumps overboard. Tal is devastated by this loss, thinking that he is responsible for Athlen's death. That is, until he meets him again in a bustling port town very much still alive. The two meet by chance, but Tal and Athlen are two loners in a magical world in which they might just be the only hope that the kingdom has. . .

Shockingly enough, I was not aware that this book was a retelling of "The Little Mermaid" going into it. I did catch on by the end of the first chapter, so I wasn't too far behind. This is such an inclusive retelling, and I enjoyed it immensely. I love the fact that Tal is bi, random side characters are queer, and that Tal's mother was so willing to let her children marry whomever they wished, even though they were heirs to her throne. This kingdom really seemed ahead of their times and I really appreciate that.

My favorite part of this book was obviously the romance. I ship Tal and Athlen to the ends of the Earth and I was eating up every little moment between them. Tal is such an emotional boy and Athlen is so oblivious of human customs and they were both so cute (especially together). Every time someone tried to do something against either of them, my heart started pounding hard and I nobody could stop me from rooting for them every step of the way. Fantasy romances are kinda my favorite thing ever, and Lukens did not disappoint with this one. The ending was so intense and my heart was literally going to break if anything happened to either of them that ended up with them not together.

Another thing I really love about this book is the sibling bonds. It is pretty rare that one finds such a heavy emphasis on family relationships in a romance, so I thought it was neat, especially because there is so many siblings with distinct personalities. Isa is the eldest and the heir to the throne. Garrett is the second eldest and the leader of the kingdom's military. Kest is next and he can shapeshift into a bird, which I thought was pretty groovy. Then it's Tal, who I obviously adore. And finally, there's Corrie, the youngest, who is the spitfire of the group. I love the banter between the siblings and the way they tease Tal is priceless. But hey, it's not their fault that Tal found himself in a fairy tale romance, is it now? Also, all of their others halves really added to the immense cast of interesting characters, making for awesome chemistry between all of them.

Overall, I love every little piece of this book. I will most definitely be buying it in the future and will be binge reading everything that F.T. Lukens writes. Between the interesting world. the lovable characters, the stellar romance, and the beautiful writing, there is nothing about this book that I would dream of negatively critique. I will be recommending this one to all of my fantasy romance buddies until the end of time. I would highly recommend if you haven't picked up on that yet. :)

Back of Book: 

Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals, hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality.

Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world in the wake of her family's sadistic murder by a rival line, turning her back on the hunt's promises of eternal glory. For years she's pushed away any thought of revenge against the man—now a god—responsible for their deaths.

Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek out her help: Castor, a childhood friend of Lore believed long dead, and a gravely wounded Athena, among the last of the original gods.

The goddess offers Lore an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to bind her fate to Athena's and rejoin the hunt will come at a deadly cost—and still may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Back of Book: 

What happens when the most beautiful girl in the world marries the handsomest prince of all time and he turns out to be... well... a lot less than the man of her dreams?

As a boy, William Goldman claims, he loved to hear his father read the S. Morgenstern classic, The Princess Bride. But as a grown-up he discovered that the boring parts were left out of good old Dad's recitation, and only the "good parts" reached his ears.

Now Goldman does Dad one better. He's reconstructed the "Good Parts Version" to delight wise kids and wide-eyed grownups everywhere.

What's it about? Fencing. Fighting. True Love. Strong Hate. Harsh Revenge. A Few Giants. Lots of Bad Men. Lots of Good Men. Five or Six Beautiful Women. Beasties Monstrous and Gentle. Some Swell Escapes and Captures. Death, Lies, Truth, Miracles, and a Little Sex.

In short, it's about everything. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Back of Book: 

From the New York Times best-selling author of Disney’s Villains series comes a ghostly new stand-alone novel that reimagines The Legend of Sleepy Hollow through the eyes of a modern teen.

The two-hundredth anniversary of the Headless Horseman's legendary haunting of Sleepy Hollow is approaching, but Kat van Tassel wants nothing to do with the town's superstitious celebrations. As a descendant of the original Katrina van Tassel, Kat knows she’s expected to fulfill her ancestor’s legacy by someday marrying her longtime boyfriend and running the prestigious family estate. But Kat dreams of a life outside Sleepy Hollow.

Then Kat meets Isadora, a new girl in town who challenges Kat to reexamine those expectations, opens her eyes to the possibility that ghosts are real, and makes her question who she truly wants to be . . . and be with.

When Kat is given the original Katrina’s diary, a new legend begins to take shape, one that weaves together the past and the present in eerie ways. Can Kat uncover a two-hundred-year-old secret, and trace its shocking reverberations in her own life, in time to protect what she truly loves?

Fans of Serena Valentino will delight in this supernatural coming-of-age tale that finally gives the women of Sleepy Hollow a chance to tell their side of the story.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟

A modern, feminist retelling of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" featuring some LGBTQIA+ characters and many, many Katrina's. 

Kat is a descendant of one of Sleepy Hollow's prestigious families, that of the Van Tassels. She knows that she is expected to marry her longtime boyfriend, Blake, and inherit the family estate and honorifics, but she wants more than what the Sleepy Hollow has to offer. When she meets Isadora Crow, she begins to imagine a world in which her dreams could possibly come true. But what really makes her reevaluate her life is her great-great-something grandmother's diary, that of the original Katrina Van Tassel, who lives on in a sense through "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." 

When I started reading this book, I thought it would be fun. I mean, I haven't read any retellings of the Headless Horseman, so I thought it would be different. Then I realized I didn't know anything about "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" so I took a pit stop and gave that a read to give myself some context. Over half of this book is told from the first Katrina Van Tassel's perspective and unfortunately, nothing really new or exciting was done with this. Some feminist bits were thrown in at the very end to give more power to Katrina and allow her to make some of her own decisions, but I feel like it was relatively little for how much of her perspective we were given. 

After I got about halfway through the book, it really started to drag for me. The characters were bland and cookie-cutter versions of the people from Irving's original work, the plot wasn't super exciting, but the biggest issue was the writing. This book has got to have some of the laziest writing I have ever seen in multiple different ways. The descriptions are boring, the figurative language was usually very literal, and both Katrina's read as exactly the same person, despite the two hundred year time difference. 

Also, the fact that Katrina's diary entries weren't written as journal entries really bothered me. The book would have benefited so much if it was written in first person. I found it so bizarre that the author didn't just write Katrina's diary as, wait for it, diary entries. Grrr. The epilogue was written in first person, and it was literally the best few pages of the book. The executive decisions in this book were seriously not great, and I cannot believe that this book wasn't written in the first person. 

The ending of this book was also so lack luster. Pretty much every part of this book mirrored Irving's tale exactly, so there were zero elements that were unpredictable. I would have loved for an ending with a bit more of a twist than the three "shocking" details that Kat and Isadora discover at the very end (I saw all of them coming besides this one detail about the original Katrina that I found cheesy and very much just leaned into the feminist vibes that this book was trying to have). For a retelling, it kinda just felt like reading an expanded version of the original story two times over, due to the fact the book was in both Kat's and Katrina's perspectives, which were both very similar. 

Overall, "Raising the Horseman" was pretty much just a lazily rewritten version of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" that didn't bring too many new elements to the table except for the bisexual main character and the feminist portrayal of the original Katrina Van Tassel. This book had potential to be good, but it's overall lack of decent writing really caused the book to plummet. Every single word was bland and this just made it incredibly boring. I hope to one day find a better book that retells the story of Sleepy Hollow in a better light. Thank you for "trying," but I think that I'd pass on this one if I were you! 

Back of Book: 

You are alone in the woods, seen only by the unblinking yellow moon. Your hands are empty. You are nearly naked.

And the wolf is angry.

Since her grandmother became her caretaker when she was four years old, Bisou Martel has lived a quiet life in a little house in Seattle. She’s kept mostly to herself. She’s been good. But then comes the night of homecoming, when she finds herself running for her life over roots and between trees, a fury of claws and teeth behind her. A wolf attacks. Bisou fights back. A new moon rises. And with it, questions. About the blood in Bisou’s past and on her hands as she stumbles home. About broken boys and vicious wolves. About girls lost in the woods—frightened, but not alone.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy  

Review: 🌟🌟

Back of Book: 

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Historical | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 

Two teens put everything on the line in a deadly horse race in the hope that they will finally be able to achieve their dreams. 

Every November, the Scorpio Races are held. Riders attempt to tame dangerous water horses called capall uisce. Only one racer wins, but many others will be dead before the race is over. Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He may not have a way with words, but he certainly has a way with horses, especially the murderous kind that killed his father. Puck Connelly on the other hand, has never once worked with a water horse. But she has no other choice than to enter the Scorpio Races in order to keep her family from falling apart. As the first girl to ever compete, she may have bitten off more than she can chew. 

For the first one hundred fifty pages of this book, I was bored out of my mind. After reading several two star books in a row, I feared that this one was going to enter the same territory. Luckily, things eventually started to pick up and catch my interest. 

This book is by no means fast-paced or intense, but I found myself really caring about Puck and Sean as characters. They have both gone through some serious trauma surrounding the water horses and yet they are brave enough to face their pasts and compete in the Scorpio Races in the hopes that they can obtain the things they wish for the most. 

This story at its core, is a love letter to the bond between people and their animal companions. I never went through a huge horse era like some girls do, but I can still appreciate the extremely powerful bond between a horse and its rider. Puck's love for Dove is insurmountable and Sean is literally willing to give up his entire livelihood for Corr. The way that the four of them bond throughout the course of this novel is truly beautiful and they made for a wonderful found family. Puck and Sean's dedication to their mounts is a sight to behold and one of the biggest takeaways from this novel. 

The romance elements in this book aren't super strong, but I do love the subtly of Puck and Sean's blossoming feelings for one another. They both are a bit of outcasts who love their horses more than anyone else, so it was great seeing them learn to trust each other in a way that they've never trusted anyone before. 

I'm honestly glad that the Scorpio Races only made up such a small portion of this book. Super intense action scenes aren't typically my favorite, so I appreciate that the cool down after the race was so much more prominent. Seriously, the last chapter is written so well. It didn't bring tears to my eyes, but I think if you are a horse person, it definitely has the potential to. 

Overall, "The Scorpio Races" starts off pretty slow, but it picks up after a while and turns into a poignant story about chasing your dreams and learning to trust. The romance is subtle and sweet, the bond between horse and rider is strong as steel, and the writing surprised me in a good way. This was my first Stiefvater read, and this has me hopeful that the rest of her books may actually be up my alley. She's making her way up my TBR list for sure! 

Back of Book: 

It was the closest kingdom to the queen's, as the crow flies. But not even the crows flew it. 

You may think you know the story. There's a young queen, about to be married. There are some brave, hardy dwarfs; a castle shrouded in thorns; and a princess cursed by a witch, so rumor has it, to sleep forever. 

But no one is waiting for a noble prince to appear on his trusty steed here. This fairy tale is spun with a thread of dark magic, which twists and turns and glints and shines. A queen might just prove herself a hero, if a princess needs rescuing...

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy 

Review: 🌟🌟

Back of Book: 

Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She's always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories.

Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he's been cast from home. He's found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake.

Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli's best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven't been in centuries.

And there are some who will kill to keep them apart.

Darcie Little Badger introduced herself to the world with Elatsoe. In A Snake Falls to Earth, she draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Contemporary 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Two worlds collide when Oli, a cottonmouth snake spirit of the other world, crashes down onto Nina's life. 

Nina is a Lipan girl who has always believed in her grandmother's tales of alternative worlds and mysterious shapeshifters. Oli is one such snake spirit, but he doesn't know anything about Nina or the planet Earth. But when Oli's best friend, Ami, starts suffering from a mysterious ailment, it's high time that Nina and Oli end up meeting. The two must work together to save the ones they love before it's too late. 

This book has a bit of a slow start, with Nina being a young girl learning about the rich stories of the Lipan and Oli figuring out how to survive without his mother's constant care. As the book progresses, we see random glimpses of their lives and it isn't about halfway through until the main plot really starts up. However, I really enjoyed reading Nina and Oli's slice of life stories as they both discover the magic that is present in both their worlds. 

I really enjoy the cast of characters in this one. Nina was pretty mid for me, but I love Oli's gang. The coyote twins, Reign and Risk, are both fun in their own respects. Brightest the hawk shifter is pretty cool too and I came to really enjoy their sporadic appearances. But my favorite of the group by far is Ami. He is such a precious little toad and I just think that he is the cutest little guy. He may be mute, but I really appreciate everything he does all the same. 

I really related to Oli in many ways. This book really got me thinking that if I was born as an animal, I would still be blind and need glasses. I thought that this was quite a comical problem that Oli had to manage and it felt so relatable despite the fact that I am not a snake. Oli's default setting tends to be panicking and he also really appreciates his alone time, so me and Oli really have a bunch in common. 

The themes that touch on climate change and protecting the environment are really heartfelt; you can tell how passionate Little Badger is about these topics. The other world in which Oli lives in is directly affected by the conditions of Earth. The animal populations that are thriving in our world flourish in their world as well, and those that are suffering are likewise mirrored in the otherworld. I feel that this does a great job of showcasing the extreme affect that humans have on animal populations and the natural world. We will always be connected, and we both impact each other immensely. 

Overall, "A Snake Falls to Earth" is a fun read with a bit of a slow start. If you are willing to sit through a meandering story with little structured plot line, Oli's adventures really are a jolly good time. The look into Lipan stories and mythology are also a joy and the themes that this book pushes are really important. I've been enjoying my time with Little Badger's books, and I'm sure I'll pursue more of them in the future. I hope that she decides to write a companion to this book, because I really enjoy the world and the characters. Besides, there is a pretty big side story that is left unresolved that could easily fuel an entire novel. 

Back of Book: 

Carry On meets Arthurian legend in this funny, subversive young adult fantasy about what happens after the chosen one wins the kingdom and has to get married to keep it… and to stay alive.

Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.

With his eighteenth birthday only three months away, and only Matt in on the secret, Arek embarks on a desperate bid to find a spouse to save his life—starting with his quest companions. But his attempts at wooing his friends go painfully and hilariously wrong… until he discovers that love might have been in front of him all along.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A fantasy rom-com that tells the true story of "ever after" featuring a high dose of snark, satirical statements against traditional fairy tales, and some very familiar tropes to those who are one with the D&D. 

"So This Is Ever After" follows a party of travelers after they have completed their daring quest. Arek is the leader, who is directly responsible for defeating the Vile One, the evil dictator that has ruled the Kingdom of Ere with an iron fist for over twenty years. His best friend (and the boy that he has a secret crush on), Matt, convinces Arek to temporarily ascend the throne. Unfortunately for the ragtag band, the crown is much less willing to let them go. Arek, now stuck as the reluctant king of Ere must now find a partner to rule alongside them before their eighteenth birthday or disappear forever. Arek turns to trying to woo his friends. . . all while trying to secretly figure out how to tell Matt how he truly feels. 

Another hit by F.T. Lukens. I can firmly state that I will purchase any book that they write after reading another absolute banger by them. Lukens humor is on point, I love the fairy tale-esque worlds they craft, and I can't get enough of all the sweet boys that they craft. I ate up every part of this book, and it really helped revitalize my reading life. Also, I seriously need more fairy tale romantic comedies in my life; I think they have got to be one of my favorite genres! 

This book begins at the point where most stories are ending, hence the look into the "ever after" of a fairy tale. I thought that this was both really smart and refreshing to read. Seeing this group of misfits try to rule a kingdom was hilarious as it was endearing, and I loved learning about all the different eccentric characters. There's obviously Arek and Matt (who might I say I was shipping as soon as Matt appeared on the page), but the rest of the crew is just as great. There's Sionna, the warrior and talented fighter of the group. Bethany is the flirty bard who uses the power of persuasion to assist the group and attain their desires. Lila is the rogue, who quite literally cannot keep her hands to herself at any moment in time. And finally there is Rion, the chivalrous knight of the group that doesn't have a bad bone in his body. It was fun getting to know the crew and I'm always down for a found family situation. 

I must admit, this entire story was put into action by the miscommunication trope, which I found to be slightly annoying. However, the humor, the story plot, and the characters helped me look past the fact that the entire issue could have been solved with one honest conversation among friends. It's main purpose is to be entertaining and I found it to be quite hysterical at times, so I would consider this book to be a success. 

Overall, I really enjoyed "So This Is Ever After" and all of the joy that it brought into my life. I was desperately in need of both a fantasy and a romance book, so this book was really medicine for my soul. And it gets bonus points for being funny. I seriously cannot recommend Lukens' books enough, and Arek and Matt's story is no exception. I'll hold this story close to my heart and will look forward to the next Lukens book that I pick up. If you are a fan of fairy tales, D&D, and gay rom-coms, you don't want to miss out on "So This Is Ever After!" 

Back of Book: 

Her world will change with each raging storm. 

Moss has grown up on the strangest and most magical of islands. Her father has a plan to control the tempestuous weather that wracks the shores. But the island seems to have a plan of its own once Callan—a wild boy her age—appears on its beaches. Her complex feelings for Callan shift with every tide, while her love for the island, and her father, are thrown into doubt...

And when one fateful day, a young man from the outside world washes up on the beach, speaking of the Old World, nothing will ever be the same. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy 

Review: 🌟🌟

Back of Book: 

Tales from the Inner City is a collection of strikingly original stories about the relationships between animals and human beings. 

By turns moving, shocking, hilarious, and surreal, Tan's stories place frogs in a corporate boardroom, bears in the legal system, horses on the highway, and more. 

Each tale is accompanies by the author's luminous paintings, windows upon hidden world of truth and feeling beneath the surface of our everyday lives. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Short Stories | Poetry 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A thought-provoking collection of interweaving, magical stories highlighting the complicated relationship between nature and humankind. 

"Tales From the Inner City" plays with the juxtaposition of wild animals living among humans in large city settings. Featuring stories about crocodiles living on the eighty-seventh floor, flying orcas, and killer tigers, this collection is filled with fantastical tales that force us to look at our oftentimes toxic relationship with the animals that we are meant to live in harmony with. 

This book is so magical. It is hard to pinpoint where this magic comes from, but I want to put it on the author's lyrical writing style, and the bizarre scenarios that occur within in this book. I will not soon be forgetting the images of a family fishing for "stupidity or fun," a shark with an infinite number of sharks within it, and the neighborhood cat that is loved and cherished by many. 

Some of these stories showcase the love that we have for animals, such as the one about dogs and cats. Other stories showcase how we are harming the Earth, such as the one about the rhino and the bears. A few of the stories even show that we must show reciprocity to animals, such as the story of the fox. One of the other themes that I thought was interesting was in the story of the tiger. In this story, some people fear the tiger, others don't believe it exists, and others still have come to love it. I feel that the story of the tiger does a great job at showcasing how different people have such unique relationships with nature and the animals in this world. Each of these stories is short, so I won't go into detail about what happens in any of the stories or poems, but trust me when I say that they all have their own dose of magic. 

I also have to mention the illustrations that accompany each story. They really enhance the messages within and capture the mood of each tale perfectly. Some tales are sad and depressing, while others are full of joy and hope. The illustrations at the end of each story really bring them to life and add another layer to the stories. I especially like the illustrations within the poem about the dog; they were quite fun to compare. 

Overall, I didn't think that this book was going to be as beautiful as it is, so color me surprised. I ended up loving the messages in this book and often found my throat tightening up at the content within. No joke, I will forever be haunted by the Russian doll shark; it gives me the heebie-jeebies. This book is fairly unique and I am very much intrigued to read more books by Tan in the future. A quick, heartfelt, and thought-provoking read, I'd recommend giving it a read if you come across it. 

Back of Book: 

Death is permanent. Even if it hasn’t happened yet.

With just a touch, George experiences a person's future death. High school is hard enough, but sixteen-year-old death witch Georgiana “George” Colburn can’t seem to catch a break. Even Jen’s ghost, the recently deceased popular girl who ignored George in life, won’t leave her alone. George is convinced her life can’t get any worse. That is until she bumps into the new student and experiences his death at her hand.

When a coven mate, Trixie, offers to help her with her magic, George finds herself with a new friend and crush, but she knows even if she found the courage to ask her out, a relationship is impossible: she’d never be able to touch her. With the help of her friends, George must face her fears and learn to embrace her powers to unlock the secrets of her magic before blood stains her hands.

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

A coven of witches with mysterious powers, a girl who can see death with a single touch, and a dangerous entity that seems to be haunting the town. . . 

Georgiana "George" Colburn has a unique ability even among her fellow death witches: she experiences the death of any person that she touches. Understandably, this can get in the way of  blending in as a normal high school student and creates a bit of an awkward dynamic with her first crush. When she accidentally brushes into the new student, Silas, she experiences a death like no other: she is the one that kills him. Riddled with confusion, George is filled with despair, knowing that she is to become a murderer. Luckily, her friends Felix and Trixie are there to help her through the tough times and crack the mystery surrounding the new boy and her mysterious deathly powers. 

I love the trio in this book. George, Felix, and Trixie are such a fun group of kids and I really enjoyed my time with them. George is a bit of a loner due to her powers, but her bond with Felix is so wholesome. The fact that he is a popular kid who also happens to be the school flirt just makes their friendship all the more precious. Trixie perfectly rounds out the group with her studious ways and quick wit. They all had interesting attributes to add to the group, and I found the chemistry between the three of them to feel completely organic. 

One of the things I love the most about this story is the unique magic system. I don't think I have ever read a book that dove so deeply into witchcraft and covens. I was enraptured by the magic that George and Trixie study and I found it really neat that all of the witches have affinities towards different types of magic. 

This book is also a coming of age story, which I really appreciate. George and Trixie work to become official witches and gain additional powers attributed from the Goddess. George also has to learn to cope with her dark powers and what it means to truly be herself. Even though I am not a magical death wish, there are still many of her struggles that I can heavily relate to. Her bubbling crush for Trixie is also such a prominent part of her growing up; Trixie is her first crush, after all! I found their feelings for one another to be so darn cute, and I couldn't get enough of their moments together. 

Overall, I found "Touch of Death" to be a touching tale of friendship, acceptance, and the tribulations of growing up with a magical twist. I really enjoyed the characters, the world-building, and the mystery elements of the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and am excited to see what other magical concoctions Munsell will develop in the future! 

Back of Book: 

Eighteen-year-old Victoria is a Wildblood. Since she was kidnapped at the age of six and manipulated by the Exotic Lands Touring Company, she’s worked as a tour guide ever since with a team of fellow Wildbloods who take turns using their magic to protect travelers in a Jamaican jungle teeming with ghostly monsters.

When the boss denies Victoria an earned promotion to team leader in favor of Dean, her backstabbing ex, she’s determined to prove herself. Her magic may be the most powerful on the team, but she’s not the image the boss wants to send their new client, Thorn, a renowned goldminer determined to reach an untouched gold supply deep in the jungle.

Thorn is everything Victoria isn't - confident, impossibly kind, and so handsome he leaves her speechless. And when he entrusts the mission to her, kindness turns to mutual respect, turns to affection, turns to love. But the jungle is treacherous, and between hypnotic river spirits, soul-devouring women that shed their skin like snakes, and her ex out for revenge, Victoria has to decide - is promotion at a corrupt company really what she wants?

A fierce, lush fantasy by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood, Wildblood tells the story of a girl who must find the strength to defeat the demons of the jungle as well as her own to find where she truly belongs. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Historical | Romance 

Review: 🌟🌟🌟 

A dark fantasy steeped in Jamaican folklore that explores healing from one's trauma and finding a place to call home on their own terms. 

Victoria is a Wildblood. From the early age of six, a notorious tour company has been taking advantage of her and forcing her to bring foreigners into the jungle that she so desperately wants to call her own. Forced to use her magic to protect the tourists from the jungle's monsters, Victoria is ready to take things into her own hands. Unfortunately, her corrupt and abusive boss denies her the promotion that she so desperately needs in the favor of her backstabbing ex, Dean. Victoria is given one final chance to prove herself as an adept tour guide if she can get the latest client, Thorn, to sing Dean's praises. To her surprise, she finds that Thorn is a charming young man who treats her with more respect than anyone she's met before. As her feelings deepen, Victoria is forced to contemplate what she really wants in this life. 

This book is quite an intense read. Victoria, Dean, Thorn, and the rest of the troop are trekking through a treacherous jungle filled with creatures from Jamaican folklore that could have walked straight out of Hell. I've read a few books with Jamaican monsters in them, and I must say, they are just as horrifying as I remember them. There are soul-eating owls with teeth, giant shadow creatures with the ability to kill with a single touch, and of course, the River Mumma, who loves to lure stragglers into her river to their deaths. Seeing all the creatures was interesting and I appreciate learning more about Jamaican folklore. 

Victoria has been mistreated in pretty much every way possible during her time as a tour guide. Her boss is a corrupt leader who treats everyone like less than garbage, but Victoria has been hit extra hard due to her being a beautiful female. Abused mentally, sexually, physically, and financially, Victoria is running away from so much pain in this book. And this is without all the racially charge violence and abuse that she faces. These things certainly add to the intense vibes that this book has, but the author does a great job of showcasing how unhealthy and slow-going growth can be after years and years of continuous trauma. 

I love how in tune with nature Victoria is. She is fiercely loyal to the few boys in her troop that she cares about, but her true allegiance lies with the River Mumma and the jungle. I think it's cool that she is still semi-religious despite how devoted to nature she is. The fact that she is willing to hold poisonous butterflies and spiders without batting an eye shows how comfortable she is with the fauna. Nature lovers as protags are always neat in my opinion. As a side note, I really appreciate how strong Victoria is, even though she deals with panic attacks and stuttering. 

The romance element in this book wasn't the strongest for me, but I didn't hate Thorn either. I feel their relationship came on a bit fast, but I also get it. No one has ever treated Victoria with as much respect as Thorn has, so it makes sense she wanted to trust him so easily. The one steamy scene between them was questionable at best, but I also get wanting to use sex to forget about the heavy things that are weighing on one's mind. Luckily, Thorn is a considerate gentleman despite his skirt-chasing nature, and he treated Victoria with the respect she deserves. 

I must admit, I didn't understand the Wildblood's magic system at all. Did it just give them extreme endurance, strength, stamina, etc? I dunno. I get that Victoria could use blood as a weapon, such as forming knives or draining her enemies of blood. I know that Wildbloods go into rages if they overuse their abilities. Is it similar to barbarians raging in D&D? I'm really not sure and I wish this all would have been a little clearer to me. Also, there is little discussion of where these powers come from or why Victoria's are the strongest, but that didn't bother me as much as the confusion of what the powers do did. 

I'm going to quickly go over some of the reasons I wasn't completely attached to this narrative. I didn't care about most of the side characters, which made it hard to really care about their safety. Literally ninety-eight percent of the characters die in this one, and I didn't care one bit. There were also a few too many men vying for Victoria's attention for my liking; I didn't really see what Sampson had to offer to the plot. And Victoria and Dean's entire arc is icky, and rather confusing for much of this book. The pacing is a bit slow, and the writing style wasn't my favorite, but these didn't make the book painful, so I accept them. 

Overall, "Wildblood" is a moody dark fantasy buried root deep in Jamaican folklore. The elements of choosing your own fate and overcoming one's traumas are really strong; this story is such a creative way to showcase these messages. Learning more about Jamaican mythical creatures was one of my favorite parts of this book (despite how creepy they all seem to be). This book has very few happy moments featured, but that doesn't mean that it's not a compelling read that is worth exploring. It definitely could have hooked me more, but I didn't dislike my time with this one. I would recommend this one for lovers of dark fantasy who are looking for more diverse fantasy worlds and discussions of real-life traumas many people face.