Back of Book: 

Seventeen-year-old Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years fighting for survival in the notorious death prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer.

When the Rebel Queen is captured, Kiva is charged with keeping the terminally ill woman alive long enough for her to undergo the Trial by Ordeal: a series of elemental challenges against the torments of air, fire, water, and earth, assigned to only the most dangerous of criminals.

Then a coded message from Kiva’s family arrives, containing a single order: “Don’t let her die. We are coming.” Aware that the Trials will kill the sickly queen, Kiva risks her own life to volunteer in her place. If she succeeds, both she and the queen will be granted their freedom.

But no one has ever survived.

With an incurable plague sweeping Zalindov, a mysterious new inmate fighting for Kiva’s heart, and a prison rebellion brewing, Kiva can’t escape the terrible feeling that her trials have only just begun. 

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Romance

Review: 

When it comes to finding great books, I've been struggling a little bit the last couple of months. However, I did finally finish "The Prison Healer" trilogy this month, so it seems like a great time to share about this one.  

A slow-burn romantasy set within the confines of prison with political turmoil boiling inside and out. 

Kiva Meridan has spent the last ten years of her life inside the dangerous prison, Zalindov, working as the prison healer. Her life is mundane, but she finds purpose in keeping her young friend, Tipp, safe from harm. She awaits the day that her family will return for her, but in the meantime, she is doing everything it takes just to survive. That is, until the Rebel Queen is captured and is about to be put to death by the Trial of Ordeals. Unwilling to bear the death of the woman who fights hardest for the common people, Kiva volunteers to take her place. Now, Kiva must figure out how to survive all four trials while also avoiding the everyday hazards of the world's most dangerous prison. 

How does one rate a book like this? On one hand, I almost fell asleep multiple times reading the middle section, but this book had me feeling so many emotions over the course of it. The ending was super intense, filled with crazy twists, and also made me tear up. I think this book still deserve five stars, despite the slow pacing. This book takes its sweet time and isn't overflowing with action, but I really enjoyed my time learning about Kiva and her life working as the prison healer. And I never disliked my experience while reading this book, so I think the high rating is still warranted. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is just the everyday interactions between the characters. Kiva, Tipp, Jaren, Naari, and Mot make up quite a disheveled found family, but I found them to have such a sweet vibe. It's also inspiring to see that even in a horrible prison, pieces of light always seem to shine through somehow. 

Kiva is a complex girl. It is clear that she has many secrets (though I definitely didn't see most of them coming), but she mostly keeps to herself and just wants to live to see the next day. Tipp is so precious and makes me want to protect him at all costs. The young and innocent characters always seem to die in dark fantasies and dystopian worlds, so I will be watching this kid like a hawk! Jaren is slightly aggravating, but also quite charming; things that I love to see in a love interest. He certainly has his fair of secrets (though his are a bit easier to disclose than Kiva's), but he puts everything on the line for Kiva, which is so darn cute. I can't wait to see how these two's relationship develops in the future installments of this series! 

Oddly enough, this book often felt like I was reading an account from the Holocaust. From the way that the prisoners are treated by the guards to the way that the prison functions, it reminded me of the prison camps that existed during World War II. Obviously, they are very different, but it was interesting to read a fantasy book that was this dark yet still allowed the light to stream in from time to time. 

I know that everyone says this, but the ending of this book truly does go crazy! I found that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and that my heart was practically pounding out of my chest for the last few chapters of this book. There was a few close calls (I was definitely crying), but Noni was nice enough not to leave us in too horrible of a situation by the end of the book. I surprisingly didn't see the bomb of a secret that was shared on the last page, but I am stoked to read the rest of this series as soon as possible. Between watching how Kiva and Jaren's relationship will develop despite their secrets, how the revolution plays out, and learning more about the world's magic system, I am so excited to dive into the rest of this series! 

Overall, I was pleasantly shocked by how tightly "The Prison Healer" had me grasped in its talons. When I first started this book, I gave kudos to how strong Noni's writing is and the interesting world that she has crafted. It did see a bit too "Hunger Games"-esque for me at the start, but it quickly morphs into its own story that I came to love dearly. I adore the characters, often didn't see the twists coming, and am so intrigued by the magic system. The fact that this book takes place in a prison is also unique, and I can't wait to see more of this world outside of Zalindov. I am desperate to see how the rest of this series will pan out after the crazy ending that this book has; I am truly looking forward to a thousand more pages with this cast of characters! 

Note from Present Day Ashlee: The other two books in this series are just as good! They are filled with twists and turns, brimming with heartfelt moments, and super romantic. I love this world and these characters immensely. I recommend this series so much! 

Back of Book: 

Poet and author Robin Gow’s moving middle-grade novel in verse Dear Mothman is about a young trans boy dealing with the loss of his friend by writing to his favorite cryptid.

Halfway through sixth grade, Noah’s best friend and the only other trans boy in his school, Lewis, passed away in a car accident. Adventurous and curious, Lewis was always bringing a new paranormal story to share with Noah. Together they daydreamed about cryptids and shared discovering their genders and names.

After Lewis’s death, lonely and yearning for someone who could understand him like Lewis once did, Noah starts writing letters to Mothman, wondering if he would understand how Noah feels and also looking for evidence of Mothman’s existence in the vast woods surrounding his small Poconos town. Noah becomes determined to make his science fair project about Mothman, despite his teachers and parents urging him to make a project about something “real.”

Meanwhile, as Noah tries to find Mothman, he also starts to make friends with a group of girls in his grade, Hanna, Molly, and Alice, with whom he’d been friendly, but never close to. Now, they welcome him, and he starts to open up to each of them, especially Hanna, whom Noah has a crush on. But as strange things start to happen and Noah becomes sure of Mothman’s existence, his parents and teachers don’t believe him. Noah decides it’s up to him to risk everything, trek into the woods, and find Mothman himself. 

Book Number: Stand Alone

Genre: Middle Grade | Poetry | Contemporary | Fantasy | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

This month was a bit of a flop when it came to reading great books, but I luckily still had a few gems that outshone the rest. This sweet middle grade verse novel was definitely one of those books.  

A touching verse novel about a trans boy who finds comfort in writing letters to Mothman after the death of his best friend. 

In the middle of Noah's sixth grade year, his best friend Lewis is tragically killed in a car crash. Lewis was addicted to all things cryptid (especially Mothman), so Noah begins to write letters to Mothman to feel closer to his deceased friend. What Noah never expected is that Mothman would respond back to his letters. As Noah gets closer to Mothman, he also befriends a group of girls who are a bit skeptical of his Mothman obsession but deem it worthy of hanging out with him regardless. Time passes, and the four begin to discover the secrets of Mothman all while Noah is slowly learning how to cope with his grief. 

This book is so sweet and heartwarming. It is also tinged with sadness and grief, but the overwhelming sense of hope that this book bestowed upon me made it all worth it. A trans boy finding solace in writing letters to Mothman is so quirky yet absolutely adorable. It is so sad that Noah relates more to Mothman than his fellow peers, but it's so precious that Noah finds someone that he can relate to, even if it's a giant cryptid that lives in the woods. 

I was happy to learn that this one is actually a verse novel. I wasn't aware of that when I first picked it up, but I feel as though it truly added to the experience. This story is also told in a bit of a multimedia format with letters from Noah to Mothman, Noah's personal thoughts, images Noah draws, as well as some segments told from his friend Hanna's point of view. The way that this book uses fonts and utilizes unique page layouts really enhanced the reading experience while making it super easy to understand exactly whose PoV one is currently reading. 

Noah is a transgender boy who also happens to be autistic. This leads to many kids finding him strange and makes Noah feels as though he is a separate entity than everyone else. The way that Gow pens the letters to Mothman feels so personal and it was easy for me to empathize with how alienated many queer kids feel at such a young age. I'm glad that Noah has many supportive adults in his life that are there for him whenever he needs them. 

The illustrations included in this book are so darn cute! Noah will draw pictures of him, Lewis, and Mothman that he often sends to his pen pal. The art style is so precious, and I'm so glad that these images made it into the final version of this book. They added a special touch to this already unique book. 

This book includes many themes of growing up, discovering pieces of oneself, and finding the people that just get you. At its core though, is grief and the impossible journey of learning to cope with the loss of a loved one. Noah writes to Mothman because Lewis believed so fervently in him and it becomes Noah's lifeline. The journey it takes for Noah to realize the true reason he is writing these letters is a challenging one, but it portrays grief so accurately. 

Overall, "Dear Mothman" is a wonderful verse novel that I will hold dear to my heart. It features the sweetest trans, autistic boy by the name of Noah who is going through some pretty hard times after he loses his best friend in a tragic accident. The themes are really powerful, and I think kids who have lost a loved one or grappling with their identities could really benefit from reading this one. The premise is a little bit quirky, but I think that makes this one that much more interesting of a read. 

Back of Book: 

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

Charlie Spring is in Year 10 at Truham Grammar School for Boys. The past year hasn't been too great, but at least he's not being bullied anymore. Nick Nelson is in Year 11 and on the school rugby team. He's heard a little about Charlie - the kid who was outed last year and bullied for a few months - but he's never had the opportunity to talk to him.

They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance. But love works in surprising ways, and sometimes good things are waiting just around the corner... 

Book Number: One 

Genre: Young Adult | Graphic Novel | Contemporary | Romance | LGBTQIA+ 

Review:  

I had a super busy reading month this June, so I had a ton of great books to choose from. Despite my overwhelming amount of five stars this month, I had to go with "Heartstopper." It's such a great series and has definitely become a hyperfixation of mine. I haven't made my way through all the Nick and Charlie content yet, but you can bet I will in the near future! 

The first volume in the acclaimed "Heartstopper" series featuring two boys who might just be falling for one another. 

Charlie is an openly gay overthinker at an all-boy grammar school, which isn't without its difficulties. He's made it through a rough patch of bullying, and is now relatively popular, but that doesn't mean that his life is awesome. That is, until he meets Nick, an optimistic rugby player who just so happens to be even popular than he is. When the two boys meet, they feel closer to each other than they have ever felt to anyone before. But what do these feelings truly mean? 

Oh my goodness, that was so adorable and heartwarming! I've been so excited to check out this series and see what all the hype was about, but I was also a little concerned that I wouldn't love these books as much as the rest of the world seems to. That however, was definitely not the case. I love Nick and Charlie so much already, and I've only known them for a few hundred pages. 

Charlie is the type of character that I find myself loving immediately. He's an awkward nerd who apologizes too much and doesn't seem to know quite where they fit into the world. He's also definitely an overthinker, which I can certainly relate to. My heart totally goes out to him for all that he's been through; it makes me so mad that people bully others so relentlessly and it pains me that Ben was using Charlie the way that he was at the start of this novel. 

Nick in his own right is just as lovable as Charlie. He's a golden retriever of a boy who finds his own happiness in making others happy. He's also a pretty stellar rugby player, which is something I know I was aware of at some point, but I had forgotten prior to starting this book. The way that he goes out of his way to include Charlie and the way that he is always there for him is so wholesome.

This book essentially featured a montage of different moments such as the two boys playing rugby, making snow angels, and roasting each other at Mario Kart. I couldn't help grinning constantly at all the passing glances they gave one other. I was quite frankly just waiting for these two to kiss already (despite this only being the first volume). I ship these two so hard, and I'm so happy that I can dive into the next volume immediately. 

The art in this one is so dang cute! It's monochromatic and not overly detailed, but this is the perfect medium to tell such a cute and cozy story such as the beginning of "Heartstopper." Oseman does such a great job at using facial expressions, punctuation, and even simple smiley faces to enhance the narrative immensely. It is so easy to pick up on how the Charlie and Nick are feeling at all times, and it is hard not to smile at all of their little antics. 

Overall, I was blown away by the first volume of "Heartstopper." I had a pretty great feeling that it was going to be good, but I'm so relieved that the hype surrounding this series is true. Charlie and Nick are both such lovable characters and seeing them interact is nothing short of wholesome and inspiring. I'm already loving these two, so I can't wait to learn more of their story in the coming volumes!  

Back of Book: 

Mount Orange, Florida, is famous for two things: Cerulean freshwater springs, ideal for free divers who aren't afraid of lurking gators. And the gruesome cold case murder of best friends, Bailey and Celeste, twenty years ago.

Bailey and Celeste's murders cast a permanent darkness over sunny Mount Orange. Tru has always lived in that shadow. Now she's supposed to head to FSU in the fall with her boyfriend, but those unsolved murders—and the death of her own sister—invade her every thought. It’s only in the shadowy deep of Hidden Glen Springs that she can breathe.

When a strange girl named Rio rolls into town, hell-bent on figuring out who killed Bailey and Celeste, Tru can't resist entangling herself in the thrill of solving the decades old mystery any more than she can resist her familiar, aching attraction to Rio.

As the summer heat ignites, so does the spark between Tru and Rio... along with their other-worldy connection to Bailey and Celeste. But when someone begins stalking them, the girls become convinced the killer is back in town. And if they keep digging into the past, Tru and Rio know this time, it could be their blood that makes the springs run red. 

Book Number: Stand Alone 

Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Thriller | Romance | Horror | Magical Realism | LGBTQIA+ 

Review: 

I read a ton of books this past May, but one book really took my breath away while I was reading it. It has been a while since I've read an intense mystery, so this one certainly filled a void. 

A thrilling mystery featuring two young girls who may have been destined to meet each other who will do anything to solve the murder that occurred in Mount Orange, Florida twenty years ago. 

Mount Orange, Florida is known for its beautiful freshwater springs where divers spend much of their time basking in the peaceful waters. It is also known for the Hidden Glen murders that happened twenty years ago and ended with Bailey and Celeste dead in the water. Now, the entire town remains paranoid that the killer remains among them even after all this time. After the accident that led to her sister dying, Tru can't help but be obsessed with all the needless death that has occurred in her hometown. When a young girl named Rio mysteriously appears and demands to know more about Bailey and Celeste's deaths, Tru's life changes forever as she begins to learn the truth about what happened to the two girls. And how deeply involved she is in the case. 

I've been wanting to read all of Myers Sain's books ever since I learned they existed, so I'm glad that I finally had the chance to pick one up. It was even better than I thought it was going to be! This is hands down one of the best thrillers that I have ever read; I know that the next time I'm looking for this kind of thrilling high, I will turn to another one of her books. 

I felt a connection to Tru from the very first page. I may not be as addicted to death as she is, but I can certainly understand wanting to escape the mundanity of life and the uncertainty that comes with trying to figure out one's future plans. The fact that she is a free diver is something I've never read about in a book, which was pretty cool. She has lived through so much trauma, grief, and horrific events but she is still so strong and resilient; it's hard not to cheer her on. 

There were many elements that I predicted about this book. Most of these incidents involved things appearing and disappearing at various times to add a super creepy scare factor. Despite predicting most of them happening, that didn't mean I knew exactly who was moving the things or how those things were going down. 

As the book progressed, I was very suspicious of a few characters. Despite feeling pretty confident I knew who was behind certain things, Myers Sain did such an amazing job pulling all of the main characters into suspicion toward the end of the novel and I truly didn't know who to trust. I was convinced that some people would never hurt a fly, but that didn't make the fact that Tru and Rio were stranded in the middle of the woods with nothing to protect themselves but a baseball bat and a prayer any less horrifying to experience. Camping and stranded in the woods horror is so freaky, and I couldn't imagine putting myself in these girls' shoes. It was a tad difficult to fall asleep after reading this one; I'm so glad I didn't bring this one camping with me. 

The magical realism aspects of this book play with the idea of reincarnation, destiny, and fated friendships. All of these topics are really neat, and I love thinking about them. Reading the author's note about this was very enlightening, too. I find the idea of there being certain people we are destined to meet to be very cool, and it would be amazing if the reason we connect with some people so deeply is because we knew them in another life. This definitely added a super mysterious and twisty element to this thriller, but I also love the authenticity that the author feels about this subject. 

The thing I was most split about in this novel is the romance element. Tru's long time boyfriend, East, is literally the sweetest man in the entire world. I am a sucker for the childhood friends to lovers trope, so it broke my heart watching Tru grow away from him. On the other hand, when Tru is destined to be with Rio, it is so hard to want them to stay away from each other. I am still extremely conflicted about this love triangle, but I also want the best for Tru. That doesn't stop East from being my favorite character. He goes through so much strife throughout the course of this book, and my heart really goes out to him. And the fact he is so loyal to Tru through everything is so cute and honestly inspirational. Everyone deserves someone who will go to the lengths that East does for Tru. Even if it is platonically. 

Overall, I was blown away by "One Last Breath." It is the perfect dose of wickedly twisted while also being so sweet and heartwarming. The murder mystery plot is enthralling, but the romance is also adorable. The whole fated meeting subtheme hits so hard and adds a magical element to this story that I just ate up. If you are a fan of thrillers with a hint of fantasy, I can't recommend this one enough! I am so excited to explore more of Myers Sain's work in the future; consider me a fan!