Diverse YA Literature Resource Guide

I am currently enrolled in a Young Adult Literature course and had to build a thematic resource guide/database for  theme of my choosing. I chose to focus on diverse young adult fantasy literature for the Thematic Resource Guide assignment. Young adult fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and it is extremely popular right now. Because of its popularity, I wanted to hone in on young adult fantasy that contained diverse cultures and characters. I purposely chose novels that contained characters of color, LGBTQ+ characters, and books that contained cultural mythology (i.e. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi is based on Hindu mythology). When I was growing up, most of the fantasy that I had access to was “white-washed” and didn’t contain much diversity or diverse characters. Looking back, it saddens me that there wasn’t much representation in the books published then, but it is very exciting to see how much the young adult fantasy market is expanding to include characters of color, cultures, and sexualities.

Google Sites is my platform of choice. I researched a few sites, including Wordpress, Wix, Weebly, and Blogger, but Blogger didn’t format to my liking and the other sites weren’t as easy to navigate and manipulate as Google Sites. Because of it is user friendly, I believe that Google Sites is a platform that librarians can use that is easy to update and maintain. Another benefit of using Google Sites is that there is an option for the creator to give permission to other users to edit the contents of the website. This will allow other library staff members to help maintain the site, freeing up the head librarian for emergencies or higher priorities.

This thematic resource guide was made in order to give young adults a database that they can refer to when they want diverse book recommendations. The Google Site is streamlined and not overly busy, so it is easy for users to navigate and gain information about young adult fantasy books and authors. Because this is geared toward more diverse literature, I think it will be a motivation for library users to check out these books. Now that they have a database they can reference, that will continue to grow, they can add these books to their “to- be- read” lists. The books in this guide cover a variety of representation, which is important for young adults. It is important for them to read books with characters that come from their culture or their race. It is important for them to read books with homosexual, bisexual, or gender fluid characters. Not only do these books give readers relatable characters in which they can find comfort, but they also expose readers to differing viewpoints and ways of life. They push readers outside their worlds and comfort zones as well as build empathy for others. These books show young adults that they matter, that their culture matters, and that they deserve to be in the spotlight.

Overall I really enjoyed this assignment. Not only was it fun, but I learned a lot about diverse authors and books in the young adult fantasy genre. I am excited to share this knowledge and these amazing works and authors with others, particularly the patrons of my future public or school library. I plan on continuing to maintain this site or possibly expand to a larger site in the future because I do believe that librarians and library users need easily accessible databases that feature diverse literature.

You can view my database here.

Read More

King of Scars Cover Reveal!

Today is the day, folks. Leigh Bardugo revealed the cover to her new book King of Scars, set to release in 2019. 

Description from the Author's Website:
"Nikolai Lantsov has always had a gift for the impossible. No one knows what he endured in his country’s bloody civil war—and he intends to keep it that way. Now, as enemies gather at his weakened borders, the young king must find a way to refill Ravka’s coffers, forge new alliances, and stop a rising threat to the once-great Grisha Army.

Yet with every day a dark magic within him grows stronger, threatening to destroy all he has built. With the help of a young monk and a legendary Grisha Squaller, Nikolai will journey to the places in Ravka where the deepest magic survives to vanquish the terrible legacy inside him. He will risk everything to save his country and himself. But some secrets aren’t meant to stay buried—and some wounds aren’t meant to heal."

Pre-Order links are not available as of yet, but I cannot wait! 

Read More

We Are Okay

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

You go through life thinking there’s so much you need. . . . Until you leave with only your phone, your wallet, and a picture of your mother. Marin hasn’t spoken to anyone from her old life since the day she left everything behind. No one knows the truth about those final weeks. Not even her best friend Mabel. But even thousands of miles away from the California coast, at college in New York, Marin still feels the pull of the life and tragedy she’s tried to outrun. Now, months later, alone in an emptied dorm for winter break, Marin waits. Mabel is coming to visit and Marin will be forced to face everything that’s been left unsaid and finally confront the loneliness that has made a home in her heart. 

An intimate whisper that packs an indelible punch, We Are Okay is Nina LaCour at her finest. This gorgeously crafted and achingly honest portrayal of grief will leave you urgent to reach across any distance to reconnect with the people you love.

My Review
I LOVED this book! Reading We Are Okay feels like you are experiencing a depressive episode just like the protagonist, Marin. This book isn't so much plot-driven as it is character-driven. The focus is on Marin and her journey of processing the death of someone close to her and finding out the truth. Meanwhile, she is working through repairing a damaged relationship with her best friend, Mabel. 

The Good: 

• I loved how this book switched between past and present. It allowed Marin's story to reveal itself slowly and gives readers a little bit of breathing room. 
• The accuracy of depression. Nina LaCour's writing allows readers to experience the heavy, hopelessness that is depression. Her prose is beautiful. 
• The issues in this novel were addressed wonderfully. Issues include depression, mental illness, grief, friendship, family, first love, bisexuality, homelessness, loneliness, lack of belonging, and growing up. 
• Marin's character development. Because this was a character-driven novel, we really get to see Marin grow through her thoughts and actions. 
• I ugly sobbed throughout this book. The story was so incredibly touching. 
• I related to Marin's depression. Readers who have experienced a loss of a loved one will find solace in this book. 
• Because this book dealt with loss, it made me remember good memories of my father and grandmother. Their deaths were so traumatic for me, and it was nice to be reminded of why I love them so much. 
• Marin really connected her self to Jane Eyre, one of my favorite classic novels. 
• This book has my heart. 
• This book shows that while depression feels like it is never going to end, there is hope, and we will be okay. 

The Not-So-Good:

• While this book is meant to mirror depression and it's ups and downs, the book did feel a bit slow in the middle. 

“I was okay just a moment ago. I will learn how to be okay again.” 

“The trouble with denial is that when the truth comes, you aren't ready.” 

“I wonder if there's a secret current that connects people who have lost something. Not in the way that everyone loses something, but in the way that undoes your life, undoes your self, so that when you look at your face it isn't yours anymore.” 

Read More

Turtles All the Way Down

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

It’s quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.

Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.
   
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. 

In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.

My Review
It is really hard to put all of my thoughts into words. Turtles All the Way Down is a book that makes you think...and think...and then think some more. This book contains some of the best descriptions of anxiety I have ever read. The character development was pretty good, especially Aza's character. She grew so much in this novel, and it was wonderful to see. I also enjoyed Daisy's character. Even though she was very wacky at times, she was human. She loved Aza, but also got frustrated with her because her mental illness affected Daisy too. Don't let the synopsis fool you. It reads as if the main plot is about finding Davis's father, Russell Pickett; however, this book is really about Aza's mental illness and her struggle in daily life. 

As someone who suffers from anxiety, sometimes this book was hard to read because the descriptions were things I have felt or experienced. Sometimes this book feels like you are in the middle of a panic attack. Your heart races, you can't get your thoughts together, sometimes you feel like you are dying, and you feel EVERYTHING all at once. I have seen a lot of reviewers state that they did not like that the book made them feel that way, but I am glad it did. This is such a raw, rare glimpse into how anxiety works, and it is hard to understand if you've never experienced it. John Green did such a good job writing this novel in a way that makes readers FEEL anxiety and how it can take over every aspect of your life. This book made me feel understood, and it made me feel like it is OK to feel the things I do because that is how mental illness affects everything. 

Aza talks about "thought spirals." Basically, your thoughts keep spiraling, getting tighter and tighter with no end, which is something that I experience very frequently. “The thing about a spiral is, if you follow it inward, it never actually ends. It just keeps tightening, infinitely.” This is exactly what my anxiety feels like! I am in constant battle with my negative thoughts, and most of the time they win. Reading about Aza's thoughts and struggles  makes me and my thoughts feel validated, and I know that I am not alone in this battle against mental illness. 

I also like that John Green addressed mental illness medications in this book. Unless you are someone who has had to take medication for mental illness, Aza's attitude toward her pills might be a little hard to understand. I do have to take medication for my mental illness. Sometimes I take it every day because it does make me feel better. Sometimes my mental illness wins, and I don't take it for days. Some days I simply don't want to take it because I am tired of having to take medication that helps lessen my mental illness but doesn't cure it. Aza feels this way in the book, and it was so refreshing to see such a realistic portrayal of this. 

Again, I am just in awe at how accurate the depictions are in this book. My respect for John Green has increased because of this and because he put his heart into the book. From what I understand, he struggles with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and, because of that, this book feels so incredibly personal. 

Please go read this! You will not be disappointed. 

Favorite Quotes
"To be alive is to be missing."

"Love is not a tragedy or a failure, but a gift." 

"I, a singular proper noun, would go on, if always in a conditional tense." 

"One of the challenges with pain--physical or psychic--is that we can really only approach it through metaphor. It can't be represented the way table or a body can. In some ways, pain is the opposite of language.” 

"You pick your endings, and your beginnings. You get to pick the frame, you know? Maybe you don't choose what's in the picture, but you decide the frame.” 

"Your now is not your forever."

My favorite: “There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't.” 

Read More

The Dream Thieves

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 New York Times bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater! Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

My Review

I liked this book a lot more than The Raven Boys. In The Dream Thieves, we get to learn more about the characters, particularly Ronan, and we get to see where the story is going. I cared a lot more about the characters in this book, and I flew through it because I wanted to see what happened next. I honestly fell in love with Ronan because of this book. He is a complex character who tries to do what he thinks is right. I also enjoyed the addition of a few new characters, including The Grey Man. 

Oh my God, THAT ENDING! Can you say cliffhanger?! I am so glad that I purchased the entire series before I started reading them. I am jumping right into Blue Lily, Lily Blue! 

Read More

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han - ⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!

Lara Jean’s love life gets complicated in this New York Times bestselling “lovely, lighthearted romance” (SLJ) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

This paperback edition includes bonus recipes from Lara Jean’s Christmas Cookie Bonanza!

My Review

This book was so cute! Lara Jean is a sweet, innocent girl who gets caught in a love triangle. She is also learning how to deal with new challenges in light and high school. The character development was pretty good in this book; however, none of the characters really grew that much. I gave it a lower rating because Lara Jean, as a narrator, sounded a little too young for her age. I also predicted very early on how Lara Jean's letters got mailed. Overall this is a really sweet book, and I did enjoy reading it. I plan on finishing the trilogy. 

I did listen to most of this book through Audible. The narrator was really good, and I enjoyed listening. 

I highly recommend it for 8th grade and up!

Read More

Guilty as Cinnamon

Guilty as Cinnamon by Leslie Budewitz - ⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Murder heats up Seattle’s Pike Place Market in the next Spice Shop mystery from the national bestselling author of Assault and Pepper.

Springtime in Seattle’s Pike Place Market means tasty foods and wide-eyed tourists, and Pepper’s Spice Shop is ready for the crowds. With flavorful combinations and a fresh approach, she’s sure to win over the public. Even better, she’s working with several local restaurants as their chief herb and spice supplier. Business is cooking, until one of Pepper’s potential clients, a young chef named Tamara Langston, is found dead, her life extinguished by the dangerously hot ghost chili—a spice Pepper carries in her shop. 

Now stuck in the middle of a heated police investigation, Pepper must use all her senses to find out who wanted to keep Tamara’s new café from opening—before someone else gets burned… 

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES!

My Review

Just like Assault and Pepper, the characters and story in this book were pretty good. The book started off as a quick read, and I really enjoyed it. However, I found myself a little less invested in the story about 3/4 of the way through the book, but it did pick back up at the end. The ending was good! This is a cute, cozy mystery, and I plan on continuing reading the series!

Read More

Teach with Me!

This was for a class project. I had to write a speech about librarians as instructional partners. 

How do you view librarians? 

Do you collaborate with the library media specialist in your school? 

Read More

Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Claire - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

True love is shrouded in secrets and lies in the enchanting second “steamy, steampunk drama” (Los Angeles Times) in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series—now with a gorgeous new cover, a map, a new foreword, and exclusive bonus content! Clockwork Prince is a Shadowhunters novel.

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when it becomes clear that the mysterious Magister will stop at nothing to use Tessa’s powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, tortured Will and the devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal and fueled by revenge. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa is drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa answers about who she really is? As their search leads to deadly peril, Tessa learns that secrets and lies can corrupt even the purest heart.

My Review

Oh, Cassandra Claire, you have done it again! You break my heart every time, and I love you for it. Once again we are taken to Victorian London to continue the story that began with Clockwork Angel. The character development in this book is excellent, most particularly Will, who grew SO MUCH in this book! Clockwork Prince is action packed from beginning to end and introduces readers to more characters in the Shadowhunter world. This book is humorous, and the plot twists are amazing. The love triangle between Tessa, Will, and Jem also continues and made me feel so many emotions. My heart is broken, and I cannot wait for it to happen again in the next book, Clockwork Princess. 

Read More

Far From the Tree

Far From the Tree by Robin Benway - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

National Book Award Winner and New York Times Bestseller!

Perfect for fans of NBC's "This Is Us," Robin Benway’s beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms—how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—

Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.

Don't miss this moving novel that addresses such important topics as adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care.

My Review

Far From the Tree explores relationships and what family really means. Robin Benway’s writing style is simple, but that does not take away from the story, which is full of layers. The story is told in multiple points-of-view of the three protagonists: Maya, Grace, and Joaquin, biological siblings who were given up at birth. Benway covers heavy topics, such as adoption, teen pregnancy, foster care, bullying, alcoholism, and physical abuse as well as positive topics such as family, friendship, love, and the bond between siblings. I really enjoyed exploring the siblings’ stories and how they weaved together. The character development in this book was excellent. All of the protagonists grew emotionally. This is such a wonderful, special, heartbreaking book about what it means to be a family, and I highly recommend it.  It is very emotional and personal, so I think that readers will be able to easily relate to the characters and the story.

Read More

The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Now a Major Motion Picture
TODAY Book Club pick
TIME magazine’s #1 Fiction Book of 2012

“The greatest romance story of this decade.” —Entertainment Weekly

-Millions of copies sold-

#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 International Bestseller
#1 Indie Bestseller

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Review

This is my second time reading this book, and I still love it. I chose this book because I have read John Green’s other works more recently, so I wanted to refresh my memory on this novel. John Green’s writing style is easy to follow and draws you in from the beginning. His character development in this book is really well done, especially the development of Hazel and Augustus. The protagonists are realistic, witty, and smart. They don’t pity themselves, and treat each other like human beings. They also make mistakes and have flaws. Hazel is an excellent narrator, and this book is laugh-out-loud funny. The Fault in Our Stars gives readers a realistic glimpse into the everyday lives of teens with cancer and shows the realities of the ups and downs that go with it. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking, wonderful book.

Because of the heavy themes in this book, I would recommend it for eighth grade and up.

Read More

Strange the Dreamer

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

An instant New York Times bestseller and Michael L. Printz honor book!Eleven best of lists including an NPR Best Book, a Goodreads Best YA Fantasy and Science Fiction Nominee, and more!

From National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes an epic fantasy about a mythic lost city and its dark past.

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around–and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old, he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? And who is the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams?

In this sweeping and breathtaking novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods. Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.

The answers await in Weep.

My Review

This book is stunning! Laini Taylor's writing is so lyrical and magical that I was instantly drawn into the story. It look me longer to read this book because the writing forced me to slow down as I read it, but I didn't mind this. I was able to enjoy the writing and the story because of it. I also enjoyed the character development, especially that of Lazlo Strange. I think he grew the most in the novel, and it was interesting to see the process. Laini Taylor's world building in the novel is exquisite. It is very easy to get into the world and understand how it works. I really enjoyed the characters because their actions aren't just "black and white;" there is some grey in their morals. This, in turn, makes you think about what you would do in their dilemma. Do the sins of the past justify violence in the future? Can monsters become heroes? 

The one critique I have for this novel is that I wish Laini Taylor had included a map. I think it would have helped build the world a bit more. 

Read More

20 Questions Book Tag

The 20 Questions Book Tag!

1. How many books is too many books in a book series? 

Usually anything after 4 books starts to drag or get old, with the exception of Harry Potter of course!

2. How do you feel about cliffhangers?

I love them and hate them! I enjoy them if I don't have to wait too long for the next book in the series. It is torture when a new release ends on a cliffhanger and you have to wait a year or more for the sequel!

3. Hardback or paperback?

I prefer hardback because they hold up better and they are more aesthetically pleasing, but paperbacks are convenient and way cheaper.

4. Favorite book?

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy & Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

5. Least favorite book?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

6. Love triangles, yes or no?

It depends on how they are written. I enjoy the triangles in books like the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich and the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare. If they are "insta-lovey" or not very fleshed out, I am not a fan.

7. The most recent book you just couldn't finish?

The Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

8. A book you're currently reading?

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor, The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater, Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Guilty as Cinnamon by Leslie Budewitz.

I normally don't read that many at one time. It is crunch time in my YA lit class!

9. Last book you recommended to someone?

Maya Angelou's Mom & Me & Mom. I recommended it to my mother. Such a good book!

10. Oldest book you've read? (Publication Date)

Beowulf published (I think) between 700-1000 A.D.

11. Newest book you've read? (Publication Date)

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo & The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, both published on March 6, 2018.

12. Favorite author?

My favorite classic author is Jane Austen, and my favorite contemporary author is harder to pinpoint. I will read anything Rick Riordan writes, and I also love Libba Bray's Diviners series.

13. Buying books or borrowing books?

Because I am such a mood reader, I prefer buying books, but it can get costly. I enjoy borrowing books to support my local library!

14. A book you dislike that everyone seems to love?

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. The ending ruined it for me. I also thought that The Cruel Prince by Holly Black was a bit of a let down too.

15. Bookmarks or dog-ears?

BOOKMARKS! Only monsters dog-ear books!

16. A book you can always re-read?

The Diviners by Libba Bray and Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen.

17. Can you read while hearing music?

It depends on the book. Usually I can't, but if it is a book that I have read a few times, music doesn't distract me.

18. One POV or multiple POVs?

Again, this depends on the book. If the multiple POVs are well done, then I enjoy them. It is interesting to read different perspectives of the story.

19. Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

I tend to read a few books at a time, so I usually read a book over multiple days. However, because I can read in my down time at work, if the book is short enough, I can finish it in one sitting.

20. A book you've read because of the cover? 

These are the most recent: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi, The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, and To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo. 

Read More

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still. Discover the “compulsively readable” (Booklist) first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series—now with a gorgeous new cover, a map, a foreword, and excusive bonus content! Clockwork Angel is a Shadowhunters novel.

When Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks, and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm’s length…everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world…and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Review

I really enjoyed this book! I tried to avoid all the hype because I didn't want to be disappointed. I enjoyed reading about the Shadowhunters in Victorian London, England. This is one of my favorite eras of literature, so it was interesting to see how this novel progressed.

The characters were relatable, and I loved them all. The character development was pretty good, and I think Tessa grew the most. Will is a good character too. One minute you love him, and the next minute he is a jerk. He reminds me of Jace from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. 

Because this is a prequel series to The Mortal Instruments there are many similarities in the Shadowhunter world of both books. There were a few characters that I recognized. Tessa's ability is something that I haven't read about in Cassandra Clare's books, so it was refreshing to have some variety in the characters' gifts. I am looking forward to jumping right in to Clockwork Prince!

Read More

The Wicked Deep

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher

A New York Times bestseller

Deluxe edition with special embellishments on first printing only.

Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

My Review

The Wicked Deep is set in a small town, Sparrow, Oregon, in the present day. It is a paranormal, atmospheric read with magic, a curse, sisters, and love. Even though Sparrow is a haunted town, the "main event" happens in June before the summer solstice. Everyone in town knows that the Swan Sisters return every year to take boys, and they believe in and accept the lore of the Swan Sisters' story. The romance in this book is really good, with a conflict that did not end the way I expected. 

I do have a few critiques. I wish Bo's character had been developed a bit more. I liked him, but he wasn't quite three dimensional. I also didn't think that the complete acceptance of actions in this book was truly realistic. I understand that the people in the town are scared, and they want to end the curse of the Swan Sisters, but ALL of the adults either wanted to kill the girls whose bodies the sisters inhabited (to ultimately kill the sisters) or permitted a lackadaisical attitude toward protecting the boys in town. In real life, I think measures would have been put in place to protect the townspeople, such as banning parties on the night before the sisters' annual return. 

Shea Ernshaw's writing is exquisite, magical, and a little spooky. I read this book in one sitting, and because the book was only 308 pages, it didn't drag in any part of the story. I really identified with Sparrow, Oregon because it is similar to my family home in a small town in Nova Scotia. Because of this, I could easily visualize the fog and the ocean and smell the sea breeze. This story was unique, and I haven't read anything quite like it before. Bonus: the cover is GORGEOUS! Go check it out! 

“Love is an enchantress—devious and wild.

It sneaks up behind you, soft and gentle and quiet, just before it slits your throat.”

Read More

The Cruel Prince

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description from the Publisher: 

An instant New York Times bestseller!

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

My Review: 

I'm on the fence about this book. At times, I really like it, and then sometimes I think it is just OK. The fairies in this book are incredibly cruel, to the point that it was hard to read at times. The fairies that go to school with Jude enjoy bullying her to the breaking point. Jude grew a lot in this book; her character development was the best by far. I liked that she finally stood up for herself, but I felt like some of her actions went too far. Overall, I think that she is a strong female character who finally found her voice. There were also a lot of plot twists that were well done. I was not expecting the ending!

I gave this book four stars because I am so indecisive about it. I feel like if I really loved it, there wouldn't be a question of how many stars to give. I will continue with the series, but I don't think this book quite lived up to the hype. 

Trigger Warnings: suicide, physical abuse, bullying

Read More