REVIEW The Cursed Rose (The Bone Spindle #3) by Leslie Vedder

The Cursed Rose (The Bone Spindle #3) by Leslie Vedder
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Razorbill
Format: Physical Book + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)

Check out my review of book one, The Bone Spindle (featured on the Under the Covers Book Blog)

Check out my review of book two, The Severed Thread (featured on the Under the Covers Book Blog)

I read The Cursed Rose by Leslie Vedder, the third book in The Bone Spindle series a couple years after reading the first two books and it was fun to dive back into the world. With a cross of multiple fairytales meeting Indiana Jones-style adventure, there was a LOT going on in the book. Following the events of the second book, The Severed Thread, the rag tag crew has been split up and they work towards the final battle with the Spindle Witch.

While the series is marketed as a reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, there are so many more fairytale influences woven into the story. I really like how things came together with the confrontation against the Spindle Witch and how it continued to build on the worldbuilding of the previous books. Aurora and the Rose Witches were central to the story, and Shane and Fi’s journey into her tomb was heart-pounding as a reader. One of the central relationships in the book, Shane and Fi start the story in separate places, but work their way back together at the end of the book. 

The character growth over the course of the series was impactful. Sadly, Briar doesn’t get as much of a journey given that he’s stuck in his beastly form. Red, Fi, and Shane serve as the point of view characters, and make some major strides. However, I was most surprised to see how much time the author spent on going into the Spindle Witch’s background. It was twisty and a major surprise; the history between Aurora, the Lord of the Butterflies, and the Spindle Witch was also a major force pushing the storyline forward.    

Overall, this was an excellent book and close to the series. I like how the storylines were wrapped up while also leaving room for more adventures in the future. Audiobook narrator Lindsey Dorcus did an excellent job bringing the many points of view to life with her performance in the audiobook. I highly recommend this to young adult fans of fantasy and fairy tales, and authors like Marissa Meyer or Holly Black. 

REVIEW At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwicki

At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwicki
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Format: eARC (Courtesy of Publisher)
Publisher: Page Street YA 

Check out my original blog tour post!

At the End of the River Styx by Michelle Kulwicki is a deep and emotional book that readers have to be in the right headspace for. Mixing elements of romance and fantasy, the author delves into more than just the recent stereotypical tropes you see on Netflix (i.e. meet cutes). Zan and Bastian are not just separated by time or distance, but also entirely different planes of existence. 

This book is one of the deepest young adult novels I've read about grief and the pain of losing someone you love. I don't think I've read another novel that so emotionally impactful about grief since I read Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam. Both the book's leads are dealing with enough emotional overwhelm to drown someone, and at times I just wanted to give them a hug. And while there are moments of heartbreak, there are also moments of budding hope so don't let that make you think this is a book drowning in negativity and sadness. 

All of that being acknowledged though, I do think this is a book that requires readers to be in the right headspace to receive it. While its a contemporary novel at its core, the worldbuilding required to build a story of two people interacting across separate planes of existence is intense. But I'm glad that I stuck with it and ultimately was able to find the right time to read it and fully take it in. Ultimately, I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrators were what helped me finish (Dillon Sickels and Jeremy Gardner did an excellent job with their performance). 

Overall, this was a very unique and interesting read. It's unclear at this point in time, but after the ending of the book I would love to see what happens next for both characters. If you're a romance reader who's open to a book with a unique structure and elements of fantasy/mythology, this is worth giving a chance.

About the Book

Before he can be reborn, Zan has spent 499 years bound in a 500-year curse to process souls for the monstrous Ferryman―and if he fails he dies.

In Portland, Bastian is grieving. He survived a car accident that took his mother and impulse-purchased a crumbling bookstore with the life insurance money.

But in sleep, death’s mark keeps dragging Bastian into Zan’s office. It shouldn’t be a problem to log his soul and forget he ever existed. But when Zan follows Bastian through his memories of grief and hope, Zan realizes that he is not ready for Bastian to die.

The boys borrow time hiding in the memories of the dead while the Ferryman hunts them, and Zan must decide if he’s willing to give up his chance at life to save Bastian―and Bastian must decide if he’s willing to keep living if it means losing Zan.

Content Warning: accidental death, grief, survivor’s guilt

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Publishing date: September 24th, 2024

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound  | Libro.fm

Rep: LGBTQIA+

About the Author 

Michelle Kulwicki grew up in the Pacific Northwest overturning every rock and stick in an unending quest to find portals to worlds far more exciting than her own. After moving to the mountainless Midwest, she earned her bachelors and master’s degrees in music performance, and spent years in the symphony and musical theater pit circuit. She’s now a mom by day, musician by night, and writer in all the spaces in between—a life that is somewhat lacking in portals, but is still full of magic.

Her short fiction has been both Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated, and her first full length novel, At the End of the River Styx, will be debuting in Spring of 2024 from Page Street Kids.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

REVIEW Promchanted by Morgan Matson

Promchanted by Morgan Matson
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Format: eBook (Personal Libary, Kindle) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Libary)
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion

"Because when you love a story, you want to stay in that world. Really live in it."

I was first introduced to Morgan Matson's Promchanted after watching her "Putting a Spin on the Recipe" panel at YallWest 2025, and I had to read it because it sounded like so much fun. Main characters Stella and Reece (who have been dealing with their own frustrations and heartbreak) are thrown into the story of Sleeping Beauty together after visiting Disneyland the night of prom.

It's a little Back to the Future-esque and zany, as Stella and Reece quickly realize their presence is messing with the original story and they have to make sure things go right (otherwise they won't get home). The two of them have very different experiences (with Reece staying with Phil, aka the prince, and Stella staying with Rose and her aunts the fairies). I really enjoyed watching them both grow and become invested in the story. I felt for Stella's heartbreak after getting dumped a short time before prom, and struggling to believe in love and happily ever afters from fairy tales anymore. While Reece isn't dealing with heartbreak, he has his own familoy issues at home to contend with.

Overall, this was a great modern rom-com mixed with fairy tale. I was really impresed with all the research the author did to make things feel more real. Audiobook narrator Shaina Summerville did a great job bringing the emotion and action of the story to life with her peformance. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy humorous heartfelt romance reads with a little bit of Disney magic thrown in.

REVIEW Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson and the Wrath of the Triple Goddess by Rick Riordan

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Format: Audiobook (Personal Library) + Hardcover (Barnes and Noble Exclusive Edition, Personal Library)

Publisher: Disney Hyperion

I never thought we would get a Halloween novel for the Percy Jackson series, but it’s here and it's a bunch of zany fun. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Wrath of the Triple Goddess, the second book in Percy’s quest to get three recommendation letters for college, was a blast to the past as the original trio worked to earn Hecate’s favor. Jesse Bernstein once again did an excellent job bringing the story to life with his performance in the audiobook narration. 

Housesitting a goddesses’ pets sounds simple on paper, but of course with the triple goddess herself things get very complicated very quickly. It was a spooky, nostalgic ride, with many cameos from various characters from the series as well as other figures from mythology. While this series already has my heart, my favorite moment in the book was a heartfelt exchange between Percy and his mom Sally. Overall, it was a great read (though that’s no surprise) and I’m really excited to see who the third god providing Percy a recommendation letter will be. 

I recommend the series to those who enjoy adventure, humor, and Greek mythology. Readers should absolutely read the original books (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, The Heroes of Olympus, and The Trials of Apollo) before reading this book and The Chalice of the Gods for the best experience. 

BOOK REVIEW Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe Collection #1) by Ali Hazelwood

Cruel Winter with You (Under the Mistletoe Collection #1) by Ali Hazelwood
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Format: eBook (Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories

Cruel Winter with You by Ali Hazelwood, the first book in Amazon Orginal Stories' Under the Mistletoe Collection was a cute and fun holiday novella. Vivienne LaRue was a good narrator who did a great job bringing the story to life. Its a unique spin on childhood best friends to lovers, and I enjoyed it over the course of one sitting.

While the book is short, the plot is gripping. I really wanted to figure out what happened between Jamie and Marc. There's a lot going on in the book, but I enjoyed the romance that’s built over years and how the author touched on the feeling of not being enough. The last scene was quite satisfying, and I felt it wrapped things up nicely in a bow (even though I definitely wanted a bit more). I recommend this book to those looking for a quick and swoony afternoon read (that's included free for all Kindle Unlimited members).

REVIEW Kelcie Murphy and the Race for the Reaper's Key (The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts Book 3) by Erika Lewis

Kelcie Murphy and the Race for the Reaper's Key (The Academy for the Unbreakable Arts Book 3) by Erika Lewis
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Libro.fm)
Publisher: Starscape

Check out my review of the first book in the series, Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts

Check out my review of the second book in the series, Kelcie Murphy and the Hunt for the Heart of Danu

Kelcie Murphy and the Race for the Reaper's Key, the final book in the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts series by Erika Lewis, was an amazing close to the series. Building on the events of the previous books, Kelcie, Lexis, and their fiannas are forced into a final confrontation against King Baelor and to stop the Never Ending War once and for all.

The worldbuilding has always been a favorite part of this series. While Winter and Summer are very different on paper, they have lots of similarities (that they would probably not acknowledge). I enjoyed how the author structured the book, with multiple points of view showing the fiannas coming at the problem from different directions and finally meeting up. The dual history was exciting, and all the threads the author has been weaving came together in a really nice bow. The powers each character demonstrates have evolved, and the mythology references have increased (love when I recognize various characters and creatures out of folktales). 

The characters are another highlight. While Lexis and Kelcie have grown up on entirely different paths, they're so similar. Each member of both fiannas has also grown up a lot since the first time we meet them in the books. Swappy's my favorite character on the winter fianna,. and his idea for where they hid was hilarious. Without spoilers, Niall's story arc in this book was the most poignant, and I hope the author writes some sort of accompanying story (i.e. novella, short story, etc.) to let us know how things end up with his future plans.

Overall, an excellent book and an excellent close to the series. Justis Golding did an excellent job bringing all the characters to life with their performance in the audiobook. I highly recommend this series to those enjoy middle grade fantasy inspired by mythology, full of adventure, and very focused on found family.

REVIEW Nine Tailed (Realm of the Four Kingdoms #1) by Jayci Lee

Nine Tailed (Realm of the Four Kingdoms #1) by Jayci Lee

Rating: 3 Stars

Release Date: August 1, 2024

Format: eARC (Courtesy of Author + Publisher) and Audiobook (Kindle Unlimited)

Publisher: Montlake

“Desperation makes fools of us all. And I’ve always been a fool for you, Sunny. I’ve loved you since I was sixteen.”

Jayci Lee's Nine Tailed, first book in the Realm of Four Kingdoms series, was an interesting take on Korean Mythology and culture. While entertaining and filled with adventure, I don't believe its accurate to classify it as a young adult book (the better age category would be new adult or adult).

Sunny is a gumiho, or a nine tailed fox spirit who has been hiding from the world of the Gods, or the 'Shingae' for most of her life. Ageless and nearly immortal, she's been on the move for the last century so the mortals don't realize she doesn't age. When someone from her past finds her, however, she's forced to return to a past she thought long behind her and confront old enemies she thought long dead.

I loved getting to learn about the elements of Korean folklore and mythology. Fox spirits have always been interesting to me (thank you Pokemon and Naruto), and I love 'trickster' spirits too. The author also delves into different types of spirits from the Underworld and even forest spirits, so those were nice to learn about too. The team that Sunny and Ethan end up working with later in the book is made up of figures from different ‘kingdoms’ and I enjoyed that found family aspect of the story. 

Sunny and Ethan's relationship was a bit hard for me to buy into initially. Insta love doesn't always connect for me, and that's what it came across as (though Ethan has, in his own words, loved Sunny since he was sixteen). While there many obstacles in their path (i.e. destiny and prophecies), I'm curious to see how things play out in future books. I do want to note that their relationship is why I don't think this book should qualify as a young adult novel. It gets intimate, spicy, and very detailed at multiple points throughout the novel. While that might be ok for some youg adult readers, I'd hesitate to paint with such a broad stroke. As such, I think the better age categories would be new adult or adult.

Overall, an entertaining and engaging read. I'm curious to see what happens next in the series, especially with the revelations about Ethan. Narrators Michelle H. Lee and Greg Chun did a great job bringing the story to life with their performance in the audiobook. I would recommend this book to mature readers who are fans of the romantasy genre, like diverse worldbuilding and characters, and the found family trope.

Thank you to the author, the publisher Montlake and the team at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review the book immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

REVIEW Heart of the Damned (Alice Worth #9) by Lisa Edmonds

Heart of the Damned (Alice Worth #9) by Lisa Edmonds 
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)
Publisher: Storybook House, LLC

“Do you know how someone who’s been beaten down finds their strength? They get the chance to be the strength for someone else.”

Lisa Edmonds’ latest release in the Alice Worth series, Heart of the Damned, delivered another urban fantasy adventure complete with mystery, suspense, and lots of character development and growth. 

I love the way that the storyline has built over the course of multiple books, and how the author pulled on plot threads she set up a long time ago. There are some very heartwarming moments in the book (such as Daniel’s marriage to Nan), but there are also a lot of frustrating and heartbreaking ones. Alice has been through a lot, and this book is no exception. However, it’s been rewarding to see how she’s finally built a support system around herself and how that support system rallied to help her. 

Other characters (and part of said support system) have a lot to go through as well, such as Malcolm’s continual quest to get his boyfriend and fellow ghost Liam back and Sean’s wolf riding him hard with all of the danger that Alice gets into. Their struggles played a lot into the storyline, and it was interesting to see how they eventually resolved. I’m really curious to see how things play out with Alice’s villainous grandfather, but I think we’re probably a couple of books away from a resolution on that. 

I highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who loves urban fantasy and paranormal romance. It was another great installment in the series, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.  

REVIEW Somewhere Beyond the Sea (The House in the Cerulean Sea #2) by TJ Klune

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (The House in the Cerulean Sea #2) by TJ Klune
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Format: Hardcover (Personal Library) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Tor Books

The long awaited sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, was well worth the wait. Following the events of the first book, Linus Baker is settling into life on Marsyas Island with the kids, Zoe, and Arthur. However, after an attempt to change the minds of the public via testimony to the government goes awry, their way of life is threatened and they must work together to make sure the children are not taken away.

 
All of the children have their own personalities, and it wove together beautifully to create the tapestry that is those on Marsyas Island. David, the newest member of the family and a young yeti, was adorable in his mannerisms and love for the dramatic arts. Readers are introduced to some of the difficult moments in Arthur and all of the childrens’ pasts, and it was both heartbreaking and encouraging to see what they’ve overcome. The author makes very strong commentaries on the idea of what a family should like (spoiler: there’s no one right answer), foster care, and government. In the acknowledgement section, the author mentioned that he wanted to be the antithesis to J.K. Rowling, and I think he achieved all of that and more. 

Daniel Henning did an excellent job of bringing the story to life with his performance in the audiobook. I loved how he captured Lucy’s mischievousness, Chauncey’s radiant love for life (and being a bellhop), and Sal’s growing maturity and determination to protect his brothers and sisters. I’m also quite impressed with how he brought Arthur’s phoenix to life.

Overall, an excellent book and a great close to the story of Marsyas Island. I loved the twists and turns, and how the book closed. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy found family, diverse casts of characters, LGBTQ+ romances, and a little bit of magic in the everyday life. 

REVIEW Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2) by Aiden Thomas

Celestial Monsters (The Sunbearer Duology #2) by Aiden Thomas

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: September 3, 2024

Format: eBook (Personal Library) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

 “He cursed the universe for giving him the ability to talk to birds but not boys”

Aiden Thomas’ second book in The Sunbearer Trials duology, Celestial Monsters, was an amazing sequel filled with fantasy adventure, found family and even a bit of romance. After the failed sacrifice at the end of the last book, the Obsidians have been released and it’s up to Teo and his friends Niya and Aurelio to get the sun stone back before it’s too late. 

The characters were quite compelling, and it played well with the overarching storyline and themes. Xio was the catalyst for the Obsidians being released, but they are quite conflicted. They always wanted to find somewhere where they belonged, but realized too late that their ‘birth’ family might not be the answer to that dilemma. Teo refused to fill the same role that so many Sunbearers in the past had, acknowledging his ‘mistake’ and called out the Golds and Jades for allowing so many semidioses to lose their lives when it wasn’t necessary. They both were underestimated by those around them, but it ultimately ends up working in their favor. Without spoilers, I liked how some of the major players in this conflict were not the most flashy or the most powerful (on paper), but rather silent and strong figures content to be background players until their intervention was necessary. 

The representation in these books was excellent. There are all sorts of backgrounds and romantic preferences in the book. Transgender characters are widely accepted, as are those of different sexualities. There was also freedom for the characters to explore their identities; Xio transitions from using he/him pronouns to they/them pronouns part way through the book. When they announce this change to some of the other characters, they are thanked for sharing (and said characters promptly switch back to harassing them for their poor decisions immediately after). I really appreciate the opportunity to learn more about different backgrounds and groups. 

Overall, an excellent book from Aiden Thomas. Narrator Andre Santana did an excellent job bringing the perspectives of the various characters to life with their performance in the audiobook. While I’m sad Teo’s story is over, I’m very happy with the ending (it was well written and satisfying). I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy reads that celebrate LGBTQ+ backgrounds, complete with Mexican-mythology inspired worldbuilding, found family, and romance. 

BLOG TOUR Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs by Victoria Williamson

 

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour organized by TheWriteReads for Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs by Victoria Williamson. Check out my post to learn more about the book and the author. Happy reading everyone!

About the Book

When the skies turn deadly, a young heroine must rise from the ashes...

Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now, with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher. Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it - the Firehawk - lies in pieces in the hangar.

Determined to honour her parents' legacy, Amberley hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo's help, they stow away on a supply train, trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action. Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home, discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the way.

Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.

Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure

Age Category: Middle-Grade

Number of Pages: 198 Pages

Publication Date: October 24, 2024

Publisher: Tiny Tree Books

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217402251-skyfleet 

Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/b4187899-258e-4ea2-8e83-9cad557dd26a 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/7OiVBIY (Canada) https://a.co/d/abVrfJ6 (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/2BKDkj5 (UK)

About the Author

Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.

As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.

She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.

Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com

REVIEW The Sherlock Society (The Sherlock Society #1) by James Ponti

The Sherlock Society (The Sherlock Society #1) by James Ponti

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: September 3, 2024

Format: Hardcover (Review Copy from Publisher) + Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)

Publisher: Aladdin

Being a huge fan of James Ponti’s City Spies books, it was very exciting for me when I received a copy of his newest release, The Sherlock Society. A mix of mystery, history, journalism, and bits of science, it was a fun read I would highly recommend to kids of all ages. 

Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock are looking for a way to learn a little spending cash and occupy their summer. Taking homage from their last name (and their grandfather’s journalism background), they decide to start their own kid detective agency The Sherlock Society with friends Lina and Yadi. Working on the cold cases their grandpa could never solve, it leads them straight into the heart of the Everglades and a very active mystery. 

I loved the storyline. The initial mystery the kids choose to tackle (the lost treasure/money stash of Al Capone) was super interesting. It was fun to see how the author blended solving the mystery with the journalism ‘bootcamp’ that the kids have to go through. I also really appreciated how the author used the story to educate people about the Everglades and the history surrounding the area. I don’t want to spoil the true mystery of the book, but it was extremely well written with how it unfolded (starting with a major climax, then going back in time to show how the characters got there). 

The characters were another definite highlight of the book for me. Zoe and Alex’s grandpa, Mr. Pete Lassiter, has to be one of the coolest adults I’ve ever seen in a middle-grade book. All of the kids in the Sherlock Society have their own talents and perspectives, and brought something unique to the team. Zoe and Alex’s parents were super cool too, and I thought they (along with the other side characters) rounded out the story well. 

Overall, another great read and release from the author. Mark Sanderlin did an excellent job bringing the story to life with his performance in the audiobook narration. I’m excited to read future installments in the series, and see what The Sherlock Society gets up to on their next adventure. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Sherlock Society immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.  

REVIEW Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer

 

Kwame Crashes the Underworld (Kwame Powell #1) by Craig Kofi Farmer
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Format: eBook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Craig Kofi Farmer’s Kwame Crashes the Underworld was an emotional and entertaining fantasy read. A middle grade novel based on Ghanaian mythology, it explores themes of culture, family and identity. Readers who enjoyed books like Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strange Punches a Hole in the Sky will definitely enjoy this read. 

Kwame Powell is a twelve year old kid out of North Carolina who is grieving the loss of his beloved Grandmother. Unwilling to accept the fact that she’s gone (and uncomfortable with the Ghanaian part of his heritage that she represented), Kwame’s loath to travel with his parents to her celebration of life. However, after a tricksy monkey steals the last gift his grandmother gave him, the chase leads him into an entirely different world and thrusts him straight into a godly conflict. 

There is so much action and adventure in this book, but it's also balanced with weighty emotion. Kwame and Autumn must escape Asamando to stay alive, but it means saying goodbye to his grandmother seemingly forever. This parallels the fact that Kwame is unwilling to make an effort to acknowledge his heritage and culture early in the book, despite his best efforts to separate himself from that identity in his day to day life. The journey that Kwame goes on to embrace that part of him was fun to watch, and I appreciated the life lessons that the author interspersed along the way (such as the fact that “Ignorance isn’t a disease that you catch. It’s a choice you make”.) 

The characters were a definite highlight of the book. Kwame is the son of immigrants, and struggles to deal with his dual heritage (which I think is such an important topic for kids to be exposed to). Autumn is a member of the deaf and hard of hearing community, and I really appreciated how well the author wove sign language into the story. It was a pleasant surprise to see how the author highlighted some of the challenges a member of the deaf community might face in their day to day life. Woo the aboatia was hilarious, and he reminded me a lot of Abu from the Aladdin movies.  I loved Kwame’s grandmother as well - it was an interesting dynamic that “Asamando lets their residents take the age that they felt most alive”. The other more minor characters rounded out the story well, and I appreciated how easy the author made it to follow the various figures from mythology and where they originated. 

Overall, this was an excellent novel and I completely devoured the story while reading. Narrator Joshua Quinn did an excellent job bringing the story to life. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy kid lit fantasy complete with mythological inspiration, wacky adventures, and diverse characters. 

REVIEW Spectacular: A Caraval Holiday Novella by Stephanie Garber

Spectacular: A Caraval Holiday Novella by Stephanie Garber (Illustrated by Rosie Fowinkle)

Rating: 3.5 Stars
Release Date: October 22, 2024
Format: eBook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Flatiron Books

Stephanie Garber’s newest release, Spectacular: A Caraval Holiday Novella, was a fun return into the world of the original trilogy. It’s Scarlett’s first holiday season as Empress, and her sister Donatella has no idea of what to get her love Legend for the event. Her quest to find the perfect gift is a fun and quick adventure that will leave fans of the original books enchanted. 

As expected from a novella, it’s a rather short story. A quick taste of the different characters, the whimsical aspect of the story was elevated by the illustrations interspersed throughout the pages done by Rosie Fowinkle (@/rosiethorns88 on IG). Overall, I enjoyed the read and I think it’s designed for fans of the original books (not so much those new to the series). 

BLOG TOUR Terra Electrica by Antonia Maxwell

Hi friends! Welcome to my stop on the tour organized by TheWriteReads for Terra Electrica, part of The Guardians of the North series by Antonia Maxwell. Check out my post to learn more about the book, the author, and where you can get your own copy. 

Make sure you show the other tour hosts some love as well - the tour schedule is below. 

Happy reading everyone! 

Title: Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North

Author: Antonia Maxwell

Genre: Dystopian, Science & Nature, Environment

Age Category: Middle Grade

Page Count: 272 Pages  

Publication Date: July 4, 2024 (October 22nd US)

Publisher: Neem Tree Press

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204929195-terra-electrica 

Amazon: https://a.co/d/0ekqkIpP (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/0dUDASJ3 (UK) https://a.co/d/0euPP4sr (Canada)

 

About the Book:

Book 1 in an action-packed dystopian adventure series set in the near-future post-melt Arctic.

The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force—Terra Electrica—has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.

In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.

Can Mani piece everything together and harness her newfound powers in time to save humanity?

About the Author:

Antonia Maxwell is a writer and editor based in North Essex and Cambridge, UK. With a  degree in Modern Languages and a long-standing career as a book editor, she has a lifelong curiosity for language and words, and a growing fascination in the power of story – the way it shapes our lives and frames our experience.

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