REVIEW The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer #1) by Lynette Noni

The Prison Healer (The Prison Healer #1) by Lynette Noni
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: April 13, 2021
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library) + Hardcover (Personal Library)
Publisher: Clarion Books

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Lynette Noni’s The Prison Healer is an explosive start to a new young adult dark fantasy series. The eponymous Prison Healer, Kiva Meridan, is the one inmate responsible for keeping everyone else in the prison alive and healthy enough to work. She’s been there for almost a decade, and the thought of seeing her family again (and the coded notes they periodically send her) are the only things keeping her going. When one of their notes comes attached to the mysterious Rebel Queen (arguably one of the most high-profile prisoners in the prison’s history), Kiva is forced to take her place in the deadly elemental trials and survive for both of their sakes. 

Ms. Noni took a unique approach to the worldbuilding of this book, and it totally worked. Unlike many other recent young adult fantasies, there is almost no ‘movement’ and the majority of the action takes place at the prison. There are hints of a larger world though, with characters coming in and bringing news from outside the prison. The teasers worked and my curiosity has been piqued. I’m looking forward to seeing where the characters will travel next in the subsequent books in the series, The Gilded Cage and The Blood Traitor. 

The characters were awesome. Kiva experiences a lot of growth over the course of the story; she’s loyal to a fault for those she cares about, but the years of imprisonment have left her closed off and unwilling to connect with anyone (in fear of them dying in quick order). Her young assistant Tipp is the only one she’s ever dared open up to, but things change with the arrival of Jaren and Naari in the prison. Each character has a purpose in the story, and there were multiple moments that were particularly gripping and emotional for the reader.  

The Prison Healer is littered with plot twists, and while predictable, I appreciate that they were well-earned. They didn’t just come out of nowhere; when you look back, there was a followable thread that builds up to the eventual reveal. There was one plot twist towards the end of the book that I was not expecting, however; I practically squeaked after reading it and I’m so excited to see the author build on that later in the series. 

Overall, this was a great novel by Lynette Noni and an amazing start to The Prison Healer trilogy. Jeanette Illidge did a great job with her performance in the audiobook narration. If you’re a fan of Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass series or Amelie Wen Zhao’s Blood Heir trilogy, then you should definitely check this series out. I do want to stress that this book deals with a lot of heavy themes and is a dark fantasy (if it wasn’t already obvious from the trigger warnings). I would not recommend this to more sensitive readers, or those looking for a happily ever after ending at the end of the book. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Sexual Assault (References), Scenes of Physical and Emotional Abuse, Bullying, Trauma, Violence, Self-Harm, Plague, Terminal Illness, Death of a Parent, Death of a Sibling, Torture, Imprisonment, Near-Drowning

About the 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.

From bestselling author Lynette Noni comes a dark, thrilling YA fantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, and Sabaa Tahir.

About the Author

Lynette Noni is currently Australia’s #1 YA fiction author. After studying journalism, academic writing and human behaviour at university, she finally ventured into the world of fiction. She is now a full-time writer and the bestselling author of the six-book young adult fantasy series, The Medoran Chronicles, as well as a second bestselling and award-winning duology called Whisper.

Lynette won the 2019 ABIA Award for Small Publishers’ Children’s Book of the Year, along with the 2019 Gold Inky Award (Australia’s only teen choice book award). She is currently collaborating on a project with #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas.

Lynette's next series, The Prison Healer, is releasing globally in 2021

REVIEW Freddie vs the Family Curse by Tracy Badua

Freddie vs the Family Curse by Tracy Badua 
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: May 3, 2022
Format: eBook + Audiobook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Clarion Books 

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Freddie is the unluckiest kid, and it’s all due to the family curse. From breaking his projects to accidentally frying the computers at school; a particularly nasty fall earned him the nickname “Faceplant Freddie”. He’s desperate to break the streak, so when he finds a “lucky amulet” in the garage it seems like fate. Freddie may have bitten off more than he can chew though because the amulet actually contains the spirit of his great uncle Ramon and he’s started a thirteen-day countdown of doom (thirteen is such an unlucky number). If he can’t break the curse in time, he will join his uncle in the amulet forever. A simple task for an unlucky kid, his cousin, and their ghostly ancestor, right? I thought so too (please note the sarcasm in that remark). 

On the surface, this story is a journey to breaking the family curse, but on the way, Freddie (and Sharkey) are also learning more about the family's history. I loved how the book addressed some cultural topics and maintained the lighthearted tone and feel of the best middle-grade books I’ve read. I thoroughly enjoyed the brief intro and peek into Filipino culture. As a side note, I want to make clear that I am a white person with no personal ties to Filipino history and/or culture so I can’t comment on the authenticity of the representation in this book (Please check out the page of an #OwnVoices reviewer if you’d like that type of information). 

Freddie is such a relatable character. I empathized with his embarrassment over all the mishaps the curse has caused and his nerves over doing fun kid things in the fear of the curse causing even more mishaps. I also heavily agreed with Sharkey and Ramon’s perspective on reminding Freddie that he shouldn’t let the curse hold him back and that sometimes life just sucks. Narrator Edward Mendoza delivered an A+ performance and really brought the humor in Freddie's perspective to life. I’ll have to check out other books Mr. Mendoza has narrated, cause he was absolutely hilarious. 

Overall, an entertaining and heartwarming middle-grade fantasy read. I loved Tracy Badua’s debut, so I’m excited to read any other books she may publish in the future! If you like Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong series or Carlos Hernandez’s Sal and Gabi books, then you should definitely check out Freddie vs. the Family Curse. I promise you won’t regret it!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Bullying, Grief, Memory Loss

About the Book

In this thrilling and hilarious middle grade adventure, a young Filipino-American boy must team up with his ancestor to break the curse that's haunted their family for generations . . . or be trapped in an amulet forever.

Freddie Ruiz is cursed.

While other people may have bad days, Freddie and his family have had bad generations: from bird poop splatting on him during picture day to the many tumbles and trips that earned him the nickname Faceplant Freddie. He's learned to lay low and keep himself out of trouble--which means no fun, no friends, and definitely no risks.

But when he discovers a family heirloom, a century-old amulet from the Philippines that's supposed to bring good fortune, Freddie thinks his luck is finally about to change.

He couldn't be more wrong. Because the spirit of Freddie's cranky great-granduncle Ramon is trapped in the heirloom, and the evil spirits responsible for his death have returned with a vengeance. Now, Freddie and his cousin, Sharkey, have thirteen days to break the curse, or Freddie will join Ramon for an untimely afterlife in the amulet.

About the Author

Tracy Badua is a Filipino American author of books about young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes stormy world. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family and pup time, and bites of her secret candy stash. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, chatty toddler, and photogenic Maltese.

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The Ravens (The Ravens Book 1) by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige

The Ravens (The Ravens Book 1) by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige

Rating: 3 Stars

Release Date: November 3, 2020

Format: Audiobook (library)

Publisher: Clarion Books

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The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige takes the meaning of sisterhood to another level, as members of a magical coven masquerading as a college sorority must race against the clock to solve a mystery and save the lives of their witchy sisters before its too late. 

Vivi is a bit of a loner, living with her tarot card reading mother whose frequent moves across the country make it difficult for Vivi to make any friends. Her acceptance to Westerly is her best hope for a new start, but things will not be as easy as Vivi might have hoped once she is introduced to the Ravens and accepted as a pledge. Our other point of view character in the book is Scarlett, the headstrong junior who is determined to follow in her family’s footsteps and become the next president of the coven. She has the rest of her life neatly planned out, but things don’t go as she had hoped. Vivi and Scarlett butt heads at the beginning of the story, but they are forced to work together to save the sorority from being destroyed by the actions and secrets of past members. 

It took me a bit to get into the book, but once the magic element was introduced and the action started I was hooked. I was less sold on the sorority aspect (I’m not a big fan of hazing in real life or in books), but I loved how solid the sistership between the members of Kappa Rho Nu (also known as The Ravens) is. I was also intrigued by how the authors handled the comparisons between Scarlett and Vivi, and the fact that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Scarlett has grown up her entire life knowing she was a witch, but the expectations her mother placed on her as a result were stifling. On the other hand, Vivi thought her mother was a charlatan and cursed her for their constant moves. Once Vivi is actually introduced to magic, her wonder and raw power end up softening some of Scarlett’s ire towards her. 

While I connected strongly to the magic and the sisterhood aspects in the story, I was left puzzled by the romance. Granted, it is not the focal point of the book but the events surrounding the relationship didn’t really make sense to me. There was no build-up to Mason and Vivi’s flirtations and attraction. I’m not super into “insta-love”, so this ended up putting me off of the story a bit. I was also disappointed by how things ended for Scarlett and Jackson - fingers crossed things turn out better for them in the next book! 

Overall, The Ravens is a fast-paced read that should appeal to readers who are fans of fantasy books grounded in a contemporary setting. There are also dark academia vibes in the story, but it is not as prominent as books like Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House. I’m curious to see where the authors will go with the sorority in the next book, especially with the new developments in Vivi’s and Scarlett’s lives from the end of the book. I’d also love to see more interactions between Scarlett and Vivi’s moms, as the small scene they gave us at the end of the book was not enough (I feel like there’s a lot more history to explore in their relationship).  

CW: Death of Loved Ones, Blood Gore, Terminal Illness (Cancer), Animal Sacrifice and Death as Part of Magical Ritual