BLOG TOUR Between Monsters and Marvels by Alysa Wishingrad

 

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS by Alysa Wishingrad Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 About The Book:

Title: BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS

Author: Alysa Wishingrad

Pub. Date: September 12, 2023

Publisher: HarperCollins

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 400

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/BETWEEN-MONSTERS-AND-MARVELS 

A standalone high-stakes middle grade fantasy by Alysa Wishingrad, author of the Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection The Verdigris Pawn.

Monsters are still lurking on Barrow’s Bay.

Dare Coates is sure of it. No drifter or ruffian could have killed her father, the Captain of the Guard, while he was on patrol. But everyone insists that monsters have been gone for years now. Dare’s mother. Her classmates. Even the governor, who swiftly marries her mother just months after her father’s death.

Dare’s suspicions grow even stronger when the governor suddenly ships her off to the mainland, away from any hope of uncovering the truth about her father’s death.

Or so she thinks. Soon Dare finds solid proof that monsters still exist and she starts to question everything she’s always known. Was her father who she thought he was? Who can she trust? Where is the line between good and evil?

The truth hides behind danger and deception. But with the help of an unlikely crew of cohorts and a stray beastie, nothing can stop Dare from finding out what happened to her father and exposing who the real monsters are.

Perfect for fans of Ellen Oh’s Spirit Hunters and Lauren Oliver’s The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street.  

REVIEW of Between Monsters and Marvels by Alysa Wishingrad
Rating: 4 Stars

Alysa Wishingrad’s new standalone middle-grade fantasy Between Monsters and Marvels is a memorable and whimsical tale that is reminiscent of a cross between Netflix’s Wednesday and How to Train Your Dragon. The premise of this book is super cool, and I love the cover. Monsters are thought to have been eradicated, and Dare and her monster hunter father are seemingly the only ones who believe otherwise. After her father’s death, Dare is thrust into a new environment where she must learn more about her heritage and the truth of how he died. 

Dare is a super cool main character. She reminds me of a lovable, slightly thorny and cantankerous old lady. Her whole life, she’s been told she’s been different but she takes that and uses it as a strength instead of something to be ashamed of. There are some surprises that come to light later in the book about her heritage and gifts, and I really appreciated how that played into the overall storyline. Her friends Nell and Gil round out the story well, and even though reading the synopsis does spoil some of the events of the book a bit it kept my attention throughout the story. The mystery aspect of figuring out what happened to Dare’s father was a fun touch. Early on in the book, I did think all of the adults were villains or kind of useless in general but my opinion changed by the end of things. 

The world building is interesting. It reminds me a bit of a Victorian setting, but there are elements of the setting that come across as more familiar. It was fun getting to learn about the different monsters (The Garbinol and the Occisor were super cool in my opinion), though I do wish there would have been some sort of bestiary pages I could refer back to as it was hard to keep track of all of their different characteristics as I was reading. 

The book is very whimsical and fun, befitting a middle-grade level novel, but it doesn’t shy away from some of the tougher themes. While there are literal ‘monsters’ in this book, the author also explores the idea of what makes a monster a monster. In particular, some of the monstrous things that humans can do (for the right price, or just out of sheer desperation) are highlighted within the story. There’s also an overwhelming sense of loss - we meet Dare’s father briefly at the beginning of the book before his untimely death. That ultimately allows readers to connect to him and Dare’s loss a bit more than if we had entered the action after his passing. While I am past the age of the intended audience for this book, I always try to take a moment to recognize and acknowledge books that don’t dumb down or dilute tough things for young readers, as I think it’s important for kids to be exposed to that as they go through the process of figuring out themselves and how they relate to the world. 

 

Overall, Between Monsters and Marvels was a very entertaining read. I love the the take on the idea of ‘monsters and marvels’ that the author presents within the book. Narrator Carlotta Brentan did an excellent job bringing the story to life with her performance in the audiobook version of the book. If you or a young reader in your life would enjoy a standalone story that crosses fantasy with a bit of mystery (and monsters of all shapes and sizes), you’ve come to the right place. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher HarperCollins, Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of the book as part of my participation in the tour. 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. 

About Alysa Wishingrad:

Alysa Wishingrad writes fantastical stories for young readers, tales that ask; is the truth really true? Her favorite stories are those that meld the historical with the fantastic, and that find ways to shine a light on both the things that divide and unite us all. The Verdigris Pawn, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, is her debut novel. Alysa lives in the Hudson Valley with her family and two demanding rescue dogs. You can find her at www. alysawishingrad.com or on Twitter at @awishingrad or Instagram at @alysawishingradwrites.

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Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of BETWEEN MONSTERS AND MARVELS Bookmarks and stickers, US Only.

Ends October 3rd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/1/2023

yabookscentral.com

Interview/IG Post

Week Two:

9/4/2023	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Guest Post or Excerpt/IG Post
9/5/2023	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post or Excerpt/IG Post
9/6/2023	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Guest Post or Excerpt/IG Post
9/7/2023	@katherinebichler	TikTok Spotlight
9/8/2023	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

9/11/2023	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
9/12/2023	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Review/TikTok Post
9/13/2023	Lifestyle of Me	Review
9/14/2023	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
9/15/2023	avainbookland	IG Review

Week Four:

9/18/2023	@pagesforpaige	IG Review
9/19/2023	A Blue Box Full of Books	IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post
9/20/2023	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
9/21/2023	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
9/22/2023	@froggyreadteach	IG Review

Week Five:

9/25/2023	FUONLYKNEW	Review
9/26/2023	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
9/27/2023	Gryffindorbookishnerd	IG Review
9/28/2023	evergirl200	IG Review
9/29/2023	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post

REVIEW Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije

Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from the Library)
Publisher: HarperCollins 

Social media was responsible for introducing me to George Jreije’s debut novel, Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria, and I’m so happy it did. If you’ve enjoyed heroes like Amari from B.B. Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers, or Sik from Sarwat Chadda’s City of the Plague God, you’ll enjoy the story the author crafted in this book (some might even say storytelling is its own brand of alchemy). 

Shad Hadid has lived with his grandmother, ‘Teta’ ever since his small family group immigrated from Lebanon and his father passed away. Shad’s normal day-to-day routine of taking care of his grandmother and visiting the local bakery is interrupted after he learns that he comes from a long line of alchemists, and he’s sent to learn the family craft at the prestigious Alexandria Academy. However, things at the school will be much more complicated than Shad could have ever imagined, as he must contend with bullies, an entirely new world to learn about, and the mysterious villainous Necromancers trying to take over the school. 

Alchemy has always existed in the space between magic and science, and you can tell the author had fun playing with that aspect of the ‘magic system’. The passion came through in the storytelling, and it was wonderfully executed. Alexandria Academy was a new take on the magical school idea - I was pleasantly surprised by the dynamic of having all mentions of alchemy be forgotten by those who hear it, as it really helped give the story a unique spin among all the other magical schools in middle-grade books. I was also quite happy that the author threw in a nod to the famous Library of Alexandria (as that’s one of the places I would definitely want to visit if I could go back in time). Despite the fun that comes with alchemy, Mr. Jreije introduces some heavier things like school bullies, grief, and loss - all of which come together to help the story come across as more authentic and relatable. 

While the book falls firmly in the fantasy adventure genre, readers can also consider it a love letter to Lebanese culture and food. Shad aspires to be a baker one day, and it was really cool how the author wove elements of cooking into alchemy. I also want to give a shout-out to how on point all of the food descriptions were - I’ve never tried some of the featured dishes, but I had no problems envisioning them and the descriptions were so vivid they made me hungry. 

This is a great book for readers of all ages. Ali Nasser’s performance in the audiobook narration of the book was solid. Those who enjoy middle-grade fantasy adventures with underdog heroes, a deep appreciation for culture, and magical schools should give Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria a chance. After reading this book, I’m excited to check out the next book in the series, Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies, once it comes out in October 2023. 

About the Book

You are invited to the Alexandria Academy . . .

Twelve-year-old Shad Hadid has never quite fit in. The other kids at school don’t understand him, so he spends most of his time alone, cooking for his teta and daydreaming of opening his own Arabic bakery full of tasty treats. But when Shad is attacked by a shadowy monster, he learns his late baba was an alchemist with the ability to mix charms, elixirs, and mists—and he’s one too!

Then Shad receives an invitation to the mysterious Alexandria Academy, a fabled school for alchemists, where he hopes he’ll find safety and learn more about the ancient science. But when he arrives, no one at the school seems to know what alchemy is! As Shad digs deeper into the mystery, he discovers a sinister evil lurking in the shadows, and only he holds the key to stopping—or fulfilling—their plans.

With danger at every turn and the fate of the alchemy world on the line, can Shad save his friends and defeat this sinister foe?

About the Author

George is the Lebanese-American author of the Shad Hadid children's fantasy series as well as the upcoming graphic novel, Tarik’s Bazaar Adventure, both with HarperCollins. He has also written short stories published in collaboration with UNICEF. 
George was selected to be the inaugural writer-in-residence for the historic Concord Free Library in Massachusetts, a position that is currently ongoing. He has been a featured speaker at WorldCon, SCBWI regional conferences, the Elixir Writing Retreats, and many more. 
When not writing, George enjoys visiting schools and conferences as a lecturer, scouring the world for delicious food, and messing with new yoga poses. 

Check out the author's website here

REVIEW Cece Rios and the King of Fears (Cece Rios Book 2) by Kaela Rivera

Cece Rios and the King of Fears (Cece Rios #2) 

by Kaela Rivera
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Harper Collins 

Check out my review of book one in the series, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls

Cece Rios and the King of Fears by Kaela Rivera is the second book in the Cece Rios series, and it picks up not that long after Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls leaves off. Cece has just saved her older sister from the clutches of one of the legendary Dark Saints, and they are finally back home. Things seem like they should be fine, with their abusive father out of the picture and Cece’s criatura friends happily living with them, but El Cucuy and Devil’s Alley are not done with the Rios sisters yet. 

After the events of the first book, it was interesting to get both Juana's and Cece’s perspectives. Both sisters have goals at the forefront of their thoughts; Cece thinks she still needs to do more to put her broken family back together. Juana, on the other hand, seeks to avenge all the wrongs that have been done to her. Their missions take them in seemingly parallel directions, and the confrontation with El Cucuy draws ever closer. In the background, there’s also their mysterious tia Catrina, who's been exerting her influence behind the scenes for a while now, and whose motives are entirely unclear. 

The world of criaturas and brujas was already big in the first book, and the world-building is only expanded with this book. I enjoyed learning about all of the new criaturas. I also enjoyed getting to see more of the infamous Devil’s Alley. Admittedly, it was hard to figure out how to spell some of the criatura names from only hearing them in the audiobook version so I appreciate the inclusion of a glossary for reference purposes. 

Almarie Guerra and Karla Serrato did an excellent job bringing Cece and Juana’s perspectives to life. If you or a young reader in your life enjoy adventure stories influenced by cultural myths, the Cece Rios series would be a great choice for what to read next. I haven’t seen confirmation, but I’m hoping that this book gets a sequel (which is reported to be Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas at the time of writing this review). I’m excited to see what happens next for Cece, Juana and their friends. 

About the Book

In this thrilling sequel to the “spellbinding” (ALA Booklist starred review) and “mesmerizing” (Publishers Weekly starred review) Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, Cece and her sister, Juana, must journey into the stronghold of Devil’s Alley to discover the hidden origin of the dark criaturas.

Cece Rios thought saving her sister would be the end of her adventures in the world of criaturas. But part of Juana’s soul is still trapped in Devil’s Alley. As Cece tries to find a way to get it back using her new curandera abilities, Juana takes her fate in her own hands and sets off alone, intent on restoring her soul and getting revenge on El Sombrerón.

But then they discover that El Cucuy, king of the criaturas, is hunting for Cece, craving her powers for his own dark purposes. Can the Rios sisters—along with Coyote, Little Lion, and their other criatura allies—uncover his secrets and reclaim Juana’s soul? Or will the sinister forces of Devil’s Alley overcome them all?

Connect with the Author Kaela Rivera

Author Twitter

Author Instagram

Kaela Rivera grew up believing in will-o’-the-wisps and el chupacabra, but even ghost stories couldn’t stop her from reading in the isolated treetops, caves, and creeks of Tennessee’s Appalachian forests.

She still believes in the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents, but now she writes about them from the adventure-filled mountains of the Wild West. When she’s not crafting stories, she’s using her English degree from BYU-I as an editor for a marketing company (or secretly doodling her characters in the margins of her notebook). Her award-winning debut novel, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, came out April 13, 2021.

Her biggest hope is to highlight and explore the beauty of cultural differences—and how sharing those differences can bring us all closer.

REVIEW Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls (Cece Rios Book 1) by Kaela Rivera

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls (Cece Rios Book 1) by Kaela Rivera
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: April 13, 2021
Format: Audiobook (library)
Publisher: Harper Collins 

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Kaela Rivera’s Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is an entertaining middle-grade fantasy read. Filled with beautiful imagery, lovable characters, and important messages, this book is an easy-to-read page-turner. 

As a fan of mythology and folktales, it was so much fun to see Kaela Rivera’s interpretation of various legends like El Cucuy, Coyote, La Chupacabra, and La Llorona. Coyote has always been a mischievous figure in the other books I’ve read, and that trend holds true in this book. Ms. Rivera even introduced some legends I’d never heard of before, so it was exciting to have the opportunity to learn about new figures! You’ll have to read the book to find out which figures I didn’t mention. 

Sisterhood and family are a big part of this book. Cece’s mistake allowed her sister to be taken and she immediately regrets that. I appreciated how she also got the chance to save the day and right her wrongs (little sisters for the win!) The broader family aspect is very important to the story. Both Cece's birth family and her "found family" are important. Cece has always been ostracized for being different, and the first time she really finds acceptance is when she meets Coyote, Little Lion, and Kit Fox. I loved seeing their friendship and relationships blossom over the course of the story. They all help each other discover their own strengths and overcome some of the struggles in their past, and it was beautiful to see. 

In addition to the sisterhood and family aspects, there's also a big theme of being misunderstood in the book. The majority of the "criaturas" are very misunderstood - if those in the village took the time to understand them there would be a lot fewer conflicts. If you want to get an idea of what type of misunderstanding it is (without me risking a blatant spoiler) it's very similar to the story in the first How to Train Your Dragon movie. 

The audiobook was awesome! Almarie Guerra did a great job with her narration. If you’re an audiobook fan, I definitely recommend checking the audiobook for Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls out.  Altogether, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is a super fun choice for fans of J.C. Cervantes' The Storm Runner or Roshani Chokshi's Aru Shah series. I would recommend it to fans of middle-grade mythology and folktales. I'm eager to see what's next for Cece when the sequel, Cece Rios and the King of Fears, comes out in September 2022.  

Trigger Warning: Kidnapping, Parent Hitting a Child (Ch. 24 - The Will of Cecilia Rios)

About the Book

When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back, in this own voices middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Storm Runner and Aru Shah and the End of Time.

Living in the remote town of Tierra del Sol is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert and threaten humankind. But Cecelia Rios has always believed there was more to the criaturas, much to her family's disapproval. After all, only brujas-humans who capture and control criaturas-consort with the spirits, and brujeria is a terrible crime.

When her older sister, Juana, is kidnapped by El Sombreron, a powerful dark criatura, Cece is determined to bring Juana back. To get into Devil's Alley, though, she'll have to become a bruja herself-while hiding her quest from her parents, her town, and the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans and agrees to help her on her journey.

With him at her side, Cece sets out to reunite her family-and maybe even change what it means to be a bruja along the way.

Connect with the Author Kaela Rivera

Author Twitter

Author Instagram

Kaela Rivera grew up believing in will-o’-the-wisps and el chupacabra, but even ghost stories couldn’t stop her from reading in the isolated treetops, caves, and creeks of Tennessee’s Appalachian forests.

She still believes in the folktales of her Mexican-American and British parents, but now she writes about them from the adventure-filled mountains of the Wild West. When she’s not crafting stories, she’s using her English degree from BYU-I as an editor for a marketing company (or secretly doodling her characters in the margins of her notebook). Her award-winning debut novel, Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls, came out April 13, 2021.

Her biggest hope is to highlight and explore the beauty of cultural differences—and how sharing those differences can bring us all closer.