REVIEW Radiant Sin (Dark Olympus #4) by Katee Robert

Radiant Sin (Dark Olympus Book 4) by Katee Robert
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: February 7, 2023
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library, Bought from Libro.fm0
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Katee Robert’s Radiant Sin, the fourth book in the Dark Olympus series, picks up after the events of Wicked Beauty with the power dynamics in Olympus once again shifting. New arrivals to the city have disrupted the usual ebb and flow, and a failing boundary system has left all of the members of the Thirteen desperate to shore up their power base and not show weakness to those outside of the city looking to strike.  

Radiant Sin gives readers a different viewpoint on the world of Olympus. Instead of most of the story taking place in the main city, Apollo and Cassandra journey to Minos’ country estate to attend a house party and try to determine his ulterior motives. The action that happens there is reminiscent of the board game Clue or the movie Knives Out, as the duo is thrust into an evolving mystery that they must solve before the ‘villains’ can make their move. The house guests add an extra element of fun to the story, as you have the ever-mischievous Hermes, the laid back party loving Dionysus, and the chaos-inducing Aphrodite (formerly known as Eris) as just a few of those present at the event. 

I’ve constantly been left amazed by the author’s creative ways of reimagining the Greek myths. Apollo and Cassandra’s roles in Olympus take very loose inspiration from the original tales. For example, there are never any references to poetry, healing, or music with Apollo’s role in the Thirteen. Apollo is also not a package deal with Artemis in this book (they’re cordial at best). There’s also no reference to Cassandra’s role in the Greek myths as the ‘mad prophetess’. However, despite the inspirations being loose, I do think Ms. Robert managed to maintain the spirit of those figures as well as their recognizability. 

Overall, Radiant Sin was an excellent read. Zara Hampton Brown and Alex Moorcock did an excellent job bringing Cassandra and Apollo’s perspectives to life in alternating chapters within the book (I really love all of the books they’ve narrated for Katee Robert). As with the other books in the Dark Olympus series, I would recommend Radiant Sin for mature fans of steamy, romance-filled mythology retellings. While Cassandra and Apollo’s story stands alone, a lot of the happenings in this book take up the story threads from Wicked Beauty and really set up the foundation for what should be happening in the next book, Cruel Seduction. I’m really excited to see Ms. Robert’s take on the story of Aphrodite and Hephaestus, and how she will incorporate Pandora and Adonis into that relationship.  

CONTENT WARNINGS (Courtesy of the Author): Body Shaming (referenced briefly, historical), murder, blood, guns, boss/employee relationship

About the Book

There's nowhere more dangerous than Olympus...and no one more captivating than its golden god: Apollo. Keeper of secrets, master of his shining realm...and the only man I am powerless to deny.

*A scorchingly hot modern retelling of Apollo and Cassandra that's as sinful as it is sweet.*

As a disgraced member of a fallen house, Cassandra Gataki has seen firsthand what comes from trusting the venomous Thirteen. But when the maddeningly gorgeous and kind Apollo asks her to go undercover as his plus-one at a week-long party hosted by a dangerous new power player...Cassandra reluctantly agrees to have his back.

On one condition: when it's all over, and Apollo has the ammunition he needs to protect Olympus, she and her sister will be allowed to leave. For good.

Apollo may be the city's official spymaster, but it's his ability to inspire others that keeps him at the top. Despite what the rest of Olympus says, there's no one he trusts more than Cassandra. Yet even as their fake relationship takes a wicked turn for the scaldingly hot, a very real danger surfaces... threatening not only Cassandra and Apollo, but the very heart of Olympus itself.

About the Author

Katee Robert is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Entertainment Weekly calls her writing “unspeakably hot.” Her books have sold over a million copies. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, a cat who thinks he’s a dog, and two Great Danes who think they’re lap dogs.

 

Katee is represented by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

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REVIEW Saint (Fable #0.5) by Adrienne Young

Saint (Fable #0.5) by Adrienne Young
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: November 29, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Wednesday Books 

Saint by Adrienne Young is the prequel to Fable and Namesake, and it's one of the few books I can think of where readers basically badgered the author and the publishing house into making it a reality. Thankfully, all the effort was well worth it! I loved getting to explore the Narrows and the Unnamed Sea again from Isolde and Saint’s perspectives, and get to see the moment when they first met. 

The book does an excellent job with allowing readers to learn more about two characters from the original Fable books that have loomed so large (one with a physical presence in the action, and one who appears only in stories). Saint and Isolde come from entirely different backgrounds. Saint came from nothing, working his way up to be one of the most legendary helmsmen to sail the Narrows with his faithful navigator Clove at his side. His reverence for the sea earned him his nickname, and has been instrumental in getting him closer to the trading license he so desperately wants. Isolde, on the other hand, came from privilege as the daughter of a wealthy gem merchant in the Unnamed Sea. With her rare talent as a gem sage, she’s desperate to escape her mother’s grasp and finds herself crossing paths with Saint early on in the book. Their mutual attraction is immediate, and the romantic tension between the two was palpable. 

As a fan of Fable’s story, I was so excited when this book was announced. Saint was my favorite character in the original books, and I needed to know his origin story. As with many of Adrienne’s other titles, it’s an immersive read that makes you want to keep turning the page. There isn’t quite as much action in this book compared to the others set in the world of the Narrows. However, the feeling of forward movement in the story is maintained through the character development and the worldbuilding the author brings to life with her words. It was fun to get to see some characters I was familiar with from the original books. It was also nice to be introduced to some new characters. Some of the big reveals were shocking, and I’ll be going back to re-read Fable and Namesake once I have a chance to see what other easter eggs and connections I might have missed. 

Ell Potter and Will Damron did an amazing job bringing Isolde and Saint’s perspectives to life in the audiobook version of Saint. While the book is written such that it’s accessible by those who haven’t read Fable or Namesake, I think it would be most enjoyable for those who are already familiar with the world of the Narrows and the Unnamed Sea. 

About the Book

As a boy, Elias learned the hard way what happens when you don’t heed the old tales.

Nine years after his lack of superstition got his father killed, he’s grown into a young man of piety, with a deep reverence for the hallowed sea and her fickle favor. As stories of the fisherman’s son who has managed to escape the most deadly of storms spreads from port to port, his devotion to the myths and creeds has given him the reputation of the luckiest bastard to sail the Narrows.

Now, he’s mere days away from getting everything his father ever dreamed for him: a ship of his own, a crew, and a license that names him as one of the first Narrows-born traders. But when a young dredger from the Unnamed Sea with more than one secret crosses his path, Elias’ faith will be tested like never before. The greater the pull he feels toward her, the farther he drifts from the things he’s spent the last three years working for.

He is dangerously close to repeating his mistakes and he’s seen first hand how vicious the jealous sea can be. If he’s going to survive her retribution, he will have to decide which he wants more, the love of the girl who could change their shifting world, or the sacred beliefs that earned him the name that he’s known for―Saint.

Author Adrienne Young returns to the world of The Narrows with Saint, a prequel to Fable and Namesake.

About the Author

Adrienne Young is the New York Times, USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Sky in the Deep duology, the Fable series, and the forthcoming Spells for Forgetting. Her books have been published in over twenty-five countries around the world and Fable had the honor of being selected as a Reese’s Bookclub YA Pick. 

Young is also the creator of the continuously sold out Writing With the Soul Workshop and numerous initiatives to support women and youth storytellers, including the Fable Grant. Her first nonfiction project is the soon to be released The Storytellers Workbook, in collaboration with artist and author Isabel Ibañez. 

When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

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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?

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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.

ARC REVIEW Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned #1) by Jonathan Maberry

Kagen the Damned (Kagen the Damned #1) 

by Jonathan Maberry
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Format: eARC (Provided through NetGalley)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin 

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Kagen the Damned by Jonathan Maberry is the first book in a new grimdark horror/fantasy series, and it's a bloody tale. I would recommend it to mature adult readers (probably 21 and over) who are not put off by blood and gore, and who enjoy genre-blending tales.

Worldbuilding is the shining star of the book. The author does a fantastic job of easing the readers into a complex, vast epic fantasy world. His descriptions and imagery are vivid; I never had an issue picturing what was going on (the descriptions were even too vivid at times - I didn’t really need all the pictures of entrails and blood in my head). I was also impressed by the political dynamics that made up the world. Our main character, Kagen, is in physical and emotional agony to learn that he failed his charges. You can’t help but feel for him and what he’s going through. I was confused by Ryssa’s storyline (she seemed way too innocent for such a violent tale) but it made more sense as the book went on.

While the worldbuilding is the highlight of the book, the pacing was a close second. This book is long at more than 500 pages, and books of this size frequently run the risk of feeling even longer and dragging on with lengthy chapters. Thankfully, Mr. Maberry made the choice to shorten the chapters and it worked out well. The short chapters helped keep the pacing up, and I never felt like the action suffered.

This book is bloody, and the author does not shy away from that aspect. Some of the subjects that were covered made this very hard to read (you can check the trigger warnings at the bottom of the review below to get an idea of what I mean). I wish this book had a set of trigger warnings at the beginning (as some authors are starting to do). The action is bloody from almost the first chapter and some readers may struggle as a result. 

Altogether, Kagen the Damned was a fairly entertaining read with some minor issues here and there. I might not have been the intended audience, but I still enjoyed most of the book. Be warned! This book does end on a major cliffhanger, so go in prepared for that. I’m curious about what happens next in the story, but I don’t know if I want to read another bloody book so I’m on the fence about getting the sequel Son of the Poison Rose when it comes out in early 2023. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher St. Martin’s Griffin, and the team at NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of Kagen the Damned. 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. 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Graphic Violence, Adult Language, Adult Content, Blood/Gore, Rape, Attempted Rape, Domestic Abuse, Animal Abuse, Child Abuse, Murder

About the Book

Kagen the Damned marks the first installment of an exciting new series of dark epic fantasy novels from bestselling author Jonathan Maberry.

Sworn by Oath
Kagen Vale is the trusted and feared captain of the palace guard, charged with protection of the royal children of the Silver Empire. But one night, Kagen is drugged and the entire imperial family is killed, leaving the empire in ruins.

Abandoned by the Gods
Haunted and broken, Kagen is abandoned by his gods and damned forever. He becomes a wanderer, trying to take down as many of his enemies as possible while plotting to assassinate the usurper, the deadly Witch-king of Hakkia. While all around him magic--long banished from the world--returns in strange and terrifying ways.

Fueled by Rage
To exact his vengeance, Kagen must venture into strange lands, battle bizarre and terrifying creatures, and gather allies for a suicide mission into the heart of the Witch-king's empire.

Kings and gods will fear him.

Kagen the Damned

About the Author

JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-seller and Audible #1 bestseller, five-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, anthology editor, comic book writer, executive producer, magazine feature writer, playwright, and writing teacher/lecturer. He is the editor of WEIRD TALES Magazine and president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers. He is the recipient of the Inkpot Award, three Scribe Awards, and was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold to more than thirty countries. He writes in several genres including thriller, horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, and mystery; and he writes for adults, middle grade, and young adult.

Jonathan is the creator, editor and co-author of V-WARS, a shared-world vampire anthology from IDW Publishing that was adapted into a NETFLIX series starring Ian Somerhalder (LOST, VAMPIRE DIARIES).

His young adult fiction includes ROT & RUIN (2011; was named in Booklist’s Ten Best Horror Novels for Young Adults, an American Library Association Top Pick, a Bram Stoker and Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading winner; winner of several state Teen Book Awards including the Cricket, Nutmeg and MASL; winner of the Cybils Award, the Eva Perry Mock Printz medal, Dead Letter Best Novel Award, and four Melinda Awards); DUST & DECAY (winner of the 2011 Bram Stoker Award; FLESH & BONE (winner of the Bram Stoker Award; 2012; and FIRE & ASH (August 2013). BROKEN LANDS, the first of a new spin-off series, debuted in 2018 and was followed by LOST ROADS in fall 2020. ROT & RUIN is in development for film by ALCON ENTERTAINMENT and was adapted as a WEBTOON (a serialized comic formatted for cell phones), becoming their #1 horror comic.

His novels include the enormously popular Joe Ledger series from St. Martin’s Griffin (PATIENT ZERO, 2009, winner of the Black Quill and a Bram Stoker Award finalist for Best Novel) and eleven other volumes, most recently RELENTLESS. His middle grade novel, THE NIGHTSIDERS BOOK 1: THE ORPHAN ARMY (Simon & Schuster) was named one the 100 Best Books for Children 2015. His standalone novels include MARS ONE, GLIMPSE, INK, GHOSTWALKERS (based on the DEADLANDS role-playing game), X-FILES ORIGINS: DEVIL’S ADVOCATE, and THE WOLFMAN --winner of the Scribe Award for Best Movie Adaptation

His horror novels include The Pine Deep Trilogy from Pinnacle Books (GHOST ROAD BLUES, 2006, winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and named one of the 25 Best Horror Novels of the New Millennium; DEAD MAN’S SONG, 2007; and BAD MOON RISING, 2008; as well as DEAD OF NIGHT, and its sequels, FALL OF NIGHT, DARK OF NIGHT, and STILL OF NIGHT.

His epic fantasy series, KAGEN THE DAMNED debuts in May 2022. And he just signed to co-author (with Weston Ochse) a new series of military science fiction novels that launches the SLEEPERS series. Jonathan will also be launching a new series of science fiction horror novels for the newly established Weird Tales Presents imprint of Blackstone Publishing.

He is also the editor of three THE X-FILES anthologies; the dark fantasy anthology series, OUT OF TUNE; SCARY OUT THERE, an anthology of horror for teens; and the anthologies ALIENS: BUG HUNT, NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD (with George Romero), JOE LEDGER UNSTOPPABLE (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt); two volumes of mysteries: ALTERNATE SHERLOCKS and THE GAME’S AFOOT (with Michael Ventrella); and ALIENS V PREDATOR: ULTIMATE PREY (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt). He is also the editor of DON’T TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, the official tribute to SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK. His next anthology will be ALIENS VS PREDATOR: ULTIMATE PREY (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt), debuting in spring 2022.

Jonathan was an expert on the History Channel documentary series, ZOMBIES: A Living History and TRUE MONSTERS. And he was participated in the commentary track for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED.

His many nonfiction works include VAMPIRE UNIVERSE (Citadel Press, 2006); THE CRYPTOPED.

REVIEW Night Market (Crossroad Chronicles Book 2) by BR Kingsolver

Night Market (Crossroad Chronicles Book 2) by BR Kingsolver
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Release Date: August 28, 2022
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited)

Night Market by BR Kingsolver, the second book in the Crossroad Chronicles series and the sequel to Family Ties, is another entertaining and engaging urban fantasy title. If you like the author’s other series The Rift Chronicles or Rosie O’Grady’s Paranormal Bar and Grill, then I think you’ll enjoy these books. At the time of writing this review, it’s available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited (so make sure you check it out if you’re a member). 

In my review for Family Ties, I asked the universe for a book that focused more on Karina (Diana’s sister), and my wish was granted. In this book, Karina asks her sister for help as she is hunting a rare and powerful tome that was stolen from the Great Library. Together, they work towards finding it, bringing them to the shady and secretive Night Market at the Great Marketplace of the Crossroads of the Worlds. 

The character development in this book is fun. Despite being nearly identical, Karina and Diana couldn’t be more different. Diana is a warrior who wears her hair short, loves working with her hands, and is more interested in common sense and comfort than vanity. Karina, on the other hand, is a scholar who loves her books, has a bit of a highborn attitude at times, and can be prone to superficial tendencies (Diana had to make her sister tone down one of her glamors before they went out disguised as common folk). This makes me even more excited to learn about their parents - I’m really hoping we get to see more of them soon. I want to learn more about their abilities, and how that played into the various abilities their children inherited. 

The world building was interesting in this book. Instead of learning about different worlds, BR Kingsolver introduces readers more to each of the world’s inhabitants. Diana and Karina come across many people in their hunt for the book - I appreciated the variety of species that were covered. It was also interesting to learn about the different cultures of the worlds they Walked through. There are multiple mini-lessons interspersed throughout the book that covers the level of technology each world has, as well as their system of government and the types of magic users they may encounter. With the sheer scope of worldbuilding in Night Market, it is understandably a bit hard to go in-depth into everything so that was a disappointment as a reader. I have loads of questions about things like the Kaminesky scale that I want to be answered! 

In my opinion, Night Market is an enjoyable installment to the Crossroad Chronicles series, and to BR Kingsolver’s larger catalog of works. There were some minor issues, but nothing that seriously impacted my enjoyment of the read or that would convince me to not read future installments (I’m hoping that all three siblings will work together in future books and that maybe their parents will make a larger appearance). I would recommend this book to adult urban fantasy readers, especially if you enjoy books by Patricia Briggs, Lisa Shearin, or Ilona Andrews.

About the Book

I was blissfully ignorant of a book, usually translated into Human languages as The Gospels of Satan, until it was stolen from the Great Library.

My twin sister, a Senior Scholar, showed up at my door and asked me to help her retrieve the cursed book. It’s magical, priceless, and in the wrong hands might be dangerous.

It could be anywhere in thousands of Worlds, but the logical place for the thieves to sell it is the Great Marketplace at the Crossroads of the Worlds. Not out in the open, but in the shadows known as the Night Market, where the buyers and sellers don’t mind disposing of a body or two.

About the Author

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.

Interested in other books by BR Kingsolver? Check out my reviews here!

REVIEW The Last Fallen Moon (The Gifted Clans Book 2) by Graci Kim

The Last Fallen Moon (The Gifted Clans Book 2) by Graci Kim
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: June 14, 2022
Format: Audiobook (Borrowed from Library)
Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents (Disney-Hyperion)

Check out my review of the first book in the series, The Last Fallen Star! 

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Following the events of The Last Fallen Star, Riley Oh saved the day (but it came at a cost). Everyone but her sister Hattie has forgotten who she is, the Gom clan is mad at her for costing them their powers when she defeated the Cave Bear Goddess, and she has never felt more alone. Now, in The Last Fallen Moon, Riley must make a perilous journey to the Spirit Realm so she can set everything to rights before it's too late. 

Riley and Hattie’s bond was a highlight of the story. The idea of family has been a central theme throughout the course of the series, and it’s what propels most of Riley’s actions. All she wants to do is fix what she feels she has broken in the first book, and feel like she belongs again. Like a stereotypical teenager, she tries to set off to do things alone but Hattie won’t let her. It was nice to get to see them work together, whereas in the first book that wasn’t possible. A mixture of big and small emotional moments (and some new family and friends) really helped emphasize the importance of family throughout the story. 

In contrast to the first book (which mostly takes place in the mortal realm), Riley’s adventures in The Last Fallen Moon mostly take place in the Spirit Realm (which is totally awesome). In Korean mythology, the Spirit Realm is where souls head after death and remain while they await rebirth. Part of the picture that Graci Kim painted seems like it’s straight out of the original stories, other factors seem like comedic reimaginings (roller coasters!) I’m limiting the details because I don’t want to spoil anything, but this was one of my favorite parts of the book and I hope you have as much fun reading it as I did. 

While readers are introduced to many figures straight out of Korean mythology, there is also an introduction to Korean culture. The biggest Korean boy band in history, BTS, earned multiple references. The importance of family that’s emphasized throughout the book is a pillar of Korean culture, and Riley quickly learns how the quest for perfectionism is a double-edged sword. I also want to note how the food references in the first book were fantastic, and I’m so happy that the author included them once again. Yum yum! I got hungry while I was reading this. 

The Last Fallen Moon is another stellar book from Graci Kim (no sophomore slump to speak of), and a great release from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint overall. I enjoyed this installment in Riley’s story, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things will end up in the last installment after how this book ended (talk about a cliffhanger). Suzi Yeung did a great job with the audiobook narration. If you are on the hunt for a fun fantasy book to introduce yourself or a young reader to Korean culture and mythology, the Gifted Clans series would be a great choice! 

About the Book

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the second book in Graci Kim's New York Times best-selling Gifted Clans trilogy.

Graci Kim does such an amazing job of blending Korean mythology into the modern world, I am now wondering how I ever lived without knowing all this cool information.--New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan

For Riley Oh, life as the Godrealm's last fallen star is not all it's cracked up to be. Her new divine heritage doesn't even come with cool magical powers; half of her friends and family (including her parents) can't remember her; and to top it all off, the entire Gom clan is mad at her for killing the Cave Bear Goddess and stripping away their healing abilities.

But when their anger boils over and a group of witches curse Riley's home, she knows it's up to her to restore magic back to her clan - even if it means sneaking into the Spiritrealm.

Luckily, Riley has some backup. Along with her sister, Hattie, Riley meets Dahl, a heaven-born boy with shockingly white hair and a fondness for toilets who might not be telling the whole truth about who he is. Together they'll fight vicious monsters, discover dark underwater worlds, and race to save the land of the dead from a fate that no one could have foreseen.

And this time, Riley won't let anything get in her way. Because she can't shake the feeling that something terrible is coming their way - and the gifted community is going to need all the powers they can get.

About the Author

Graci Kim is the bestselling author of The Last Fallen Star, book one in the Korean mythology-inspired middle-grade adventure series. Called a “sparkling yarn” by Entertainment Weekly, the Gifted Clans trilogy has been optioned by the Disney Channel for a live-action television series, and was a 2021 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for “Best Middle Grade & Children’s Book”.

Graci is also one of the authors of The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities short story collection, published by Rick Riordan Presents (Disney Hyperion), which became an instant New York Times bestseller.

In a previous life, Graci was a diplomat for the New Zealand foreign service, a cooking show host, and once ran a business that turned children’s drawings into cuddly toys. She lives in New Zealand with her husband and daughter. You can find her sometimes on Twitter (@gracikim), more often on Instagram (@gracikimwrites), and always at her website (www.gracikim.com).

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

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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.