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 Flirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes

Flirting with Fate (Flirting with Fate #1) by J.C. Cervantes 
Rating: 4 Stars
Release Date: April 19, 2022
Format: eBook + Audiobook (Personal Library)
Publisher: Razorbill 

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“But that’s the problem with fate, Ava. Sometimes there is interference that no one is expecting.”

J.C. Cervantes’ first young adult novel, Flirting with Fate, is a cute and heartwarming read filled with lessons about magic, family, and fate. All the women in the Granados family have the ability to pass on ‘blessings’ to their descendants when they die. The catch is that the descendants must be present at the elder’s death. Ava’s nana is declining and has had multiple close calls. When the time finally comes, Ava is a couple of minutes late thanks to a freak storm and a minor car accident. She initially thinks she missed the chance to receive her nana’s blessing, but after Nana’s ghost comes for a visit Ava learns her blessing has been accidentally given to someone else. Will she be able to get the blessing back in time, or will the family bear the consequences of the mistake for the rest of eternity?

Ava is not a big believer in fate. As she explains in the book, “I think we make our own decisions. That destiny isn’t real, and there is no meant to be.” Fate has other plans for her though, and is determined to make her a believer. In addition to exploring the idea of fate, J.C. Cervantes also tackles the larger theme of grief. Ava and the family have already lost Nana once, and if they don’t set things right it will be like losing her all over again. The bonding moments between Nana and Ava during the quest to reclaim the blessing were quite poignant, and I felt it was like the universe giving Ava the chance to say a proper goodbye (that she almost missed at the beginning of the story). Of course, fate would not be what it was without throwing some unexpected hijinks into the mix…

There are a lot of caveats and rules to getting back a misplaced blessing, and Ava only has a limited amount of time to get it back from the person she ran into the night of her Nana’s death. First step; she has to find them! Once she crosses that off her list, I was surprised to learn of the connection between Rion and Achilles - it was definitely one of the most humorous plot twists in the story. I was also quite pleased to learn which twin ended up being the love interest in the story; Ava definitely got the better twin out of the deal. Rion, as opposed to Ava, is a big believer in fate and is a firm believer that things happen for a reason. The opposing viewpoints make for some cute interactions over the course of the story - I think you’ll enjoy said interactions if you’re a fan of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. 

While the romance in the book is cute, the family aspect of this book and the bond between Ava and her sisters are what sold me on the story. After the blessing goes awry, Ava’s sisters Carmen and Vivian are determined to help her set things right. I loved how focused they are, and how despite it being Ava’s mission all three sisters grow over the course of the story. I especially connected to their bond, given my own relationship with my sister (and it was cute to see the author’s nod to her own daughters in the acknowledgments section at the end of the book). 

Overall, Flirting with Fate is another fantastic story from J.C. Cervantes. The audiobook narrator Victoria Villareal did a great job bringing the humor and magic of this story to life. According to Goodreads, this story should be the first installment in a series so I’m excited to see what’s next. If a sweet contemporary romance complete with a ‘meet-cute’ moment and a little bit of magic sounds like your cup of tea, then Flirting with Fate should definitely be the next book on your TBR list! 

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Car Accident, Death of a Grandparent, Mention of Parental Abandonment (Historical)

About J. C. Cervantes:

J. C. Cervantes (www.jccervantes.com) is the New York Times best-selling author of The Storm Runner, which Booklist called "a rip-roaring adventure" in a starred review. Her first novel, Tortilla Sun, was a 2010 New Voices pick by the American Booksellers Association and was named to Bank Street's 2011 Best Book List. Jen grew up in San Diego and was fascinated by stories about Maya gods and magic. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter: @jencerv, and Instagram: #authorjcervantes.

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ARC REVIEW: Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu

Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation by Sylvia Liu
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: June 21, 2022
Format: eARC (NetGalley)
Publisher: Razorbill 

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Sylvia Liu’s Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation was engaging and epic. I wasn’t intending to read it in a single day, but once I started I simply could not stop. There are so many elements of the book to rave about, but I’ll limit my review to some of my favorites (especially those that aren’t a spoiler risk). To give you a broad overview of what the book is about, Ms. Liu tackles the idea of “What would happen if science progressed to the point where we could link the human brain to the internet?” It’s one hundred percent a science fiction novel, but like many sci-fi books, there is an aspect where we aren’t that far away from the technology featured becoming today’s reality. 

The Sun Tzu references in the book were awesome. Hana and the other Start-Up students learn a lot of things like war tactics while they are in their classes, and Sun Tzu was by far the most commonly quoted “teacher” in the book. There were even some quotes from The Art of War that I had forgotten. The author also embeds some science lessons into the book, with references to physics, biology, chemistry, neurology, and computer science among other things. Despite the use of a lot of very big words (i.e. Ophiocordyceps, the zombie ant fungus) I never had an issue understanding things. Of course, as someone who is older than the intended audience, I can’t really speak to how well it will go for a true middle school reader but for the most part, I think they will be ok. 

One of the most striking quotes in the book to me was: “Hana had never lived in a world where Chinese culture, wasn’t popular, and she couldn’t imagine what it would be like to feel like it wasn’t cool.” You can easily switch the word “Chinese” out for “Western”, and you would have the culture in the present. To me, it was a subtle reminder to check my privilege. As a young adult white woman in the United States, I’ve never lived in a world where the culture I most closely identify with wasn’t popular. I have to remind myself that others don’t have the same experience. I’m pleased that this book was so thought-provoking and provided that opportunity. 

Overall, Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation is a fantastic upcoming middle-grade sci-fi release. I would happily recommend it to young readers I know, and those who want a book that is both educational and entertaining. If you like books like Yoon Ha Lee’s Dragon Pearl or Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel Makonnen’s Last Gate of the Emperor, then you should definitely enjoy this book. I’m eager to read what Sylvia Liu releases in the future after finishing Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation! At the time of writing this review, it is unclear to me whether this book is intended to be standalone or part of a series but I would be satisfied either way. 

Thank you to the author, the publisher Razorbill, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy of the book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation 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 the Book

Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, this thrilling, cinematic sci-fi novel follows Hana Hsu's mission to save herself--and her friends--from a dangerous plot to control their minds.

Hana Hsu can't wait to be meshed.

If she can beat out half her classmates at Start-Up, a tech school for the city's most talented twelve-year-olds, she'll be meshed to the multiweb through a neural implant like her mom and sister. But the competition is fierce, and when her passion for tinkering with bots gets her mixed up with dangerous junkyard rebels, she knows her future in the program is at risk.

Even scarier, she starts to notice that something's not right at Start-Up--some of her friends are getting sick, and no matter what she does, her tech never seems to work right. With an ominous warning from her grandmother about being meshed, Hana begins to wonder if getting the implant early is really a good idea.

Desperate to figure out what's going on, Hana and her friends find themselves spying on one of the most powerful corporations in the country--and the answers about the mystery at Start-Up could be closer to home than Hana's willing to accept. Will she be able to save her friends--and herself-- from a conspiracy that threatens everything she knows?

About the Author

I'm a children's author and former environmental attorney inspired by oceans, kraken, and cephalopods. I write middle grade novels and picture books.

My works include Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (Razorbill, Summer 2022); Manatee's Best Friend (Scholastic, 2021); A Morning with Grandpa, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books 2016); a spidery poem in Thanku: Poems of Gratitude, edited by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Marlena Myles (Lerner Books 2019); art in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art New Waves 2012 exhibit; and art and infographics in Huffington Post, Oceana, and World Wildlife Fund.  

​I co-founded Kidlit411, a resource website for children's writer and illustrators.

I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, went to Yale College and Harvard Law School, and was lucky to do what I loved for over a decade, protecting the oceans at the U.S. Department of Justice and the non-profit group Oceana. Now I'm even luckier, spinning stories for kids. I live in Virginia Beach with my family and a floofy cat. 

I'm represented by Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. 

Author Photo Credit: K. Woodard Photography

Interview with Sylvia Liu, author of Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation

Hi friends! I am so excited to welcome Sylvia Liu, the author of Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation to my blog today! The book comes out in one week (on June 21, 2022), so there's still time to get your pre-orders in and add it to your TBR. I wanted to take this opportunity to interview Sylvia and get to know her a bit more. 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, Sylvia!

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About the Book

Perfect for fans of Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee, this thrilling, cinematic sci-fi novel follows Hana Hsu’s mission to save herself—and her friends—from a dangerous plot to control their minds.

Hana Hsu can’t wait to be meshed.

If she can beat out half her classmates at Start-Up, a tech school for the city’s most talented twelve-year-olds, she’ll be meshed to the multiweb through a neural implant like her mom and sister. But the competition is fierce, and when her passion for tinkering with bots gets her mixed up with dangerous junkyard rebels, she knows her future in the program is at risk.

Even scarier, she starts to notice that something’s not right at Start-Up—some of her friends are getting sick, and no matter what she does, her tech never seems to work right. With an ominous warning from her grandmother about being meshed, Hana begins to wonder if getting the implant early is really a good idea.

Desperate to figure out what’s going on, Hana and her friends find themselves spying on one of the most powerful corporations in the country—and the answers about the mystery at Start-Up could be closer to home than Hana’s willing to accept. Will she be able to save her friends—and herself— from a conspiracy that threatens everything she knows?

Q&A with the Author

Science and technology are heavily involved with the story. How much research did you have to do before and during the creation of the book?
When I started writing the story, I had the premise in mind and began to write based on no research. As I delved into the story, researched the state of the science around connecting brains to the Internet (scientists have wired rats’ brains together and Elon Musk is looking into the technology); certain viruses and parasites that play a role in the story; and how gene therapy works. The best part was finding interesting and fun innovations that feel like science fiction, but that are happening now, such as bioluminescent plants.

What came first for you while writing Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation - the storyline/plot or the characters?
The premise came first, and the rest flowed. In November 2017, I wrote to a friend about an idea I had: “My story is about people who get ‘jacked"’ (neurally enhanced) when they turn thirteen, and they have a year to get ‘conditioned’ (they go to a school where they learn about it, figure out what they want to specialize in, etc). The MC rebels against this system and is drawn towards a rebel group that is more mystical/ medidates/ nature-oriented.” Surprisingly, the book I ended up writing basically follows this premise.

If you could befriend one character in the book, who would it be? Personally, I think I would get along well with Chuck.
I love all my characters, but I have a soft spot for Tomás, who is hard to get to know in part because he struggles with secrets that weigh him down. I also would be good friends with Hana, who loves to work with her hands, loves her family, and wants to save the world. 

A lot of Hana’s actions in the book are influenced by her relationships with her family. How has your family influenced your life and your writing?
I’ve been lucky to have supportive and loving families, from the time I was growing up to my spouse and kids. My Chinese immigrant parents encouraged me to succeed in traditional ways (which led me to become an environmental attorney for a decade), but they never were “Tiger” parents and they fully supported me when I switched to children’s illustration and writing. Without my spouse’s support, I wouldn’t be able to have the time to be an author, and my kids inspire me every day. 

What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
First, I hope readers are entertained by a fun, exciting, and thrilling high-tech story. Second, I hope some of the ideas I include make them think about how they relate to technology and our current society. 

The ghost crab is an important symbol in the story. If you had a spirit animal, something to represent you, what would it be and why?
I’ve learned that it’s not a good practice claim a spirit animal, as that is appropriative of Native American cultures. But an animal I admire is the octopus, because they are so smart, blend in with their environment, and have so many mysteries left to uncover.

If readers enjoy Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation, what other books would you recommend they read?
Recent middle grade sci-fi I’ve loved are Tiger Honor by Yoon Ha Lee and Last Gamer Standing by Katie Zhao. Exciting, fun middle grade fantasies include Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije and Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao. Other immersive middle grade fantasies that have a strong point of view about justice are The Verdigris Pawn by Alysa Wishingrad and The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Ursu. 

What does your writing space look like?
I bounce around different parts of the house. My two main writing spaces are the kitchen island and my office which has a bookshelf filled with books by authors I love.

What books are on your to-be-read list right now?
I’m looking forward to these 2022 middle grade sci-fi debuts: Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu, Molly and the Machine by Erik Slangerup, and Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion, by K. Tempest Bradford.
 
What projects are you working on next?
I’m revising a Chinese myth-inspired fantasy as well as a fun project that is in early development.

About the Author

I'm a children's author and former environmental attorney inspired by oceans, kraken, and cephalopods. I write middle grade novels and picture books.

My works include Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation (Razorbill, Summer 2022); Manatee's Best Friend (Scholastic, 2021); A Morning with Grandpa, illustrated by Christina Forshay (Lee & Low Books 2016); a spidery poem in Thanku: Poems of Gratitude, edited by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Marlena Myles (Lerner Books 2019); art in the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art New Waves 2012 exhibit; and art and infographics in Huffington Post, Oceana, and World Wildlife Fund.  

​I co-founded Kidlit411, a resource website for children's writer and illustrators.

I grew up in Caracas, Venezuela, went to Yale College and Harvard Law School, and was lucky to do what I loved for over a decade, protecting the oceans at the U.S. Department of Justice and the non-profit group Oceana. Now I'm even luckier, spinning stories for kids. I live in Virginia Beach with my family and a floofy cat. 

I'm represented by Jennifer March Soloway at Andrea Brown Literary Agency. 

Author Photo Credit: K. Woodard Photography

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