eARC Review: Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel

Most Eligible
by Isabelle Engel
Publication Date: January 13th 2026
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Find This Book: Most Eligible
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

Georgia Rose is not going on the hit reality dating show Love Shack to find love. She’s there to write a killer exposé on the producers, which will guarantee the journalism job of her dreams. But when Georgia’s unforgettable one-night stand from the year before, country singer Rhett Auburn, steps into the Malibu mansion as the season’s new host, all of her carefully crafted plans unravel.

Caught up in the drama of backstabbing contestants, producer blackmail, and death-defying dates, Georgia must keep her identity—and history with Rhett—a secret. Despite the lies between them, it isn’t long before Georgia and Rhett’s heated behind-the-scenes moments start to feel more genuine than the romance Georgia’s faking for the cameras. But with her assignment unfinished and the executive producer on her tail, a second chance with Rhett could be her riskiest move of all.

Most Eligible is a fun, behind the scenes romp through a Bachelor-esque dating show, and the premise absolutely delivers. Engel builds the world of Love Shack so well. The producer drama, the over the top dates, even the in-universe country songs all make the setting feel vivid and believable.

Georgia was the standout for me. She’s layered, driven, and full of secrets, and watching her juggle her undercover mission with her unresolved chemistry with Rhett was a blast. Her motivations and regrets gave her a depth that some of the other cast members didn’t quite match.

My only real gripe was that both male love interests felt a bit underdeveloped, which kept the romance from fully landing. Still, the writing is engaging, the pacing is quick, and the whole thing is just plain fun.

A great pick for contemporary romance fans; especially anyone who loves reality TV drama!

eARC Review: The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

The Escape Game
by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss
Publication Date: April 7th 2026
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Find This Book: The Escape Game
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up dead.

Six months ago, season four of The Escape Game ended in horror when contestant Alicia Angelos was found murdered on set.

Now season five is underway, and new contestants are ready to put their skills to the test solving the show's trickiest escape rooms. There's Adi, the cryptographer; Carter, the math whiz; Beck, the wannabe game master, and . . . Sierra Angelos, the girl who got away with her sister’s murder. Or so everyone believes.

But Sierra’s not just here to win. She’s here for justice.

When the contestants begin uncovering clues that hint at the identity of Alicia’s true killer, it becomes clear that the stakes aren’t high in this competition, they’re deadly. If these teens want to win—and survive—the game, they must solve the biggest mystery of who killed Alicia Angelos?

The Escape Game is a fast-paced reality competition with a dark sub-plot: a murder mystery. The novel blends puzzles, high-stakes competition, and amateur detective work into an entertaining and suspenseful read. From the start, it hooks the reader with its eerie premise—after a contestant was murdered during a previous season, a new group of teens returns to the set, stepping closer to the truth behind that crime.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is its concept. The escape-room setting is creative and keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, as the contestants race not only to win the game but also to stay on set long enough to uncover more clues. The combination of challenges and mystery makes the setting feel fresh and engaging, and fans of thrillers and puzzle-based stories will likely find a lot to enjoy.

However, the book’s biggest weakness lies in its character development. With four main characters rotating through different POV chapters, it’s difficult to fully connect with any single one. While the multiple perspectives add variety, they also limit how deeply the story explores each character’s personality and motivations. As a result, the emotional stakes—especially surrounding Sierra and her murdered sister, Alicia—don’t always feel as impactful as they could have. This ultimately knocked the book down a star for me.

Still, I enjoyed the story overall, and with an open ending that clearly sets up another installment, I’m hopeful that future books will allow for a stronger connection to these characters.

Review: Fate Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Fate Breaker
by Victoria Aveyard
Publication Date: February 27th 2024
Publisher: HarperCollins
Find This Book: Fate Breaker
Source: Publisher Final Copy
Rating: 4/5

A dark fate descends. A shattered alliance must rise.

The Companions are torn apart and the realm hangs in the balance, at the edge of ruin. Taristan and Queen Erida rise triumphant from the battlefield, while Corayne barely escapes with her life; her Companions left behind to uncertain fates.

But not all hope was lost: Corayne managed to steal Taristan's Spindleblade. Without it, Taristan can’t rip open any more Spindles. Without it, he can’t end the world.

Now, from every corner of the realm, the Companions race to reunite while they rally old allies and seek unexpected new ones, in one final push against darkness.

But Taristan and Erida are all but invincible. With their cruel god, What Waits, on their side, they will sacrifice anything and anyone to his hunger.

Everything has come to this. In the final clash between good and evil, a ragged alliance makes its bravest stand against a ruthless enemy . . . and the demon god who would consume the realm entire.

I really enjoyed this series! This book covers a lot of bases, it pretty much has it all! You've got a band of heroes, a villain power couple with an undead army, immortals, knights, assassins, bounty hunters, pirates, dragons, and even magical swords that create portals to other worlds. This series has a lot of really fun and fresh takes on several fantasy tropes, and I love characters with whit, angst, and snark which Aveyard does really well.

The world-building was especially well done, and each book takes its time to develop the ensemble cast of characters, even the ‘bad guys’. There are several different romance side-plots so you get a little taste of everything in this series. My favorite was the slow burn couple, followed by the villain romance. The action scenes were awesome and I really enjoyed the development of all of the character arcs in this last book.

I can’t give Fate Breaker five stars because the ending didn’t provide the plot closure I was looking for. The epilogue gave only 2-3 paragraphs per person and it was all a bit too vague for me to feel satisfied. After dedicating the time to read 1,779 pages (for all three books) I should feel satisfied! But all in all I would still recommend this series for fantasy buffs. It is such a fun journey!

ARC Review: Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell

Where Shadows Bloom
by Catherine Bakewell
Publication Date: February 11th 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins
Find This Book: Where Shadows Bloom
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

Ofelia has lived her life dreaming of entering Le Château Enchanté — the mysterious court of the gods-blessed King Léo, where the shadow monsters that roam Ofelia’s home never trespass.

Lope has lived her life as a knight, defending Ofelia and her home from Shadows even as she dreams of escaping with Ofelia by her side.

When the Shadows venture too close, Lope and Ofelia are thrust into a journey that will lead them to the heart of the darkness haunting their the dazzling and deceptive Château Enchanté itself.

Where Shadows Bloom is a high fantasy book inspired from French and Spanish nobility. It has cozy, dreamy prose perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli. Ofelia and her brave knight Lope travel from the countryside to Le Chateau to escape the dangers of the Shadows: monsters that haunt the night and steal the breath and life of those who foolishly venture outside. While Ofelia adjusts to their new life at court, Lope still sees danger around every corner. Can their love overcome the monsters, secrets, gods, and the growing distance between them?

Things I Loved:

• The yearning (with dual POV). Where Shadows Bloom is perfect for readers who want some action but want the focus of the book to be on the main character’s inner monologue. This is a medium-paced book that centers on the yearning on both sides of a sapphic romance.
• The main theme. What makes this book so strong is its exploration of its main theme: what it means to be human. Experiencing love, experiencing grief, one of Ofelia’s tasks is to teach humanity to a lonely god. The evolution of the god’s character was just as compelling as the main characters’ character developments.
• While the flaws of the characters are definitely showcased, there is strong character development, and the ending redeemed my frustration with Ofelia throughout the book (see first bullet point below on my gripe with Ofelia).

Things I Didn’t Love:

• Ofelia’s cheerful outlook started off inspiring and understandable but became annoyingly obtuse as the novel went on. 
• As in many fairy tales, there is a god to bargain with and it just felt like they bargained with them too many times.

ARC Review: Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce

Dating and Dragons
by Kristy Boyce
Publication Date: December 31st 2024
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Find This Book: Dating and Dragons
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign— this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.

Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!

This book is such a cute high school first-love story, and it delivered on the D&D aspects. Dating and Dragons follows Quinn Norton as she transfers schools halfway through junior year. Struggling to make friends, she joins a D&D group that streams their sessions (an aspiring Critical Role/Dimension 20-esque group). As Quinn navigates her new world and her heartbreaking betrayal that made her leave her old school, she’s also confronted with her grandma who is not-so-subtly trying to set Quinn up with her crush, Logan. The only problem? He’s part of her new D&D party and the group has a strict no-dating policy.

What I really loved about this book was the balance. The romance didn’t hoard the spotlight, and so many different aspects were allowed to shine. Some of my favorites? Grandma. Grandma was absolutely fantastic in this book, and her relationship with Quinn and her coming to terms with herself aging were powerful side plots to this novel! I also loved seeing Quinn’s relationship with her brother and her blossoming new friendship with Kashvi.

Because of the group’s no-dating rule, Quinn and Logan’s relationship is a very sweet slow burn. It was so cute watching them navigate their feelings and young love butterflies for each other, it reminded me of my high school relationships. It was exactly that a YA Romance should be.

ARC Review: The Medici Heist by Caitlin Schneiderhan

Medici Heist
by Caitlin Schneiderhan
Publication Date: August 6th 2024
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Find This Book: Medici Heist
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

Welcome to Florence, 1517, a world of intrigue, opulence, secrets, and murder. The Medici family rules the city from their seat of wealth, but the people of Florence remember the few decades they spent as a Republic, free from the Medicis and their puppet Pope, Leo X.

Sharp-witted seventeen-year-old con-woman Rosa Cellini has plans for the Pope and the Medicis - and, more specifically, the mountain of indulgence money they've been extorting from the people of Tuscany. To pull off the Renaissance's greatest robbery, she'll recruit a team of capable Sarra the tinkerer, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo, the irrepressible master of disguise. To top it all off, and to smooth their entrance into the fortress-like Palazzo Medici, Rosa even enlists the reluctant help of famed artist and local misanthrope, Michelangelo.

Old secrets resurface and tensions in the gang flare as the authorities draw closer and the Medicis' noose pulls tighter around Tuscany itself. What began as a robbery becomes a bid to save Florence from certain destruction - if Rosa and company don't destroy each other first.

Get ready for an absolute swashbuckling riot, beginning with a 'mud' pie to the Pope's face, and ending with a climatic heist that would give Danny Ocean a run for his money. Bursting with snark, innuendo and action, Medici Heist is your next un-put-downable obsession.

The scene is renaissance Florence, 1517, and the Medici family rules the city with a puppet Pope at their side. Extorting the people of Tuscany, the Medici’s sit upon an exorbitant pile of indulgence money. Con-woman Rosa Cellini hopes to steal it right from under their noses, *if* she can pull off the greatest heist of all time.

Medici Heist introduces us to a diverse cast of characters, each getting their individual times to shine. Rosa will need to rope the best of the best into her crew if she wants to steal a mountain of money and live to tell the tale. Her team consists of Sarra the tinkerer, Agata the apothecary, Khalid the fighter, and Giacomo the master of disguise. To top it all off, Rosa even enlists the reluctant help of Michelangelo (yes, THAT Michelangelo).

This was a super fun read that solidly sets the scene in historic Italy. It does a fantastic job of incorporating the setting into the story and has beautiful descriptions, great scheming, and entertaining action scenes. This was truly the foundation of a terrific book. What knocks this down a star is the lack of dimension. I’d liken the experience to reading a play. The play loses something in the written form without actors adding in the depth and emotion. Actors bring a lifeless script to life by adding emotions and tone to the text. My favorite authors craft characters that jump off the page and while Medici Heist was descriptive, cinematic even, the characters fell flat. I was not surprised to find out after reading that Schneiderhan is a script writer.

Let’s dive into the character work more specifically. The characters were funny, they had their roles to play, and I enjoyed the story they had to tell. Yet, they were all just too shallow and underdeveloped. Some further revision of the novel could have massaged a bit more life and personality into them. While I could suspend my disbelief and still enjoy the ride (it is a great heist), the POV’s were just too weak for me to give this book five stars.

If you love a good setting with a great atmosphere, I’d still recommend this read! It has great vibes but could have benefitted from deeper character work.

ARC Review: Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake

Champion of Fate
by Kendare Blake
Publication Date: September 19th 2023
Publisher: Quill Tree Books
Find This Book: Champion of Fate
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

Behind every great hero is an Aristene.

Aristene are mythical female warriors, part of a legendary order. Though heroes might be immortalized in stories, it’s the Aristene who guide them to victory. They are the Heromakers.

Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.

Nothing is going to stop Reed--until she meets her hero. Hestion is fiery and infuriating, but what begins as an alliance becomes more, and as secrets of the order come to light Reed begins to understand what becoming an Aristene may truly cost. Battle looming, she must choose: the order and the life she had planned, or Hestion, and the one she never expected.

Blake showcases her world-class world-building yet again in her latest book Champion of Fate. Get ready for swords, horses, and fast-paced action in this new fantasy world steeped in magic. As I've come to expect from Blake, this book has well-crafted character backstories, kingdom politics, collective history, and in this case, mythos surrounding the Aristene. All without info-dumping the reader, so it’s easy to get immersed.

Reed, our main character, is an initiate for the Aristene, an all-female warrior cult worshipping a goddess of glory. The immortal members of the Aristene order are sent out into the world to make heroes of mortal men and women. Through their heroes' guided actions, the Aristene create glory that honors and sustains their goddess, Kleia Gloria. Reed's last test as an initiate? Her first hero. As she and her fellow initiates embark on their trials, relationships both old and new are put to the test. And as Reed starts to grow feelings for her mortal hero, she also realizes her soon-to-be-family of warrior women are keeping secrets from her. This trial's outcome doesn't just impact Reed's future, her failure could endanger the entire Aristene order.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic start to the series, and I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoy magic and medieval fantasy worlds.

ARC Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

Her Radiant Curse
by Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: August 29th 2023
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Find This Book: Her Radiant Curse
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.

Channi first makes her appearance in Lim's duology, Six Crimson Cranes. Following in its footsteps, Her Radiant Curse spins a lush tale steeped in beautiful world-building and Asian mythology. I don't think you will have to have read anything else by Lim to enjoy this one. While it is connected to Six Crimson Cranes, it is a prequel and a standalone. Perfect for testing out the waters! 

The sisterly love and friendships depicted in this book were so special, the magic system is well-developed, and the action sequences were fun. Channi and Vanna's bond is the main crux of the story, and it was so touching to see how these two girls are willing to do anything for the other, and how their relationship is shaped from childhood into adulthood. 

This did not quite get five stars from me because the plot wasn't woven together as tightly as I expected. I absolutely devoured Six Crimson Cranes, even the soft 'fluffier' scenes really added to and developed that story more, and Her Radiant Curse did not quite live up to that. I think the abundance of travel sequences took some of the sense of urgency out of this for me, which is why I have given it four instead of five stars.

ARC Review: Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu

Julieta and the Romeos
by Maria E. Andreu
Publication Date: May 16th 2023
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Find This Book: Julieta and the Romeos
Rating: 4/5

**An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

The summer between junior and senior year, Julieta is accepted into an elite writing course in New York City — taught by her favorite author. Having always dreamed of becoming a writer, this mentorship could drastically shape her future. Add on top of that helping out at her family restaurant and three potential love interests, and you’ve got the recipe for a great contemporary romance!

Our Romeos Include:

-Ryan, her rival, and her best friend’s twin brother

-Lucas, her childhood best friend that could be something more

-Calvin, the new boy next door (or really, Abuela’s next door neighbor)

 As the summer goes on, Julieta commutes to class with Ryan, works at her family restaurant with Lucas, watches soaps with her Abuela and Calvin, and struggles with receiving writing critiques from her idol. All of these scenarios bring out different aspects of Julieta’s personality that she both cherishes and is in conflict with.

When Julieta publishes a writing assignment for class on a Wattpad equivalent, it evolves into a piece being co-written with an anonymous author. A local reference is included and Julieta realizes that they might know each other in real life. Could they be the man of her dreams? Could they be one of her Romeos?? If only she could get them to confess…

Reflecting on her love life predicament with her aunt, one of the best quotes in the book occurs:
“The question isn’t which boy is right for you. The question is which boy helps you be the best version of yourself. Or, an even bigger question, what version of yourself do you want to be, independent of them all?”

All in all, I quickly got sucked into Julieta’s life and I enjoyed how the plot pulled in her family dynamics and friendship with Ivy on top of the romances. If you’re looking for a sweet, fun contemporary romance, with a lesson in discovering yourself along the way, this is the book for you!

ARC Review: Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove by Rati Mehrotra

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
by Rati Mehrotra
Publication Date: October 18th 2022
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Find This Book: Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove
Rating: 4/5

**An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

Night of the Raven, Dawn of the Dove centers around Katyani, the adoptive daughter, bondswoman, and royal guard of the Queen of Chandela. Her future has never been in doubt: she will be her adoptive brother's most trusted advisor when he becomes king. Attending to Ayan and his cousin Bhairav, Katyani is shipped off to a monastic school of a famous guru where they will hone the skills needed to be the next leaders of the kingdom (including magic and mosnter hunting). Nothing could annoy Katyani more than leaving court and being shipped off to a rule-abiding school in the middle of a forest, except her run-ins with Daksh, the guru’s son, who can’t stop going on about the rules and whose gaze makes her feel like he can see into her soul. (Yes, there is a slow-burn romance!)

But when Katyani and the princes are hurriedly summoned back to Chandela before their training is complete, tragedy strikes and Katyani is torn from the only life she has ever known. Alone and betrayed in a land infested by monsters, Katyani must find answers from her past to save all she loves and forge her own destiny. Bonds can be broken, but debts must be repaid.

This book is a fantastic standalone fantasy, set in medieval India. It will suck you in with Katyani's fun yet brash personality and with a fast-paced plot full of with magic, Indian mythology, and court intrigue! Katyani's dedication to her promises, and her loyalty to her friends and family created a loveable heroine who uses more than just her brute strength when in the face of danger. The slow-burn romance could have used a bigger pay-off which is what knocked this down a star for me, but the world-building was well fleshed out and Katyani's struggle for her identity and sense of home really made this book stand out.

ARC Review: Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

Daughter of the Moon Goddess

by Sue Lynn Tan

Publication Date: January 11th 2022

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Find This Book: Daughter of the Moon Goddess

Rating: 4/5

**An ARC of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Daughter of the Moon Goddess was a fantastic debut for Sue Lynn Tan. Our main character, Xingyin, is an immortal so the pacing was really unique in this book. The story takes place over many, many years while Xingyin struggles to try and free her mother from her exile on the moon. The immortal realm and their magic system was well developed and fascinating to read. There are a lot of cool characters in this adventure that each added on to the twists and turns!

The writing style was absolutely magical, and sucked me right into the scenes I was reading. Xingyin and Liwei have some beautiful platonic and romantic moments together, with prose I'll remember as quotes for a long time.

My one and only qualm was with the pacing of events. As I was reading I was never quite sure what the arc of the story was headed towards because every event and battle seemed like *the* most important. I kept thinking "this seems early/late for a climax" which was a bit off-balance feeling. This book an awesome epic with A LOT of plot crammed into the pages — so just be ready for that and I think this work will blow you away. Seriously, it almost felt like a standalone story, you get a lot of content when you pick up Daughter of the Moon Goddess! It’s marked as a duology so I’m curious to see what’s in store for Xingyin in book two!

ALC Review: Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta

Gearbreakers

by Zoe Hana Mikuta 

Publication Date: June 29th 2021 

Publisher: Feiwel Friends

Find This Book: Gearbreakers

Rating: 4/5

**An Advanced Listening Copy was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Zoe Hana Mikuta’s stellar debut is an intense dystopian sci-fi about the country of Godolia and their army of Windups. Mikuta’s take on mechas (a 200-foot giant humanoid robot suit that has a pilot inside) was refreshing and dynamic. One of our story’s main characters, Sona, is one such pilot. Our other MC is Eris, a Gearbreaker, who’s one mission is to fight Godolia and destroy the existing Windups.

When Eris is captured on a Gearbreaker mission, she’s thrown into the midst of her enemy with no friendly faces. Or are there? Sona is a victim of Godolia’s cruelty too, but sided with them because she had nowhere else to turn to. She sees escape in Eris, a place to run to. As they team up and plan their deadliest mission yet, Eris and Sona have to learn to trust each other—as teammates, friends, and perhaps something more...

The Pros:

-Well developed sci-fi/dystopian world as the backdrop to the story
-Cool giant robots
-Amazing character creation and development. You will grow attached to Eris and Sona, as well as several of their friends! It’s always an amazing thing when a book is driven by fantastic characters, and Mikuta has done so with this debut.
-Catherine Ho and Cindy Kay are fantastic narrators who each bring such vibrant life to these characters and their story.

The Cons: 

-The book ends in a cliff-hanger that will leave you dying for book two. With how attached to the characters I became, and with the ambiguous ending, I’m hanging off the edge of my seat over here!

Mini ARC Review: Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard

Realm Breaker
by Victoria Aveyard
Publication Date: May 4th 2021
Publisher: HarperTeen
Find This Book: Realm Breaker
Rating: 4/5

**An ARC of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Victoria Aveyard takes us on a new adventure in Realm Breaker. 

This book covers a lot of bases, it pretty much has it all! Swashbuckling Ship Fights, an Undead Army, Immortals, Knights, Assassins, Bounty Hunters, Witches/Wizards, and Royal Lineages. This included a lot of really fun and fresh takes on several Fantasy tropes, and I loved seeing the evolution in Aveyard's writing since Red Queen.

Come meet Corayne an-Amarat as she realizes her destiny and puts together her world-saving crew. There is whit, angst, and snark galore as characters begrudgingly realize they have morals (or don't). Who doesn't love a good villain? Or a good villain power-couple? (Seriously, I can't wait this series is going to be GOOD).

ARC Review: Rebel Daughter by Lori Banov Kaufmann

Rebel Daughter

by Lori Banov Kaufmann

Publication Date:  February 9^th 2021

Publisher:  Delacorte Press

Find This Book: Rebel Daughter

Rating: 4/5

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rebel Daughter starts off strong with heartfelt characters and careful attention to historical detail. It really felt like I’d been visiting 1st century Jerusalem every time I picked up this book! The best part is that all the details felt natural, time-traveling descriptions never bogged down the plot or emotional depth of scenes. The story is of Esther, the daughter of a priest, worries for her marriage prospects and for her family as tensions erupt in her home between the Jewish people and their Roman conquerors. As war erupts, Esther struggles not only to keep it together but also to keep her family together. A story where people and friendships are not as they seem, Rebel Daughter bears witness to all the strong women who have shaped and desperately survived history.

My only critique is that there a couple jarring time-jumps. One between chapters is excusable and between chapters can be a murky passage of time, but the one that happens between mere paragraphs not demarcated in any way ruined the immersion for me. It took several pages to re-adjust back to the plot. I realize that the time jumps probably fit with a historical timeline, but it could have been padded or headlined for a smoother flow of the story.

ARC Review: Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

Phoenix Flame

by Sara Holland

Publication Date:  March 11^th 2021

Publisher:  Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Find This Book: Phoenix Flame

Rating: 4/5

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the fantasy world of the Havenfall series and it was great to be back! Holland presents a well thought out and balanced magical system, with a new twist (sorry, that's spoilers). With the returning health of Maddie's uncle, she steps down from being the Inkeeper of Havenfall, but that doesn't stop her adventures! The soul trade is alive and well, the Silver Prince has escaped to Byrn, and a new soul trader has been discovered in Fiordenkill. Can Maddie successfully pull off her infiltration mission? Will her relationships, especially her two crushes, survive the turmoil ahead?

One of my favorite aspects that I truly appreciate about this series is Maddie's bisexuality. It's not an in-your-face part of the book, and I don't think sexuality has to be. I love that the book is not about Maddie struggling with her sexuality and it's not about Maddie having an identity crisis. She lives her life and just happens to be bisexual. The book is not super romance heavy, but when she talks about her crushes one is a guy and one is a girl. It feels like a totally natural representation and it is so refreshing to finally see someone like me reflected in the characters I read.

I do wish that Maddie's character had more of an arc in Phoenix Flame. I still enjoyed Phoenix Flame, but she felt more complicated and had more depth in Havenfall that was not quite replicated here. I couldn't help but notice that Maddie appeared more passive in this one, though to be fair many of the situations she was in were totally out of her control. That being said I was still hoping for a bit more, especially from the climax itself. This is what took the book down one star for me.

ARC Review: Havenfall by Sara Holland

Havenfall

by Sara Holland 

Publication Date: March 3^rd 2020

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Find This Book: Havenfall 

Rating: 4/5

I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Can we take a second to stare in awe at this gorgeous cover??? Havenfall is an inn at the top of a mountain with tunnels deep under it that facilitate traveling between realms in relation to the cycles of the seasons (particularly equinox's). It's so gorgeous and also captures so much meaning in relation to the plot! I didn't even notice the face/neck/shoulders of a person until my 7th time looking at the cover!

Havenfall is about an inn that is the heart of all the realms, one of the realms being Earth where our main character Maddie is from. Maddie arrives for the summer to visit Havenfall, run by her uncle, which hosts an annual convention of inter-realm relations and trade. Hoping for a romantic summer with her childhood friend Brekkan, she instead walks into the political turmoil of the century!

I really enjoyed the fantasy world that Holland creates for us, and the way that the Havenfall inn must maintain impartiality towards each of the three realms. The role of Innkeeper is something Maddie hopes to step into one day, when her uncle wants to retire, but turmoil, violence, and betrayal leads to her unexpected ‘promotion’ before she’s been trained and prepared for it. Will she maintain order? Or are the worlds about to destroy all alliances?

I love love LOVE Maddie as a character. She’s got a Tragic Past™ that for once is actually used to create depth in not only herself but also in the narrative going forward. Her interactions with love interests are very cute, and this is the first time I’ve read about a character who was bisexual and comfortable with that knowledge. A lot of times, I feel like sexuality is portrayed as a struggle and an identity crisis, and while that can certainly be the case it felt so positive to see a model who’s already confident in who she is, even if she’s not confident in her new political Innkeeper role.

How the different realms interacted and the power dynamics of the different delegations (and all their magical powers) were so cool to read and felt really well thought-out as magical systems go. I can’t say too much without getting into spoiler territory but I’m so excited for the sequel already! I need more Taya in my life.

ARC Review: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn
By Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: July 9^th 2019
Publisher: Knopf
Find This Book: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1)
Rating: 4/5 




I was given an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Spin the Dawn is a precious pearl of a book. The only reason it doesn’t have 5 stars from me is because the pace wasn’t quitewhat I prefer. The gorgeous cover and Mulan description made me want to read it ASAP and I was so excited when I was approved for this arc. The book itself was just as awesome as the cover! Lim takes us into an East-Asian inspired fantasy world with a setting very similar to China, and mythology that seems lightly based in Shintoism (the sun goddess Amana/Amaterasu is upset by a and the sun goes away, creating the cycle of night and say. There are even mythical decedents of Amana, though they are not royalty like in Japan.

The novel is about a girl named Maia, who is “enlisted” like Mulan to replace a male figure. In this case, she is taken to compete to be the new Imperial Tailor, as the Emperor’s old tailor just died. The book Is broken into three parts, all with their own intrigues. In the beginning you’re learning about how the Summer Palace works, how the social hierarchy is laid out, and how the book understands and defines magic. Later on, Maia has to prove herself by going on a thrilling and dangerous adventure to make mythical dresses out of the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. Are these ingredients even real, and does Maia have what it takes to collect them???

The book didn’t ‘twist’ persay, as I feel twists include a bit of a jolt in the narrative, but the ending was certainly unexpected. There were many parts of it I didn’t see coming, but it all flowed together perfectly- the ideal balance! If you’re looking for fantasy, magic, and/or #ownvoices rep- Lim spins the perfect tale with Spin the Dawn!

ARC Review: I Had Such Friends by Meg Gatland-Veness

I Had Such Friends

by Meg Gatland-Veness

Publication Date: August 1^st 2018

Publisher: Pantera Press

Find This Book: I Had Such Friends

Rating: 4/5

I was given an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book’s description includes warnings about: child abuse, neglect, sexual assault, bullying, prejudice, death, and suicide. This book covered some heavy topics, and I love that the back matter of the book included awareness messaging and information about suicide prevention organizations in Australia (where the book will be published). These seniors in high school go through a lot, and everyone is not as they seem (I know that’s a horror cliché but I really just mean that the one-dimensional stereotypes people present hide the complicated, multifaceted person they really are, and this book wandered that line in a creative way.

This novel dealt with identity both in an academic setting, as well as personal/sexual identity which I haven't seen very much. Our main character, Hamish, doesn't really know who he is outside of farming with his family, and studying with his only friend until two other students take an interest in him. Why they were both independently drawn to Hamish and how his relationships with them develop created a powerful narrative. 

Hamish discovers himself through his interactions with Martin, Peter, and Annie. Some friendships fall apart and some don’t- that’s just how life is. The people who really matter should love and understand you, and not everyone in your life deserves to stay in your life. Representing positive and negative reactions to the events that take place in this novel creates a reality and almost anyone is sure to be able to relate to. Additionally, seeing LGBT+ representation in a religious suburban/rural town is something that a lot of kids can identify with, and the various reactions to these character identities was both heart-breaking and heart-warming.

Review: Merrett's Choice by Ian Mitchell-Gill

Merrett’s Choice

by Ian Mitchell-Gill

Publication Date: January 26^th 2017

Publisher: FriesenPress

Find This Book: Merrett’s Choice

Rating: 4/5

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was an action-packed book! It kind of felt like the Animorphs of my childhood- a semi-large group of teens working to each other strengths to get the mission of the book done. The characters were all developed in Merrett’s Gift (which you can read my review about here) so this adventure could focus on the the current task: busting a Senator’s son out of a cult.

This book was a lot more engaging than the first one, pulling the reader into the more plot-focused action. The students and their backstories (particularly Lydia) were all established in book 1, and this novel could really hone in on their talents and their cohesiveness as a unit. The POV occasionally shifts, but primarily stays on Lydia which I loved because I feel like I become better connected to characters when I’m not switching around viewpoints as much. Lydia in particular is wicked smart and analytical- great qualities for a team leader and the analytical quality I could personally identify with. The best part of this book for me, is that while all of the planning of the operation is in front of the reader’s face the plan isn’t obvious until it’s in motion. Sometimes books tell you the plan and then give you an update on whether or not it was successful. With the way Ian Mitchell-Gill writes, I’m figuring out what Lydia’s doing as she’s doing it even though I’ve watched her strategically put pieces in place beforehand.

So like I said, the plot of this book is about infiltrating a cult. It deals with the CIA/FBI’s previous attempts at breaking up cults and seems very well researched. The location of this cult’s base, the physical work and lack of sleep, the leader’s personality, and the shady behind-the-scenes activities felt like watching a fascinating documentary. Sure their leader intentionally misquotes religious texts to manipulate his followers, and has a criminal record, but this novel also captured the nuance of the cult followers finding a place they feel like they belong. I loved this balance and element of reality. All in all it was a quick and exciting read, and while you would get character backgrounds by reading the first book you definitely don’t need to read Merrett’s Gift to thoroughly enjoy Merrett’s Choice!

ARC Review: The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano

The Glass Spare

by Lauren DeStefano

Publication Date: October 24^th 2017

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Find This Book: The Glass Spare

Rating: 4/5

An ARC of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t quite sure where this book was going to go and was pleasantly surprised. The world-building is an interesting mix of industrial-revolution, mythology, alchemy, and “marvelers” aka magicians. The main character, Wilhelmina or “Wil” for short is everything I want in an MC; she’s feisty, strong, smart, and very skilled. Is she magically all of these things? No. She’s had years of training being the 4^th in line to the throne (or the spare child). As Wil had trained to by the King’s spy her whole life, these skills come to great use on her journey.

Wil has an interesting dynamic with her parents and siblings, which only becomes more complicated when she discovers that an adrenaline spike will allow her to turn anything she touches into gemstones. I’m really excited to see how that continues! Viewing all of her options through the perspective of having a curse and how she might affect other people was really impactful. Here is a young girl in an unfortunate situation, and while she might think of herself and her power as a monster, her kind actions tell the reader otherwise. Maybe I’ve just read too many villain origin stories recently, but having such a noble character not cave to the treacherous world around her was really inspiring.

What knocks this down one star for me was the occasional switching of the POV. It happened only a couple times and wasn’t consistent. It felt like “oh the reader needs to know this but Wil doesn’t, what do I do?” sort of situation and it always felt a bit off when I was out in a different character’s shoes. The world building as I mentioned above was an interesting mix. The industrial-revolution wasn’t super impactful in this book as Wil’s father is pretty apposed to new machines, but I’d be into the weird plants and potions and then all of a sudden peanut butter was mentioned and I’d be briefly taken out of the scene wondering “wow they have peanut butter in this world?” All minor stuff but it did stop me from being fully immersed in the story.

Story-wise, there are a couple plot twists along the way, but what I really enjoyed was that the ending was a bunch of slow reveals. I wasn’t thrown for a loop or cliffhanger and I was still effectively steered into wanting reading book two which was a nice change of pace. I grew really attached to Wil and her companions Loom and Zay and will definitely be reading the next book!