Review | For a Rose That Blooms in Fire By Isabel Rocio

January 17, 2021January 17, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

“For A Rose That Blooms In Fire” is a collection of poetry that explores the reality of abusive relationships, and one’s infinite capacity for healing. The collection shatters the rose-colored glasses society tends to unconsciously associate with “chaotic romance”, and paints a clearer view into the power of self-reclamation.

Through a graceful balancing act between the darkness and the light that comes with healing, Isabel invites you to take the first step towards the most important relationship you will ever know-the one you have with yourself.

I had to sit with my thoughts on this one for a bit before writing up my review, because this is the type of modern poetry I enjoy and I wanted to be able to articulate what I was really feeling and thinking after reading this.

This collection is not for the faint of heart and is going to mean different things depending on what you’ve experienced in your life, but it’s raw and full of imagery that is powerful. The sequence of the poems themselves is definitely a progression from experiencing abuse (among other things) and then getting out of that situation and discovering yourself/rising above it as life goes on.

I definitely recommend reading the foreword from the author as that contains more information and clarification on their experience. There are definite trigger warnings for abuse, gaslighting, rape, depression and more, so if those are triggering for you be aware and exercise self care when approaching this read. As a survivor of an abusive relationship myself there were parts of it that were hard and too real to my own experience, but also it proved to be soothing since it felt like someone else understood some of the things I experienced myself, which in and of itself can be therapeutic and freeing.

Thanks to Isabel for sending me a copy of her book so that I could check it out!

Happy reading!

Review | Nightschool Vol. 1 by Svetlana Chmakova

January 16, 2021January 16, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Schools may lock up for the night, but class is in session for an entirely different set of students. In the Nightschool, vampires, werewolves, and weirns (a particular breed of witches) learn the fundamentals of everything from calculus to spell casting. Alex is a young weirn whose education has always been handled through homeschooling, but circumstances seem to be drawing her closer to the Nightschool. Will Alex manage to weather the dark forces gathering?

Since I got to read the spin off of this series I wanted to go back and read the original series and I was not disappointed in this first volume. I really enjoyed the manga style art, which of course made the story race right by. After reading the first volume I’m still somewhat learning who certain characters are, but they are being revealed bit by bit as the story progresses. I immediately was sucked into the world and can’t wait to learn more about the characters and the little snippets of mystery we were allowed to see in this first volume.

If you have kindle unlimited this series is currently available on it – happy reading!

Blog Tour | Agent Under Siege by Lena Diaz | Review

January 14, 2021January 14, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Can they outsmart a killer …who’s already escaped justice?

The Kentucky Ripper is in prison…or is he? When no one will help Teagan Ray find the man who really abducted her, former profiler Bryson Anton agrees to investigate. But soon their search takes two jolting turns—brutal attacks from a cunning suspect…and a powerful mutual attraction.

I did not expect to love this story as much as I did. This was a thrilling story that just flew by while I was reading it. I loved how three dimensional Bryson, Teagan and some of the others in this story were, and how the relationships were portrayed. Diaz’s writing was so easy to get lost in and the twists and turns in the story just keep you within the story and needing to know what happened next. I also enjoyed that Bryson and Teagan seemed like actual people with actual problems, who were willing (though sometimes reluctantly) to work through those problems and issues. All in all I really enjoyed this story and would definitely read from this author again.

Lena’s heart belongs to the rolling hills of her homestate of Kentucky. But you’re more likely to see her near the ocean these days in northeast Florida where she resides with her hubby and two children. A former Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® finalist, she’s also a four-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier award and a Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller. When not writing, she can be found sprucing up her flower beds or planning her next DIY project.

Author Links | Website | Facebook | GoodReads

Happy reading!

Review | Shine Your Icy Crown by Amanda Lovelace

January 11, 2021January 11, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

“Make them rue the day they underestimated you.”

This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king in order to be a queen.

I’ve enjoyed all of Amanda Lovelace’s poetry collections that I’ve read before but this one may be my favorite by far. There are obvious trigger warnings with all of her work, but this one especially touches on a number of topics such as abuse, self-harm, depression, anxiety and more. There is a list of content warnings in the beginning of the collection which I do recommend reviewing before reading. I really enjoyed the empowering tone in this collection, the overall theme of finding your own voice and accepting your own power. All in all I recommend all of her poetry, but definitely check out this series of collections.

Happy reading!

Review | The Girlfriend’s Guide to Gods by Maria Dahvana Headley

January 10, 2021January 10, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Gods won’t save you. Gods will break you. Nevertheless, you will persist. And become anew.

I don’t usually like things that are written in 2nd person, or as kind of stream of consciousness, but I really enjoyed this short story. It hit so many points at once while also tying in themes from different relationships in mythology and proving that a woman can make herself happy more than any other person can. It was uplifting and inspiring while also being a bit tongue in cheek. I really enjoyed Headley’s writing style and may definitely check out more of their work in the future.

Happy reading!

Review | Measuring Up by Lily LaMotte and Ann Xu

January 9, 2021January 9, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Twelve-year-old Cici has just moved from Taiwan to Seattle, and the only thing she wants more than to fit in at her new school is to celebrate her grandmother, A-má’s, seventieth birthday together.

Since she can’t go to A-má, Cici cooks up a plan to bring A-má to her by winning the grand prize in a kids’ cooking contest to pay for A-má’s plane ticket! There’s just one problem: Cici only knows how to cook Taiwanese food.

And after her pickled cucumber debacle at lunch, she’s determined to channel her inner Julia Child. Can Cici find a winning recipe to reunite with A-má, a way to fit in with her new friends, and somehow find herself too?

I so enjoyed this graphic novel about Cici and her journey through a number of issues that she faces. Moving across the world to America, discovering her passion and wanting to fight for it, but also wanting to meet her parents’ expectations. This story was much more complex than it appeared on the surface and I loved seeing that. Her growth and coming into her own throughout the story was wonderful to witness, as were all the relationships and how they grew and changed over the span of the graphic novel. I loved the detail that was added when talking about all the foo represented and feel like it would be great for any young reader who is showing an interest in cooking, navigating a new home/country, or even just discovering their own voice.

Happy reading!

Review | Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Be transported into dystopian cities and other-worldly societies. Be amazed and beguiled by a nursery story with a reverse twist, a futuristic take on TV cooking shows, a playscript with tentacles – and more, much more. Plunge in and enjoy!

A collection of sci-fi and fantasy writing, including six graphic stories, showcasing twenty stellar writers and artists from India and Australia: Isobelle Carmody, Penni Russon, Justine Larbalestier, Margo Lanagan, Lily Mae Martin, Kuzhali Manickavel, Prabha Mallya, Annie Zaidi, Kate Constable, Vandana Singh, Mandy Ord, Priya Kuriyan, Manjula Padmanabhan, Samhita Arni, Alyssa Brugman, Nicki Greenberg and Amruta Patil.

After reading the concept of this anthology and some of the things that contributed towards it I was really excited to pick it up. Many of the stories did tackle important issues such as how girls/women are treated and viewed, climate change and what it could do to our planet, death and more. While there were no stories in this anthology that I disliked, there weren’t any that blew me away either. Many of them were impactful and fun, with clear purpose. I did also really enjoy the stories told in graphic form that were sprinkled into the collection as it was nice to have a bit of a mixed media feel to it.

Cat Calls – 4 stars
Swallow the Moon – 3 stars
Little Red Suit – 3 stars
Cooking Time – 4 stars
Anarkali – 3 stars
Cast Out – 4 stars
Weft – 4 stars
The Wednesday Room – 3 stars
Cool – 3 stars
Appetite – 3 stars
Mirror Perfect – 4 stars
Arctic Light – 4 stars
The Runners – 3 stars
The Blooming – 2 stars
What a Stone Can’t Feel – 4 stars
Memory Lace – 3 stars
Back Stage Pass – 4 stars

Happy reading!

Review | Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

January 5, 2021January 5, 2021 DeAnne1 Comment

Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good.

So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.

Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.”

With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

As soon as I heard about this book I wanted to pick it up, so I was thrilled when I received a copy. I was so excited about the premise of this one as soon as I read it and was not disappointed at all. Amari is a character who has faced a lot of prejudice in her life, whether it be for her race or where she lives, and is excited for the possibility of being somewhere where that doesn’t matter. She’s also desperate to find out about her brother’s disappearance. Right off the bat we can tell what type of person Amari is and as the story goes on we learn about some of her insecurities and strengths. She doesn’t always make the smartest of decisions and she finds that she’s traded one set of prejudices for another as she switches environments, but she perseveres.

I so loved this story and all the important conversations and topics that were woven into it. I loved watching Amari come into her own and truly believe in herself and really enjoyed the twists and the turns of the story itself. I had a suspicion who was going to be villians and who wasn’t but I didn’t know for sure until the very end. The writing was easy to follow and flowed wonderfully and I felt there was a great balance between building the world and actual plot.

B.B. Alston started writing in middle school, entertaining his classmates with horror stories starring the whole class where not everyone survived! After several years of trying to break into publishing, he had just been accepted into a biomedical graduate program when a chance entry into a twitter pitch contest led to his signing with TBA, 20+ book deals worldwide, and even a film deal. When not writing, he can be found eating too many sweets and exploring country roads to see where they lead.

B.B. was inspired to write AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS because he couldn’t find any fantasy stories featuring Black kids when he was growing up. He hopes to show kids that though you might look different, or feel different, whatever the reason, your uniqueness needn’t only be a source of fear and insecurity. There is great strength and joy to be found in simply accepting yourself for who you are. Because once you do so, you’ll be unstoppable.

Thank you again to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book! I’m thrilled I got to experience Amari’s journey and would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for not just a fun adventure but an empowering read that tackles a number of complex and important issues.

Happy reading!

Review | Lobster is the Best Medicine by Liz Climo

January 4, 2021January 4, 2021 DeAnneLeave a comment

Fans have fallen in love with Liz Climo’s charmingly quirky animal kingdom, which was first featured in The Little World of Liz Climo—a place where porcupines, anteaters, and grizzly bears all grapple with everyday life with wit and humor. Now Liz returns with a book devoted to friendship. Chapter themes include “Old Friends,” “New Friends,” “Unlikely Friends,” and “Friends with Benefits.” It’s the perfect gift for a special friend.

Liz Climo is one of those authors who I will pretty much always pick up. I know that her comics will put a smile on my face and love her art style. These are very simple single page comics, so the book flies by, but they are heartwarming and funny at the same time. Plus, all the animals she pairs have great friendships or interactions. If you’re looking for a book that you can just reference here and there or sit down and read the whole thing at once, this one would be a great option!

Happy reading!

Review | Come On In

January 3, 2021January 3, 2021 DeAnne1 Comment

This exceptional and powerful anthology explores the joys, heartbreaks and triumphs of immigration, with stories by bestselling and beloved YA authors who are themselves immigrants and the children of immigrants.

WELCOME

From some of the most exciting bestselling and up-and-coming YA authors writing today…journey from Ecuador to New York City and Argentina to Utah, from Australia to Harlem and India to New Jersey, from Fiji, America, Mexico and more… Come On In.

With characters who face random traffic stops, TSA detention, customs anxiety, and the daunting and inspiring journey to new lands, who camp with their extended families, dance at weddings, keep diaries, teach ESL, give up their rooms for displaced family, decide their own answer to the question “where are you from?” and so much more, Come On In illuminates fifteen of the myriad facets of the immigrant experience.

I was really excited when I saw this one pop up and felt that the subject matter was very timely – especially with certain political issues in the US. This collection contains perspectives from a wide range of cultures and races regarding what immigration looks and feels like for them. It really explores what people are forced to consider, the risks they are forced to take and more when attempting to enter a new country, or when living as an immigrant. Some stories also tackled some race issues which add further layers to the conversation.

I found this collection very poignant, even if I didn’t “love” every story. Each one had something important to say and that really was the impact of the collection. My personal ratings of the stories is below – but I want to emphasize that even though each story may not have been for me, I felt all of them were important.

All the Colors of Goodbye by Nafiza Azad – 4 stars
The Wedding by Sara Farizan – 5 stars
Where I’m From by Misa Sugiura – 4 stars
Salvation & the Sea by Lilliam Rivera – 3 stars
Volviemdome by Alaya Dawn Johnson – 3 stars
The Trip by Sona Charaipotra – 4 stars
The Curandera & the Alchemist by Maria E. Andreu – 4 stars
A Bigger Tent by Maurene Goo – 4 stars
First Words by Varsha Bajaj – 4 stars
Family Everything by Yamile Saied Mendez – 5 stars
When I was White by Justine Larbalestier – 3 stars
From Golden State by Isabel Quintero – 2 stars
Hard to Say by Sharon Morse – 5 stars
Confessions of an Ecuadorkian by Zoraida Cordova – 4 stars
Fleeing, Leaving, Moving by Adi Alsaid – 4 stars

Happy reading!