Tag: Reviews

Review | Walk the Web Lightly by Mary Pascual

DeAnneLeave a comment

Naya’s family is all about their art, their traditions, their secret ability to see time. They expect her to follow in their footsteps, creating art and keeping their powers concealed. But she wants to be a doctor—and you can’t do that if you’re hiding all the time! When a chance to go to medical science camp comes up, her family disapproves, but Grandmother challenges her to a if she can weave her soul wrap before the camp begins, she can go; if she fails, she has to say good-bye to her science dreams for good. With all of the knowledge of time at her fingertips, Naya is sure she can win. But someone is rigging events to learn her family’s secrets—and it turns out that what she doesn’t know could jeopardize everyone she loves.

Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I was intrigued not only by the fact that the family in this book possessed a special gift, allowing them to see the lines of people’s lives and see through time in a way – but also by the fact that this book really centered around family and tradition. I will admit, Naya as a main character was not the most likeable. Any pre-teen or teen is going to have issues as they are growing up and learning who they really are, but at times I felt Naya’s attitude towards her family and her occasional flippancy towards her mother’s and grandmother’s teachings/warnings was a little grating. As the story continued she became easier to like and understand, which was likely the intent, her character grew as she worked through all the things she needed to work through. The initial premise, the fact that Naya wants to be a doctor while her family wants her to continue in the family “business” or tradition is a common one we see everywhere, so the addition of the mystical gift as well as the danger of the individual who’s trying to discover the family’s secret was a great way to shape a story. A great coming of age story with some intrigue and magic woven through it.

Walk the Web Lightly comes out today, May 7th, so make sure to pick up a copy!

Happy reading!

Review | Bogs, Brews and Banshees by Rowan Dillon

DeAnneLeave a comment

She’s looking for a fresh start. But with eerie noises in the night and murder most foul, can she keep from going down for a crime she didn’t commit?Skye Brigid O’Shea is desperate for an escape. Losing big in a nasty divorce and taking the fall for a patient’s death, the stressed-out thirty-two-year-old jumps at the chance to move to Ireland after inheriting her grandmother’s B&B. But the nosy American quickly lands back in hot water when she investigates unearthly howls and discovers the disagreeable local she argued with earlier stone-cold dead.

Named as the prime suspect, Skye finds herself relying on the constable’s wife and the cryptic clues from her gran’s talking black cat to clear her name. But when her ancestor’s diary points to a supernatural culprit, the ex-nurse isn’t sure if she’s cracked the case or lost her mind.

Can this novice detective overcome a rival pub owner, a dogged policeman, and a thick web of ancient myths to stay out of the slammer?

Bogs, Brews, and Banshees is the charming first book in the Skye O’Shea paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like amateur sleuths, fish out of water, and sídhe sidekicks, then you’ll love Rowan Dillon’s snarkalicious whodunit.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’ve read a good amount of cozies and know the general format of them, so am excited to see more paranormal ones coming out. From the get go I feel like Skye’s character was well established, you learn right away some of the struggles she’s been going through as well as where her emotional state is at. I did feel that for a little bit the pacing was a little slow, but once the mystery really gets going the story picks up. Skye delves more into her new home and all the somewhat odd things that she encounters. While I felt Skye was really well established, I did want a little more on the other characters – but I’m assuming as the series goes on they will be developed more. Overall this one was really fun and a very enjoyable read.

Happy reading!

Review | The Adventures of Penguin and Panda: Surprise! by Brenda Maier

DeAnneLeave a comment

In the tradition of Narwhal and Jelly, here is a playful and humorous graphic novel series about two besties who could not be more different from each other.

Penguin and Panda should not be friends. The very idea is absurd. Penguin likes to build things and Panda likes to nap. Panda munches bamboo and Penguin gobbles cheese puffs and jam-banana sandwiches. Penguin never powers down and Panda has a hard time powering up. There is no way their friendship would ever work. Except somehow, it does.

Penguin and Panda demonstrate kindness, understanding, and support for each other, showcasing the positive aspects of companionship. The books are infused with humor, often through Penguin’s whimsical outlook on life and Panda’s more pragmatic responses.

Each book is composed form multiple short stories and STEM related fun facts. The graphic novel format makes the series accessible to a wide range of readers, including those who may be transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A graphic novel featuring a penguin and panda as friends? Yes, please. This contains a few different stories detailing the adventures of these two, along with little facts and tidbits here and there. It’s absolutely adorable and the art style is colorful and fun. I thought the addition of guides on how to draw both characters was a nice touch as well.

Happy reading!

Review | The Keeper of Night by Kylie Lee Baker

DeAnneLeave a comment

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough has been collecting souls in the London streets for centuries. Expected to obey the harsh hierarchy of the Reapers who despise her, Ren conceals her emotions and avoids her tormentors as best she can.

When her failure to control her Shinigami abilities drives Ren out of London, she flees to Japan to seek the acceptance she’s never gotten from her fellow Reapers. Accompanied by her younger brother, the only being on earth to care for her, Ren enters the Japanese underworld to serve the Goddess of Death… only to learn that here, too, she must prove herself worthy. Determined to earn respect, Ren accepts an impossible task—find and eliminate three dangerous Yokai demons—and learns how far she’ll go to claim her place at Death’s side.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I figured I would enjoy this one, but I didn’t realize how much. In this book we follow Wren, who is half reaper and half shinigami – she’s been raised as a reaper but always been told she didn’t belong because she was only half reaper. She’s forced to flee from her home and decides the best place to go is Japan, to pursue her shinigami half.

The book absolutely reads like an anime once Wren reaches Japan. There is a ton of Japanese mythology and culture woven into the story, with rich descriptions of each character – whether it be yokai or human. Wren is a very complex character as she has been brought up to believe she doesn’t belong anywhere and the one thing she wants is somewhere to belong, someone to accept her as she is. This leads to her not always making the right decisions and I definitely want to know how things resolve in the sequel.

Happy reading!

Review | When a Stranger Comes to Town

DeAnneLeave a comment

It’s been said that all great literature boils down to one of two stories—a man takes a journey, or a stranger comes to town. While mystery writers have been successfully using both approaches for generations, there’s something undeniably alluring in the nature of a stranger: the uninvited guest, the unacquainted neighbor, the fish out of water.

No matter how or where they appear, strangers are walking mysteries, complete unknowns in once-familiar territories who disrupt our lives with unease and wonder. In the newest collection of stories by the Mystery Writers of America, each author weaves a fresh tale surrounding the eerie feeling that comes when a stranger enters our midst, featuring stories by prolific mystery writers such as Michael Connelly, Dean Koontz and Joe Hill.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I found the premise of this anthology to be really interesting, and in some cases creepy. Each story incorporates the idea of a stranger arriving and how that may shape the story. I did find a lot of the stories to be suspenseful or have satisfying twists, but as is the story with a lot of anthologies, there were some favorites and some not so much a favorite. That being said, I enjoyed seeing all the different ways the authors interpreted the premise and wove their stories around it.

Happy reading!

Review | Payback’s a Witch by Lana Harper

DeAnneLeave a comment

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina meets The L Word in this fresh, sizzling rom-com by Lana Harper.

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn’t been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She’s determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.

On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden—unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?

But most concerning of all: Why can’t she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I was totally down for a witchy competition, some revenge and some romance and while this one was really fun, it kind of fell short for me. Emmy as a character was great, I really enjoyed her emotional growth and the growth that happened in her relationships with her family, best friend and romantic interest – for me the work that Emmy does on herself and relationships was the highlight. The competition between the families was fun, but I really wanted more of it. I think what made me ultimately give this three stars was that I had a lot of fun with it, but I wanted more. I still really enjoyed it, but just wanted more.

Happy reading!

Review | Silver Vessels by Steve Orlando

DeAnneLeave a comment

A group of friends go on a mission in the Florida Keys to uncover a lost treasure and end up getting more than they bargained for.

What happens when a bunch of teens get together at the Florida Keys for an unforgettable summer of Treasure hunting?

After obsessing over a history lesson at school, Joshua enlists his two best friends to travel to the Florida Keys for the summer to hunt for the treasure of Our Lady of Atocha, a Spanish treasure galleon and the most widely known vessel of a fleet of ships that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. Staying up, sneaking out, and searching for a legendary buried treasure is just the beginning of the summer of their lives!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

This one ended up being such a cute and fun read. In it we follow three teenagers on the cusp of entering high school, all three of them very much in a space where they are figuring out their own identities, but also scared of change and what those revelations might mean. Josh is the leader of the three and he becomes obsessed with the recent discovery of a shipwreck and the fact that the fabled treasure that should have been inside the ship is not there. He hatches a plan for he and his friends to visit his grandfathers for the summer so that they can go on their own treasure hunt. Lots of hijinks ensue as they search down the clues and find amazing things, get roped in by a questionable group and face the consequences of lying to their grandfathers. It’s a fun story, full of adventure as well as heart.

Happy reading!

Review | Darker By Four by June CL Tan

DeAnneLeave a comment

From Jade Fire Gold author June CL Tan, Darker by Four is the launch of an epic, sweeping contemporary fantasy duology that is the Shadowhunter Chronicles meets the Chinese underworld, drawing inspiration from diaspora folklore.

A vengeful girl. A hollow boy. A missing god.

Rui has one goal in mind—honing her magic to avenge her mother’s death.

Yiran is the black sheep of an illustrious family. The world would be at his feet—had he been born with magic.

Nikai is a Reaper, serving the Fourth King of Hell. When his master disappears, the underworld begins to crumble…and the human world will be next if the King is not found.

When an accident causes Rui’s power to transfer to Yiran, everything turns upside down. Without her magic, Rui has no tool for vengeance. With it, Yiran finally feels like he belongs. That is, until Rui discovers she might hold the key to the missing death god and strikes a dangerous bargain with another King.

As darkness takes over, three paths intersect in the shadows. And three lives bound by fate must rise against destiny before the barrier between worlds falls and all Hell breaks loose—literally.

Perfect for fans of This Savage Song and Only a Monster, Darker by Four will pull readers into a world of love and desperation and revenge—a world where every deal has a catch, no secret stays buried, and no one is exactly who they say they are.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I had high hopes for this one and I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed! Again it’s a book that uses mythology as an inspiration, so it’s easy to know why I was hooked pretty much from the beginning. I loved the how Tan combined all of their inspirations into their worldbuilding and really gave the setting and world a great foundation. I was drawn in immediately not just by the setting but also by the characters, not all of them felt fully fleshed out or individual, but there were definitely some I really connected with. I did feel some of it was a little predictable, or standard, but that didn’t necessarily detract from how I felt about the story. I just really enjoyed my time with this book and felt like it was the same kind of feeling as a manga or anime and followed the journey.

Happy reading!

Review | Bad Dreams in the Night by Adam Ellis

DeAnneLeave a comment

Like a graphic novel version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark , this collection of original horror tales is packed with urban legends, terrifying twists, and delightfully haunted stories by one of the biggest stars in webcomics. Each story will make you scream for more!

A new take on a classic format, Bad Dreams in the Night is an updated, illustrated take on the horror anthologies the author grew up with as a kid, such as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and In a Dark, Dark Room . These self-contained stories grew rapidly in popularity among the author’s online audience, and even inspired production of a motion picture from Buzzfeed Studios and Lionsgate Films. Filled with spine-tingling, pulse-increasing tales of mystery and supernatural occurrences, this book of never-before-seen comics will be the perfect gift for people who love  Black Mirror  and  Stranger Things  and listened to podcasts like  Welcome to Nightvale  and  Rabbits. 

Rating: 3 out of 5.

I have enjoyed some of Adam Ellis’ art in the past, so I was excited to see this type of book from him. I wouldn’t necessarily call these stories spine tingling personally, if you’re looking like actual scary stories these may not be what you’re looking for. That being said, most of the stories did have a good hook or twist and were enjoyable. I liked the differing color palettes that helped to vary the styles of the stories. Also, the notation of what inspired each story at the end of them was interesting as it can be insightful to know where the inspiration came from. Overall I enjoyed it and didn’t regret reading it, but it didn’t satisfy my hope for scary stories.

Happy reading!

Review | The Orange and Pink Sunset: A Sapphic Poetry Chapbook by Ivy L. James

DeAnneLeave a comment

In The Orange and Pink Sunset, Ivy L. James weaves a tapestry of her life as a queer woman, from childhood crushes to the labels she’s tried on to religious discrimination. Her raw words express agony and joy in equal measure. She provides a refreshing perspective with an understandable voice, and her narrative style feels like sharing a pot of tea with a close friend. This impactful poetry chapbook is a vulnerable discussion of what it’s like to find herself as a lesbian, and in the end, James chooses love over hate, even in moments of pain. Content warning: Some poems touch on the author’s experiences with familial homophobia and religious homophobia. This collection also includes mild adult language, sensual content, and brief violent imagery.

Amazon | Goodreads

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I’m always looking for books or collections that are a different experience from my own so was happy to check this poetry chapbook out when the author reached out to me. This collection is short and sweet, not only exploring the happiness the author has found in exploring their identity and finding their partner but also delving into the hardships and negativity they experienced in both their coming out but being accepted by their surrounding community, family and friend – while also learning to accept themselves. I’m very picky about poetry and which types I enjoy, but I loved the lyrical language and imagery. Also, acknowledgements as a poem? Brilliant. I did find myself wanting to read more once it was done, which was the only downside for me since it was over. All in all a wonderful collection full of raw emotion that will speak to many.

Make sure to look for this one when it releases on April 30th! Thank you again to the author for sharing this collection with me – happy reading!