All the Books.

​“Magic is real but can only be summoned by the spells held within certain books. Joanna has spent her entire life protecting the small collection that her father has compiled over the years. Esther, her older sister, left home when she was 18 and has spent the last 10 years moving from place to place, never staying in one spot for more than a year. And across the pond, Nicholas, is the last remaining Scribe of the Library, someone gifted with the ability to create spells, ones that must be written in his own blood. This was a complex, intricate and overall entertaining read. It touched upon family, loyalty love and loss and was definitely a unique and interesting take on magic.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pros: It was definitely a unique and interesting plot.  Cons: At the beginning of the book, it’s explained that technology is weird in the house in Vermont yet later, when they write the spell to break the NDA, Joanna has a printer and a desktop computer. It seemed like a bit of a continuity error...

"Set in the magical world of Belterra, Louise is a witch but she's been hiding her magic. She's on the run from her terrifyingly powerful and dangerous mother and her "plans" for her only daughter. When she gets herself involved with the Chasseurs, those sworn to the Church and whose sole mission is to hunt witches, Lou, as well as Reid, her reluctant Chasseur husband, will learn that there are gray areas in life, not everything is black and white. It's a riveting, emotional, complex and complicated read."  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros:  Lou is foulmouthed, opinionated and brash but likable. And Reid is honorable, complicated and torn by duty and love. It's a bit saccharine but I really enjoyed the love story. And all the other characters, even Beaureguard Lyon, all had their charms and quirks/An interesting take on witchcraft and the different "arts", magic of the land, blood magic etc. I'm looking forward to seeing how Mahurin expands upon it.  Cons:  ...

"If you've ever felt that the ability to hear other peoples thoughts would be enlightening, this book takes that idea and destroys it. In a town where everyone can see into each other's minds, Todd Hewitt discovers a secret, one that turns his entire world, his entire life, upside down. It's an intense, edge of your seat thriller that grabs you from the first page and never lets you go."  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros: It’s obvious that New World and Prentisstown are settlement’s from space travelers, though Todd’s life is one is simple farm work. Ness keeps the reader hooked by giving away small clues that Prentisstown is not as rural as it seems nor even on the planet Earth by mentioning the twin moons in the night sky and other subtle hints/ How Ness really packs on the suspense by letting the reader know that turning into a man in Prentisstown is a very bad thing but he doesn’t outright say why, the reader is always guessing. Cons: Though it’s understood that Todd i...

“Marcellus McSquiddles, a giant Pacific Octopus, has been a keen observer of humans in his long captivity at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. For the most part, they are silly, vapid and not all that interesting. There is one person though, Tova, the cleaning lady, who is different. When a new man comes to the Aquarium, Cameron, Marcellus knows that this will change everything but he does what he can to help his friend Tova since she has been nothing but kind to him. This was a genuine, heartfelt, fun and funny story about family, love, finding your way and the friends you make along the road-trip of life.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pros: Marcellus is a disenchanted, sardonic observer of humans and finds them rather tiresome. He’s quite non-plussed for an Octopus.  Cons: Cameron's plan to shakedown Simon Brinks for money is asinine/The truth of the mystery behind Erik’s tragedy was never really explained, just hinted. Full Review: Marcellus is a Giant Pacific Octopus. He has been at the Sowell Bay Aquari...

​ “When the FMC finds a strange book with a wood-cut of a dragon in the center and a stack of letters addressed to, "My dear and unfortunately sucessor" in her father's study, she's instantly curious. When she asks her father about them, she's suddenly thrown into a staggeringly detailed account of her father's life as a young man and his desperate search for his missing professor, who he fears may be in danger from the one and only, Dracula.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pros: Though this was a monster of a book, Kostova was a master at pacing/Every reveal was subtle but mind blowing.  Cons: The narrative became arduous about 75% of the way through/The ending was really rather anti-climactic.  Full Review:  The FMC of the novel has only known life with her father. He's some sort of foreign diplomat and travels extensively and often times she accompanies him on his trips. One night, when she's in his study, she finds a small, strange book that when opened, reveals a woodcut...

"When Mitch Albom sees a Dateline broadcast about an old professor of his, Morrie Schwartz, he's stunned. Morrie, who's been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) has decided that instead of despairing at his inevitable demise, he will embrace it and help others learn to live and love. Mitch, devastated that he's let so much time pass since seeing his Professor, reaches out and they reconnect, their visits becoming their last class together and teaching Mitch and the reader, the most important lessons in life. This was a genuine, heartfelt, emotional read and Morrie's lessons will stay with me forever."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Morrie was a genuine and gentle, good soul, he was intelligent, passionate and caring.  Cons: Though Morrie's overall conclusion that love, really is, the answer, he and Mitch's discussions became a little repetetive since, love was always the answer.  Full Review:  When Mitch Albom graduated from Brandeis University, his favorit...

"There is a sickness in the kingdom of Blunder and anyone who's found to be infected is sentenced to a painful, gruesome death. Elspeth Spindle was lucky enough to survive the fever but, her magic, the ability to absorb the powers within a Providence Card, is a secret she's kept for years. When she attends the Equinox ball at the urging of her cousin, she's suddenly entangled in a dangerous, treasonous plot to collect all twelve Providence Cards, perform a ritual and rid Blunder of the sickness and magic forever. Of course, it won't be easy, alliances will be tested, truths will be told and Elspeth will be lucky to survive with her mind and body intact." ⭐⭐⭐ Pros: It had a dark, haunted Moor, atmospheric feel/I liked the character of Elm, he was sly and witty but, of course, had a good heart.  Cons: The idea of the Providence Cards took some getting used to and there were a lot of Cards to remember/Elspeths constant requests for the Nightmare to help her and...

​ “Fern Huang is finally going to achieve her dream of being a published author. She's worked hard to heal from the traumatic bullying she endured at the hands of Haven Lee in high school, a girl who swooped in and stole Fern's best friend, Dani and made Fern's life miserable. She also blames Haven for Dani's suicide, something that's affected Fern deeply. When she joins a debut authors group on Facebook/Slack and finds out that Haven also has a book debuting, her whole world comes crashing down. Add the COVID pandemic and the whole nation going on lockdown to the mix and Fern's obsession with Haven takes on stalkerish, unhealthy and frankly disturbing proportions. The message that no one is truly innocent, that we all have secrets and also, be very careful what you post on Social Media, since you never know how your words might be used against you were all true but in the end, the characters were obnoxious, the constant posts of, "OMG, srsly, whaaat, nooo,...

“Arkady Tsepesh has returned home, to Transylvania, due to his father’s declining health. His very pregnant wife, Mary has accompanied him and is curious to learn about the side of her Husband she’s never seen, the family Dracul. What I thought would perhaps be an origin story of Dracula, was instead a very complex and rather uncomfortable tale of complicated and rather disturbing family dynamics. The big reveal came far too late and the ending just dragged.” ⭐⭐ Pros: A truly unique Vampire Story Cons: The “Indignant British Gentleman” feel of the vast majority of the book and then the complete 180 was the end was really jarring/The ending went on for far too long, actually had me dozing at parts. Full Review:  Arkady Tsepesh is returning to Transylvania after receiving a telegram from his sister, Zsuzsanna that their Father is dying. He brings his young wife, Mary and their as of yet, unborn child with him. Unfortunately, he arrives too late and his father has already passed. Di...

"Cane did his research, basing the separate stories in this book on actual, historical events. It was a stark, painful, gut-wrenching look at the horrors of slavery but at the same time, Cane showed that there was always hope, strength and togetherness. His message that even the smallest spark can start a fire of Rebellion is one that will stay with me for a long time."  ⭐⭐⭐ Pros:  An unflinching look at the deprivations of slavery but also stories of hope and inspiration, proving that resistance against oppression will always find a way and can begin with a single spark.  Cons:    Cane’s writing style felt flat but also almost overdone at the same time.  Full Review:  It begins in Goochland, Virginia on Magnolia Row. Henri, a young slave who has recently been sold to the Raglands, who run Magnolia Row, feels lost and unmoored. He tries to find his place and do his work and finds a few friends, Ruby, one of the Souls who keeps the Master's house, a you...

"What I thought was going to be an overly done teenage romance ended up being a surprisingly genuine and frankly powerful story about connection, fate and, yes, love. Natasha and Daniel's whirlwind day of coincidences and fate in NYC had its moments of laughably teenage melodrama but overall, Yoon's written a remarkable testament to how everything has a cause and effect."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pros: Yoon crafted a fun, informative, intelligent, sad, complex layered love story/I really enjoyed the small glimpses into the lives of the people Natasha/Daniel interacted with/This was a deep and genuine story and it honestly made me tear up.   Cons : I've always found the overly intense, teenage, "love at first sight" cliche hilarious because, come on now, take a minute😂 /The number of rare coincidences began to teeter precariously toward silly by the end but Yoon managed to balance it out in a practical and powerful way.    Full Review:  Natasha is an intelligent, driv...

"It began with a Birthday party and ended in a blood bath. The Folcrum Party Massacre destroyed so many lives and the repercussions of that horrible night are still rippling and making waves, decades later. Though Leewood Folcrum never wavers in his story, that he is innocent, there are those who are determined to find out the truth, no matter the cost. This was an intensely dark, edge of your seat, riveting thriller and I couldn't put it down."   ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros:  Torre’s pacing was great and all the big reveals were jaw dropping. Cons: Though Perla was a terrifying character in her determination, she was also creepy in seeing her daughter as competition for her husband's affections.  Full Review Leewood Folcrum is currently serving life in prison for a crime he claims he didn't commit. The Folcrum Party massacre which began as an innocent Birthday/Slumber party for Jennifer Folcrum ended in a blood bath. Leewood was found with his daughters' body in his arms and ...

"Every family has its past, its secrets and its struggles and the Fall family of Paradise Springs is no exception. The fact that all the descendents of the Fall family are cursed doesn't make things any easier. Things finally start to change when a rainbow-haired girl named Cassidy shows up and helps all the Fall children understand that goodness and love can grow even in the darkest of times."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pros : Nelson doesn’t shy away from the rough parts of life but through it all there’s always light and hope/The ending of Part 3 was quite a shocker/When all the pieces began fitting together it definitely improved the story.   Cons:  Miles and his obsession with sex, it got rather obnoxious/The lineage of the Falls was a necessary part of the story but I do wish people would just be honest with one another/Except for Cassidy, every other character bothered me for different reasons.  Full Review:  The Fall family has not had an easy time of things. Theo Fall...

​ "It's been two years since Addison stumbled onto the road, bloody and bewildered. She was lucky enough to be picked up by a kind-hearted truck driver and given the chance to create another life. But just as her new life starts to come together, someone from her past, who can tell her everything that happened and fill in the gaps, appears. This was an engrossing read, simply because I was curious as to what had happened to Addison to cause her amnesia but in the end it felt overdone and honestly, a little bit silly."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Pros: It did pique my interest because I'm a terribly curious person/Ed and Gigi seemed like genuinely kind and caring people.  Cons: Blythe was rather obsessed with wealth and stature and a bit of a snob/From Part III to the end explained everything that had happened but it all felt overdone and shady, like no one would have started asking questions about Cassandra's whereabouts?  Full Review:  It's been two years since Addison came to...

"The story of Achilles, renowned for his strength, speed and skills at warfare but as told from his ever faithtful friend and companion, Patroclus. Though it had its cliche moments as every romance will, I was pleasantly surprised at how true Miller stayed to the original source of The Illiad . This was a pleasantly surprising and unique take on Homer's epic tale."  ⭐⭐⭐ Pros:  I liked that it was told from Patroclus POV/Miller stays true to The Illiad , which I greatly appreciated.  Cons:  Lots of “burning pleasure” and “fierce, fervor”, all the romance cliches/Achilles arrogance is staggering but that's what Hubris is and that's why it's always the heroes' downfall.   Full Review:  When Patroclus is exiled from his father's kingdom for inadvertently killing a boy and sent to Phthia, he's alone and terrified. At first, he goes unnoticed by basically everyone. When he first sees Achilles, the young Prince, he's enraptured but far too shy to say ...

"When life-long friends, Sadie Green and Sam Masur decide to take a chance and work together to create a video game, they know they're creating something truly special. What follows is a story full of wins, losses, love, lies, friendship, betrayals and the list goes on. It's impossible to properly describe this book. It's one of those stories that you have to read to understand and appreciate."   ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros: Marx is a genuinely good, caring, kind person and friend/The NPC part of this novel had me close to tears. It was heart breaking and beautiful.  Cons:  A lot of the drama could have been avoided if the characters were just honest with each other but, then there'd be no conflict/Sadie and Sam drove me a little insane and I wanted to smack them both at times.  Full Review:  Sadie Green first meets Samson Masur in a Children's hospitals in California. Sadie's sister is battling Leukemia, while Sam has gone through multiple surgeries to try and repair ...

"Aleys believes she's meant to serve a higher purpose, that her life should be devoted to love and serve God. When her father offers her hand in marriage to a wealthy merchant, she gets her chance as she runs off to join the Franciscan brotherhood as a way to escape her fate. Little does she know that her service to God will take her places she probably never imagined."  ⭐⭐⭐ Pros:  The plot was complex and intricate enough to keep me reading/Marte was a great character, thoughtful but quiet, rarely letting on how much she notices or hears. Cons:  Aleys could be a bit overbearing and arrogant at times/The tension with Friar Lukas at the end was just cringe-worthy. Yes, it led to the insane conclusion but at the same time, parts of it were just gross and unnecessary.  Full Summary: Aleys has always loved the stories from her mother's Psalter. She doesn't understand the words but the images and teachings have always stayed with her. She knows she's meant for some...

"When Zelie, the daughter of a powerful Maji (person gifted with magical abilities) helps the princess Amari escape with a sacred magical artifact, in hand, it sets them on a dark, dangerous and deadly course with cataclysmic consequences."  ⭐⭐⭐ Pros:  Adeyemi is unflinching in her portrayal of an oppressed people and you truly feel for the Diviners and hope the Monarchy pays for its horrendous crimes.  Cons:  It wasn't until about halfway through that I felt the book hit its stride/Betrayal, forbidden love, enemies to lovers, this book had its moments where it was one cliche stacked upon another.   Full Review:   Orisha was once a land flowing with magic. The 10 tribes of Maji, people gifted with control of a certain aspect of Sky Mother's soul (power over earth, air, fire, water, metal, disease, time and even death) were immensely powerful. And of course, Saran, the King of Orisha, was terrified that all that power would turn against him. So, he had ...

"Like "Mary Poppins" only with books, Fay Revil and her magical Bookshop appear when you need it most. Luckily for Jo, Kye and Adelaide, they'll discover the Midnight Bookshop together and it will change their lives for the better. It was silly and cliche but sometimes a book that doesn't require too much thought is a nice change of pace."  ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ Pros: It was quaint and fun at times. Predictable but sometimes that's nice.  Cons: The solution to Adelaide’s problem was very convenient/The book coulld very easily have ended 50 pages sooner.   Full Review:  Jo, is in her early twenties, with well off parents and so, she's never really wanted for anything. Her Mother is obsessed with appearances and is always disappointed in her daughter, who's never amounted to much. She dropped out of University and spends most of her days reading, when not getting a cheap thrill from shop-lifting.  Kye is living with his sick mother and his drug-dealer brother., ...

​ "Kate Harker and August Flynn's dissonant notes collide to create a beautiful ending to this truly unique symphony by Schwab. It had a real Urbany Fantasy, "Romeo and Juliet" feel and in her seeminly effortless way, Schwab just made it work. This was definitely an interesting series."    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pros: August and Kate do have good chemistry/Ilsa is just a genuinely good soul/The ending kind of broke my heart but it worked.    Cons: Kate’s attitude can get a little tiresome, the whole, "I'm the only one who can do it"thing/The ending felt a bit rushed, like Schwab was running close to deadline.  Full Review:   ***Disclaimer***If you have not read This Savage Song   by Schwab, please do so and then come back and read this at your leisure. That way you'll know what I'm talking about 🙌.*** It's been six months since the harsh end of This Savage Song. Six months since   Kate and August went their separate ways .  Kate made her way to the t...