Young Adult

Review of Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

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Synopsis:
Orphaned as a baby, nineteen-year-old Signa has been raised by a string of guardians, each one more interested in her wealth than her well-being—and each has met an untimely end. Her remaining relatives are the elusive Hawthornes, an eccentric family living at Thorn Grove, an estate both glittering and gloomy. Its patriarch mourns his late wife through wild parties, while his son grapples for control of the family’s waning reputation, and his daughter suffers from a mysterious illness. But when their mother’s restless spirit appears claiming she was poisoned, Signa realizes that the family she depends on could be in grave danger and enlists the help of a surly stable boy to hunt down the killer.
 
However, Signa’s best chance of uncovering the murderer is an alliance with Death himself, a fascinating, dangerous shadow who has never been far from her side. Though he’s made her life a living hell, Death shows Signa that their growing connection may be more powerful—and more irresistible—than she ever dared imagine.

Review:
This book was the perfect gothic romance that I had read in quite a while. I absolutely adored Signa’s relationship with Death, both the “person” and how death effects her. Death is something that can be considered taboo, and everyone processes it differently, so it was a unique approach to see how Signa reacts to something that touches her deeper than many others. To any who lost a loved one before being old enough to truly know and understand them, this book did an amazing job at capturing what you thought a loved one might have been like, enjoyed, or even wanted from you–which all has to come from your imagination after losing them so early in life. I thought Signa’s abilities were quite unique and I hadn’t seen or read anything like it before.

This book was exceptional, and I, of course, had to immediately jump into the second–especially since there was a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to know how the next mystery is solved!!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Frogkisser! by Garth Nix

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Synopsis:
Poor Princess Anya. Stuck living with her evil stepmother’s new husband, her evil step-stepfather. Plagued with an unfortunate ability to break curses with a magic-assisted kiss. And forced to go on the run when her step-stepfather decides to make the kingdom entirely his own.

Aided by a loyal talking dog, a boy thief trapped in the body of a newt, and some extraordinarily mischievous wizards, Anya sets off on a Quest that, if she plays it right, will ultimately free her land—and teach her a thing or two about the use of power, the effectiveness of a well-placed pucker, and the finding of friends in places both high and low.

Review:
Now this book sounds like a true fairytale, meant for everyone, and it is! The book is humorous and yet has a princess that has to work to keep herself safe and learn to do things on her own, while also learning to ask for help in the right way, at the right time, and who to trust. While there are quite humorous bits, there are also many characters that have very serious consequences or situations thrust upon them that both show that one cannot always control what happens, but also that making smart choices results in better futures. There is a moral and lesson for everyone who reads this story; it’s fun, it’s sweet, it’s cute.

It’s very much not what one thinks of when they would think of a Garth Nix book, especially if they had read the Abhorsen trilogy because this book is very much written for a younger audience. While Garth Nix had previously stated that he wouldn’t write down for younger readers, it would take a certain type of reader/person to read said trilogy because the depth involved. While these character all have good backstories, it’s written in a way that younger people could easily connect, understand, and resonate with what’s going on.

I immediately handed this book off to a good friend when I was finished because it’s a nice, sweet, fairy tale, light read for an adult, and I think it’s something that most younger people would enjoy and everyone would get something out of. I highly recommend this book, as I likely would all Garth Nix works.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Darkness Within Us By Tricia Levenseller

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Synopsis:
Chrysantha Stathos has won.
By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has become a wealthy duchess. And, once her elderly husband dies, she will have all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought.
A man claiming to be the estranged grandson of Chrysantha’s lecherous late husband has turned up to steal her inheritance. To make matters worse, her little sister is going to be queen and is rubbing it in her face.

Chrysantha decides that the only thing to do is upstage Alessandra at her own wedding. And as for this grandson, he has to go. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive with mysterious powers . . . No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

Review:
I thought I was going to hate this book. Really, I had adored Alessandra and how she deviated from society, how she was willing to do whatever it took (and she was willing to) in order to gain the future she wanted for herself, and women in general. That being said, Chrysantha completely surprised me and I ended up absolutely loving her as well, in completely different ways. It was interesting to see how there are different types of strength and resilience, as well as intelligent ways to go about having freedom and the life you want. This book was just as endearing and heartfelt/heartrending as The Shadows Between Us, with different stakes, different magic, and entirely different characters. I enjoyed getting to see Alessandra and her King once again, and how well they compliment each other.

If you like enemies-to-lovers, strong female protagonists, and some interesting magic, this is definitely a book for you and I’d highly recommend it.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

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Synopsis:
Mia Thermopolis is pretty sure there’s nothing worse than being a five-foot-nine, flat-chested freshman, who also happens to be flunking Algebra. Is she ever in for a surprise.

First Mom announces that she’s dating Mia’s Algebra teacher. Then Dad has to go and reveal that he is the crown prince of Genovia. And guess who still doesn’t have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance?

The Princess Diaries is the first book in the beloved, bestselling series that inspired the feature film starring Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews.

Review:
This book is GOLDEN. I absolutely loved everything about this book. This book was so different from the movie and yet it still sparkles and shines on its own and didn’t at all make me dislike the movie. I am a bit sad that not all the characters made it from the book to the movie because boy is there some good characterization! So this book takes place in NYC versus San Francisco which is pretty cool. I love the way Mia never really thought to question the places she’d been with her dad, or all of her grandmother’s eccentricities. I love that this book is very much written as Mia’s journal and everything in it is very relatable and believable (I’m horrible at math too, Mia!) I loved how Mia would relate things to pop culture, like how her full name “sounds like the name of some stupid line of makeup, or of somebody form a Disney movie who’s been missing and just recovered her memory, or something”. I also love how a big part of her worries are that her grandmother wouldn’t allow her to have her giant fat cat with her in the palace; as someone with bed sleeping cats, I can understand! This book just made me want to read all of the diaries about Mia’s life!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

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Synopsis:
Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Part historical fantasy, part rivals-to-lovers romance, part Gothic mystery, and all haunting, dreamlike atmosphere, Ava Reid’s powerful YA debut will lure in readers who loved The Atlas Six, House of Salt and Sorrows, or Girl, Serpent, Thorn.

Review:
I usually don’t offer scathing reviews, and this won’t be the exception of that, however, I will start by saying that this book is in no way, shape, or form a Young Adult book. This book is what would be considered “New Adult”, which is to say that the characters are older/adult, and there is adult content/situations/depictions that many would not consider expected or perhaps even acceptable on the shelves for younger YA readers.

That being said, this book is not at all what I expected it to be. It didn’t draw me in, and from the start it’s explained that the narrator is unreliable. That being said, the book floats from 2/3 reality to the last 1/3 fantasy that becomes very hard to navigate given the unreliability of Effy herself.

I am not quite sure what everyone sees in this book; the dark academia is tainted by her bad experiences at college, the way her family treats her, and the way in which a serious medical condition is tied to fantasies becoming real.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

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Synopsis:
The rite has existed for as long as anyone can remember: When the king dies, his son the prince must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been.

When Ama wakes in the arms of Prince Emory, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what came before she was captured by the dragon or what horrors she faced in its lair. She knows only this handsome young man, the story he tells of her rescue, and her destiny of sitting on a throne beside him. It’s all like a dream, like something from a fairy tale.

As Ama follows Emory to the kingdom of Harding, however, she discovers that not all is as it seems. There is more to the legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows, and the greatest threats may not be behind her, but around her, now, and closing in.

Review:
This book was very easy to fall into, and you’re very invested before you start to truly learn about Emory. From early on we learn that Emory will do whatever he wants and there will never be any recompense because he is considered infallible. While many may empathize with men being considered smarter, wiser, should be listened to and obeyed while women just do what they are told, it was outright frustrating seeing the things that were considered fine because it was what Emory (the now king) wanted.

I loved seeing Ama find herself, and that she never gave up on her curiosity and knowledge of herself and her origins. I found the ending absolute perfection after all the mistreatments seen throughout the book, and the implication that the monarchy would now change. While this book has won an award for excellence in young adult literature, one has to wonder if the contents of the novel are something that really resonate with young adults, and if so, why more isn’t being done to address such issues in the real world.

While I did like this book far more than Red Hood, I still do not think I would necessarily give this to a young adult. Certainly some are mature enough to read and understand it, but it might bring up more adult content than most may be comfortable with in younger teens and less mature older teens considering the very sexual references in this book.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

*This book was read in May, but reviewed in June.

Review of Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

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Synopsis:
Two sisters.One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself… And an intoxicating romance. 

Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe — witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems…

Review:
Despite the synopsis very much informing the reader of what was to happen, it still was quite a shock to discover after becoming so embroiled in the lives of the twin sisters Vittoria and Emilia. One of the interesting parts of this novel is that while it is written in third person it is very obviously in the limited view of Emilia; so while we may have thoughts and inklings as to what happened or didn’t, we are led to believe her line of reasoning must have some merit.

I quite loved how stories told and used as warnings were so clearly twisted from the truth. The way in which truth and story blended and not everything was known worked well throughout the novel to leave you wondering. The story, while clearly fantasy, was given great depth and life by the way it worked around the family restaurant and everyone’s specialties and help within. Emilia’s relationship with the monastery in town, and in particular Fratello Antonio gave way to the perfect bits and pieces of gothic horror/romance. I absolutely loved the characterization, the depth of the characters, and, I’ll admit, Wrath.

This book was something I eagerly devoured, and there was never a part that didn’t seem perfect. From learning about ways to cook in the restaurant, the type of perfume or drinks Vittoria liked to make, to the horrible cliffhanger of an ending, I was always left wanting more. I highly recommend this book for lovers of gothic romance/fantasy, enemies to lovers, witches and demons.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

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Synopsis:
Once Upon a Time meets The Office in Hannah Maehrer’s laugh-out-loud viral TikTok series turned novel, about the sunshine assistant to an Evil Villain…and their unexpected romance.

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

With ailing family to support, Evie Sage’s employment status isn’t just important, it’s vital. So when a mishap with Rennedawn’s most infamous Villain results in a job offer—naturally, she says yes. No job is perfect, of course, but even less so when you develop a teeny crush on your terrifying, temperamental, and undeniably hot boss. Don’t find evil so attractive, Evie.

But just when she’s getting used to severed heads suspended from the ceiling and the odd squish of an errant eyeball beneath her heel, Evie suspects this dungeon has a huge rat…and not just the literal kind. Because something rotten is growing in the kingdom of Rennedawn, and someone wants to take the Villain—and his entire nefarious empire—out.

Now Evie must not only resist drooling over her boss but also figure out exactly who is sabotaging his work…and ensure he makes them pay.

After all, a good job is hard to find.

Review:
Firstly, while it took me a while to get around to reading this book, I had actually preordered it the day the preorders opened. I absolutely adore the TikTok series and highly recommend her series of “what it would be like if I was the morally grey villain’s personal assistant”. That being said, this book was an altogether different feel and story than the short videos. While I didn’t hate the book, instead of being urban/modern fantasy it was pushed back to some sort of medieval-ish time which changed the entire feel of the story. The back and forth of trying to use modern food and explaining things away with magic made the book feel a bit hard to truly fall into.

There were definitely some elements of other stories woven throughout such as Ever After and Ella Enchanted, which I loved. While it was interesting to see Evie’s home life developed, it seemed to merely be a small plot to show another few form of villainy that were dropped at plot points far too quickly and without thorough examination. Unfortunately there were many times in the book where the heroine came across as self degrading as opposed to the obliviousness featured in the videos. The book also seemed to be written down in level than what I perceived the videos to be; more of a beginner level young adult novel.

While the story could have been a bit further developed, I did still quite enjoy it and look forward to reading the next installment. That being said, I still vastly prefer the video series to the book. If you’re looking for a very light cozy romantasy read, this is it, though there is a content warning at the beginning.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of The Frost Gate: A Retelling of Snow White by Hanna Sandvig

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Synopsis:
Mirror mirror made of gold,
Here’s the story you were never told . . .

I’ve always suspected some sort of mystery surrounding my adoption—I mean, who doesn’t remember anything before they were five? But the tall, dark, axe-wielding fae huntsman showing up at my door yelling that I’m a lost princess and the Unseelie Queen is coming to kill me? That I didn’t see coming.

It’s hard to argue with a pack of evil wolves on your doorstep, so I grab my sword, my cookbook, and my seven chickens (yes, you heard me right), and follow him to Faerie. I’m all for not being eaten by wolves. I’m less excited about the fact that the huntsman seems to think I’m the only one who can defeat the Unseelie Queen and save Faerie. I’m not powerful or magical, even if my baking skills are legendary.

But the longer I stay in Faerie, the more I want to help its people. And the more time I spend with the terrifyingly handsome huntsman, the more I want to convince him that he’s who I need by my side while I do. He’d do anything to protect me, but it’s my heart he’s putting in danger.

Do I have what it takes to go from baking pies to saving kingdoms? Who will take care of the chickens if I fail?

Review:
One thing I absolutely love about the princesses and female main characters in Sandvig’s works is that they all have hopes, desires, dreams, and things they have spent their life doing- a plan they intended to follow for their life. It was incredibly amusing that Neve had an obsession with a particular fruit. I absolutely loved Kylian. I thought his development, motivations, and what he has done were all greatly thought out and fit the other books in the past series that he appeared in as well. It was great to see how well Kylian and Niamh support each other; strong where the other is weak, and always encouraging each other that they are more than they realize. Sometimes it can be hard when you feel like a big position or job is thrust upon you, but just because it is daunting doesn’t mean you aren’t the correct person for the job. In the end, Kylian and Niamh telling stories… just how precious.

I absolutely love this series of very likeable characters and very realistic situations/reactions of a startled human (or human like creature) being taken away from the life they’ve known. I would highly recommend Sandvig’s works to anyone who loves empowering female characters, fairy tale retellings, and happily ever afters. This book is, as stated on amazon, rather “cottagecore”. It’s a nice cozy romantasy, and I highly recommend it.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs

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Synopsis:
Before Miss Peregrine gave them a home, the story of peculiars was written in the Tales.
 
Wealthy cannibals who dine on the discarded limbs of peculiars. A fork-tongued princess. These are but a few of the truly brilliant stories in Tales of the Peculiar—the collection of fairy tales known to hide information about the peculiar world, including clues to the locations of time loops—first introduced by Ransom Riggs in his #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series.
 
Riggs now invites you to share his secrets of peculiar history, with a collection of original stories in this deluxe volume of Tales of the Peculiar, as collected and annotated by Millard Nullings, ward of Miss Peregrine and scholar of all things peculiar. Featuring stunning illustrations from world-renowned woodcut artist Andrew Davidson this compelling and truly peculiar anthology is the perfect gift for not only fans, but for all booklovers.

Review:
If you are a lover, a connoisseur of fairy tales, folk tales and folklore this is a book you want to pick up. While fairy tale retellings are a genre of their own Riggs went forward and created his own set of peculiar tales, that whether or not you’re peculiar, offer quite a lot of insight to what is wrong, right, moral and just. The stories are at times somewhat reminiscent in the back of your mind to tales you may already know (The Fork-Tongued Princess and The Paper Bag Princess bare a striking moral resemblance) but they are all filled with knowledge and warnings to be careful of what you have, what you wish to accomplish, and the mark you may make on the world.

This was on the pile of “books I bought and never read for years so maybe I should get rid of them” but I picked it up and started reading it instead… needless to say, it won’t be returning to the pile. The hardcover edition of this book is also gorgeous, with gold leaves on the front, black and white pictures for every story, and a black ribbon to keep your place.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯