Kingdom of Ash

As the year is coming to an end, it is fitting that this series, my all-time favorite, is too, coming to an end. And what an end it was. I have spent many years with these amazing characters, Celaena, Aelin, Aedion, Chaol, Rowan, Elide, Manon, Dorian- and the list goes on. I have cried, had rage attacks, smiled from ear to ear, all the things you want in a book series. Certain characters were my favorites at different times. I worried about them, rooted for them and stood by them in battle after battle. I am not going to tell you what this book is about, it is the last in a LONG series. But if you want something to take you on a  journey, adventure, romance, roller coaster- then start at the beginning with Throne of Glass. You can thank me when it's over. There are no damsels in distress here. Each woman more powerful than the next- with or without actual powers. Such a message for girls today. Don't let anyone tell you no. Don't let any problem stop you from trying to solve it. And in the end, it's okay to rely on your friends for help, no one can do it all alone. I don't think I read as many books this year as in the past. There can be a myriad of reasons for that- books are getting longer- this one is over 900 pages, my attention span may be getting shorter, life sometimes gets in the way. But there is nothing like a good book to transport you to places you may never get to go, worlds you may never get to see and meet people so different from you as to expand your vision of the world. I look forward to many more books in 2019, my shelves are literally buckling under their weight. So I wish for you in this new year, a world of books to take you wherever you wish to go. Happy reading my friends!

Girls of Paper and Fire

This book is definitely for a mature reader. That being said, this is a society of three castes. The demon caste- where demons are the highest level of society. The moon caste- where humans have some demon features. And the lowest caste- The Paper Caste- where the members are completely human. Every year the Demon King chooses 8 girls from this caste to be his concubines. They are taken from their homes and trained to serve the king. Lei has already faced the terror of this ritual as her mother was taken years ago. When they come for her, she does what she must to save her father. Lei becomes a Paper Girl and begins her training. What she finds is worse than she imagines. She fights against her fate and in the process falls in love with one of the other Paper Girls-Wren. If they are found out she will be executed. On top of this she refuses the King when he calls for her. She then must face his wrath. As she and Wren get closer, secrets are revealed that may end the reign of the King. But if things go wrong- they will forfeit more than their lives. This was a disturbing story of abuse and societal oppression. The power dynamic is horrifying when that power is so abused. I don't know that I would put this on my shelf as to the mature subject matter, but it was a very good read. Happy reading my friends!

Children of Blood and Bone

Zelie is the daughter of a Reaper mother. But magic is gone and all Zelie is now is a diviner, not a full maji. And she and her people are brutalized by the government who fears them. She and her brother Tzain are determined to protect their father after their mother was taken away in chains and hung. Amari is the princess of the realm. She and her brother Inan are being groomed to rule one day. But her father is an evil dictator and has continually shown his daughter the harsh cost of his love. When he kills her attendant, Amari decides she can no longer abide by his rule and steals a scroll that just may be the key to bringing back magic. Inan is sent to track her down at all cost. When Zel and Amari's paths cross, the race to bring magic back begins. As all the pieces of the puzzle are hunted down, Zel is betrayed by one she thought she could trust and the cost might be the loss of magic forever. The group must find a way to work together and overcome horrendous odds to bring their world back into balance. This book was a great adventure. It deals with loss, love and the oppression of anyone who may be different. The characters are multi-faceted and the story moves at a brisk pace. You never know what is coming around the next turn. Give it a try and you won't be sorry. Happy reading my friends.

Dread Nation

What was the War Between the States really about? Zombies of course. A virus has swept the nation and Shamblers are everywhere. Luckily for the citizens of America Miss Preston's School of Combat is there to protect them. Jane is an African American girl who has been sent to train at the school. She is outspoken, determined and headstrong. She doesn't really want to become an Attendant to a rich white family, but she really has no choice. All girls like her are sent to schools like this. When a family goes missing, Jane finds herself on a mission with her ex- Jackson to help him locate his sister along with her frenemy Kate. Where they wind up is not what they had been hoping for. They wind up prisoners to some Survivalists who are using the girls to defend a wall to a settlement. No weapons, little food and suspicious leaders make Jane's job all the harder. The more she finds out, the worse trouble she is in. This was an interesting take on the zombie genre. Civil war times, racism, and the undead roaming the west. It was modeled after the situation Native American children were put in to assimilate them to American culture. The things we do in the name of civilization. I enjoyed the story of Jane and her friends. No damsels in distress here! Happy reading my friends!

What If It's Us?

Arthur believes in fate. Ben doesn't. Arthur is living his New York dream as a summer intern for his mother's law firm. Ben is living his New York nightmare, being in summer school with his ex boyfriend. When Arthur and Ben meet at the post office, sparks fly, but fate intervenes and they are separated before they can exchange numbers. Neither thinks they will find each other again. But their friends convince them to give it a try. When all the puzzle pieces come together, Arthur and Ben find each other and begin the summer romance dreams are made of. Everything is perfect  and they fall in love. Like that ever happens!!! As Arthur tries to maneuver his first romance, everything that can go wrong does. But Ben and Arthur are not the giving up kind. First dates, first kisses, first fights, first breakups all consume one summer in New York. This book is adorable, funny and heartwarming. Ben and Arthur are both completely believable and their circle of friends only add to the story. There is even a much deserved Hamilton component that made me laugh. It is a contemporary story that is highly relatable in these Instagrammable times. It was easy to root for them even though the end of the summer looms large and Arthur must make the trip back to his home state of Georgia. Do long distance romances work? Can two boys who met one summer make it work? Will they be able to overcome the odds to be the couple that lasts? Read this delightful book to find out. You won't be sorry. Happy reading my friends!

Muse of Nightmares

Sarai and Lazlo are facing the most difficult time of their relationship. See, Sarai just died, Lazlo just became a god and Minya sees her chance to finally get revenge on Weep. They are at Minya's mercy- if Lazlo doesn't do what she says. Minya has threatened to let Sarai disappear. But Sarai does not want Lazlo to kill everyone in Weep and is willing to die to protect everyone. Lazlo, though, will not let Sarai go. Meanwhile, Eril-Fane has come to the Seraph and finally met his ghost daughter. This is the first time the god spawn has been around humans. Luckily Minya has been taken care of by some sleeping potion or all hell would have broken loose. Sarai is committed to finding a way to help Minya and when she finds herself in Minya's nightmare, life changing revelations are revealed. Sarai decides she must find a way to change Minya's self destructive dreams to save everyone- can she become the Goddess of Dreams?  Meanwhile, the story of Nova and Kora is shared. The sisters' story may be the leverage Sarai needs to solve the story behind Minya's wrath. It has the potential to destroy them all. Or save them all. This novel is so many things. It is beautifully written, the number of quotes I have typed up to save is almost a page. It is a love story on so many levels- between many couples, between a father and daughter, between gods and humans, between brothers and sisters and maybe even between worlds. And that is the biggest OMG I had as I realized what Laini Taylor had done to tie my two favorite series together. It is so hard to keep that to myself as I wait for my friends to read this. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, I'm jealous- start there. Then find Strange the Dreamer and meet Lazlo and Sarai in their former states. Then reserve a weekend to pour over the pages of this gem. You won't regret a minute and may find yourself looking at the sky and wondering where the portal to other worlds may be. Happy reading my friend!

Warcross

Marie Lu has written some of my favorite all time characters. June and Day. Her Legend series really wrecked me for a while. Then I didn't love her next series. But Warcross is a whole other ballgame. (It's playoff time for my Yankees so bear with the sports metaphors) In this series, Emika is a hacker who has turned bounty hunter to make a living. See, Warcross is a global phenomenon (think Fortnite on steroids) The whole world plays in VR created by the elusive Hideo Tanaka- teen genius. Emika has long admired him from afar. Just when she is on the brink of being on the streets, she finds herself glitches into the game and all of a sudden the whole world knows her. And Hideo offers her a job- find out who is hacking his game. He makes her an offer she can't refuse and she is suddenly the most watched player in the game. As she and Hideo get closer, more danger than they can imagine is on it's way in the form of Zero, the hacker determined to take out the game and possibly Emika and Hideo as well. The closer she gets to Zero, the more danger she is in. But who is Hideo really? And whose side should she really be on? I loved this book, and look forward to reading the sequel Wildcard. The issues brought up in this book are timely and scary. The more we connect to our technology, the less we seem to be connecting to each other. Would we notice if it started to take over even more of our lives? Would we notice too late to stop it? Yikes. I think kids will love the video game component of this novel. That and a little romance makes it a perfect read for a weekend day. Happy reading my friends!

Stormcaster

Any time a new Cinda Williams Chima book is out, I drop everything and immerse myself into her world. Storm caster is the third book in this spin off series. The children of Han and Raisa are coming into their own as their powers and responsibilities are unleashed. This story starts with the tale of the Stormcaster Evan Strangward, the pirate with powers even he doesn't understand. He brings the warning to Raisa and Aidan that Celestine is coming to take  over the Seven Realms. But can he get them to trust him in time to stop the Empress. She has bloodsworn soldiers at her back and they are mighty hard to kill. Lyssa- future Queen is being held captive by Celestine and has been tasked to lead the army of the undead. What choice does she have?  And then there is Jena and her dragon swooping in to bring news of Lyssa's brother. All these characters must breach their circumstances and find a way to common ground. But that may be hard with everything stacked against them. So, I am still bitter that Han was killed off in book one, he is one of my all time favorite boys, but he makes an appearance- albeit briefly, in this one. With the promise of more Han in the future, I look forward to continuing this series. I love Evan and find his storyline wonderful and timely. If you haven't read any of these books get in your way back machine and hit up the Demon King so you get the whole story. You won't be sorry. Happy reading my friends!

One Dark Crown

The sisters are back and fighting for not only the crown but their very lives. Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Katherine, as different as can be. They are fated to kill each other and Katherine is the most determined to be the victor. She came back from the Brecca Void a tad bit wrong, She will stop at nothing to take out her sisters and will feel no remorse when it happens. Led by the poisoners, she will stop at nothing to win the crown. Mirabella and Arsinoe are not quite so determined to kill each other. In fact Arsinoe has a plan to escape the island altogether and live a life as a normal person. Their trusty friends are at their sides, Jules and Joseph, Billy and Madrigal all work towards protecting the Queen they love the most. This sequel to Three Dark Crowns is filled with twists and turns, evil intentions and great sacrifices made in love. If you like a twisted fairy tale with evil queens, dastardly deeds and family ties, you may enjoy this dark series. I find the premise rather unique and can't wait to see who winds up with the crown. Happy reading my friends.

Everless

Jules Ember has been banished from her home at Everless. She and her father had to run for their lives when Liam Gerling realizes Jules can stop time. Her father tries to keep her safe by staying far away from the Gerlings. In Sempera, people pay for things with years of their lives. They turn their blood into coins that can add a day, week, month or year onto your life. But only the rich can afford these coins. The poor sell off their time in bits and pieces, getting old before their time. Jules notices her father fading fast and decides to take a job at Everless to earn the blood coins. She runs into her childhood friend Roan Gelding and is happy to be back in the castle. But her father finds out and uses the last bit of his energy to come and warn her away. He tells her to stay away from the Queen at all costs. The Queen who has been alive for 500 years. The Queen who is at Everless to marry her ward to none other than Roan Gelding. Mystery after mystery unfolds and those she thought to be friends betray her and those who she had sworn were enemies may be the only ones she can trust. When the truth of her birth is revealed, she will have little choice but to run for her life, but will it be too late? This was an interesting look at the haves and the have nots, with actual time at stake. Jules is an interesting character, not 100 percent likable in my opinion, but you still find yourself rooting for her. Liam, well I'll let you figure him out for yourselves. Looks can be deceiving. I enjoyed this one and will follow up with the story when it is available. But it is back to work, so the reading will slow down as I meet my new kids and fill their heads with books! Happy reading my friends!

Heart of the Storm

This is the final book in the Undertow Trilogy.  Lyric has been held captive by the insane Prime, Minerva in the Great Abyss. Husk has been assigned to guard her. He is Rusalka but can communicate with Lyric. They find themselves connected mentally and each fear Minerva and her wrath. Husk helps her escape and she goes in search of her family. She must warn them that something world ending is coming. The Tardigrade. They want nothing more than to kill everyone on the planet. Lyric and her ragtag bunch of Alpha's must unite all the humans if they want to defeat this threat. Along the way, Lyric finds herself in quite a few perplexing situations. She's the new Prime, she is expected to lead the charge and she has something else major going on that I  won't spoil. She is also stuck in a love triangle with Riley and Fathom. Does she go the safe route and stay with Riley or does she follow her heart and figure out a way to deal with Fathom? None of that will matter though, if she doesn't figure out a way to kill the enemy. I really liked this series and am hopeful with the ending that things will work out as they should in my mind. I liked the message about being united as people as we all want the same things. It was an uplifting message to see all the different groups come together to take on evil. We could use a little of that in our world today. Happy reading my friends.

Conviction

For a long time it has been just Braden and his dad. His mother left when he was young and his brother Trey has left for New York to open his own restaurant. Braden has plans to become a major league pitcher and he has the skills. Everything is going along until the night his father is arrested for running over a policeman. And Braden was a witness to the crime. Now he must decide what he will stay on the witness stand. Will he tell the truth or will he say what is expected of him? His father demands loyalty. After all, he is the only one who will ever love Braden. At least that is what he leads Braden to believe. Braden questions his faith in God and his faith in his radio show host father. When Trey is forced to come back to take care of Braden while his father is in prison. Their relationship is troubled at best. Braden needs Trey and Trey needs to be anywhere but in his father's house.  The truth about what happened the night of the accident and the truth about why Trey left are slowly revealed as the plot unfolds. Braden is damaged beyond belief as those who deal with abuse usually are. He just wants to do what everyone expects of him. But these expectations threaten to overwhelm his life and well-being. This book was troubling on many levels. I felt for Braden and his traumas. I felt for Trey and his traumas. The decision Braden makes troubled me as well. But I think in the end there was a glimmer of hope for his future. This is a deep read on many levels but one I would definitely recommend. Happy reading my friends!

Ash Princess

I picked this on up on the tables at Costco- you know- what the heck|! And happily, I really liked this novel. I'm a sucker for a princess who has to do some growing up to take back her country from an evil conqueror. Add a little bit of old (now handsome) friend who may help rescue her and a prince who is willing to go against his evil father and you have a recipe for a lovely few hours of reading. Thora watched her mother- the Queen of Astrea- being killed by the evil Kalovaxians. For some reason they keep her alive and give her the title of Ash Princess. The Kaiser likes to keep her around to receive the punishments when rebels try and interfere with his new country. Thora learns to be invisible as much as she can, but it is hard as she is watched every minute. Cress is her only friend, unfortunately, it was Cress's father who killed Thora's mother. So really, Thora has no one she can trust. Until Ampelio- her mother's former Guardian, is dragged into the throne room and she is forced to kill him. With his reappearance, she realizes the rebellion has arrived to save her. But as with all damsels in distress, it really is all about saving yourself. So with her old friend Blaise and his friends Heron and Artemisia, a plan is formed which involves killing her only friend and the Prinz who she may have accidentally fallen in love with. Terrible things happen while the plan is underway and blood is on everyone's hands by the last page. Not only that, but a new enemy has been made who may be more powerful than Thora can imagine. Stepping into her role as Queen will not be an easy one because nothing is ever black and white. I look forward to the continuation of this series in 2019- thanks Laura Sebastian. Summer is winding down so I better get on to the next book on the shelf. Happy reading my friends.

Raging Sea

Coney Island has been destroyed by what has walked out of the ocean. Lyric Walker is on the run with her best friend Bex and her enemy Arcade. Her family has been captured by Tempest. Her love, Fathom, has perished in the battle. All Lyric wants is to rescue her parents and all the other Alphas and kill the Ruskala and take back the coast. Easy. Or not. As Lyric makes her way to her parents she is chased, shot at and threatened by almost everyone she meets. See, the country thinks she is the terrorist who caused the whole ruckus to begin with. So everyone is looking for her. Lyric has discovered she is half Sirena- a creature who can control the water. And not only that, there is a whole world of creatures living in the sea who are about to come out to play. When she is captured by Tempest, she finds that the plan they have for her is more horrifying than she could have imagined. But Lyric will do anything to save her family and her people, no matter the cost to herself. And what a battle it will be. This is the second novel in the series and it was hard to put down. It's rare that parents are alive in YA literature so that is an interesting twist that hold Lyric accountable to what she does. The Alphas are all unique and terrifying and the love triangle will, I'm sure, heat up in the next book-(which is waiting on my kitchen counter). I recommend this series- it's an easy fantasy book for those just getting their feet wet with the genre. (pun intended) Happy reading my friends!

Reaper at the Gates

What happened to Elias when he entered the Waiting Place to become the Soul Catcher? Can he give up his hopes for a normal life with Laia to fulfill a promise he made in return for the life of a friend? And what of Laia? She broke the world and needs to find a way to fix it and needs all the help she can get. The Blood Shrike who is determined to keep her remaining sister safe from the evil Emperor who is married to her. All three must fight the fight of their lives to bring down the Nightbringer, who is set to release the Jinn on the world and bring the end to humankind. This is the third book in the series and brought many surprises and heart breaks. It set forth the question of long term retribution and what is right. Each character faces life changing decisions and actions that leave all of them vulnerable. And it sets up an epic battle to come in another book. Because seriously, Sabaa Tahir can't leave it as is. At least I hope not.  Start with Torch Against the Night and begin your journey with Elias, Laia and Helene. But get your Scims ready of battle. It won't be an easy ride. Happy reading my friends.

Long Way Down

Will has just lost his brother Shawn to a drive by shooting. And this isn't the first person Will has lost. Violence has plagued his life. But he knows the rules. no crying, no snitching and be sure to get revenge. He knows where his brother keeps his gun and he knows what is expected of him. Get revenge for his brother's death. He knows who shot him, at least he's pretty sure. So he gets into the elevator and begins the ride down to the lobby. But what awaits him on each floor could change the course of his life. This book is written in verse and is so unique and interesting in it's basic premiseThe Hate U Give. It tells of how gun violence begets gun violence and how certain communities are more impacted by it then others. The ending is frustrating and heartbreaking and thought provoking on many levels. Highly recommend. Happy reading my friend.
. What would the dead tell us if they could tell us anything? And would knowing what they know change our actions? This is a great companion to

Court of Frost and Starlight

This is a little bridge novel in Sarah Maas's other series. That being said, I don't know how she does it. She writes the most amazing characters and I can't decide which series or which character I love the best. This is Feyre and Rhysand's story after the war that destroyed so many things. They are getting ready for the Solstice celebrations as their kingdom begins to rebuild. Each of the characters is trying to find their way back to normal. Everyone has problems- big problems. But at the heart of this small novel is family. The family that Feyre has joined in all their glory. Azrael, Cassian, Mor, Amren... her sisters Elain and Nesta. Even Lucien. They must all find a way to hold the tenuous peace together even as everyone is trying to destroy it. I sense a huge brawl on the horizon and I can only hope that they remain intact. I couldn't handle it if they aren't. Warning- this is not a G-Rated series. AT ALL. So no young readers, I don't keep this series on my shelf at school, it's a little to graphic for 8th graders. If you haven't entered either of Maas's series, I urge you to try one. They are captivating, exciting and at times heartbreaking. Happy Reading my friends.

Hamilton and Peggy

Angelica..... Eliza..... and Peggy- The Schulyer sisters. This book is about And Peggy. The youngest of the three Schulyer sisters is finally in the forefront of this piece of historical fiction. She is smart, sassy and often finds herself in the shadow of her two older sisters. The brilliant and beautiful Angelica and the angelic and even tempered Eliza are role models to the younger Peggy. But she has a life of her own and she wants to be taken seriously by the men running the war, especially her father Philip Schulyer. Peggy battles agains the convention of being a young woman during Revolution times. She is often criticized for her interest in politics. Hamilton sees the spark in her and employs her to help him woo Eliza. But Peggy doesn't always like the way he behaves towards both of her sisters. She must navigate her way through some tricky and dangerous situations as the countryside around her is filled with dangers both from within and without. This was a well researched novel and we get to meet some of the big boys of the Revolution- especially George Washington who I now have a crush on. There is a lot of description of the hardships of the war and it brings the time period to life. Peggy may have been the most interesting of the sisters as well as the most overlooked. I enjoyed this book, but I am a Hamilton fan, so if you like this time period, books about feisty young women and don't mind the Hamilton soundtrack running through your head the entire time, you might like this one! Happy reading my friends!

Blood Rose Rebellion

Sometimes it is strange how books imitate life. I have been thinking about my next trip and planning where I want to go. My friend just got back from Hungary and I think that may be my next destination. So when I randomly picked this book up off my overflowing shelves, lo and behold, it takes place in Hungary. Weird-eh? Anna lives in a time where magic rules the world. And those that have access to magic rule society. Unfortunately for Anna, even though she comes from a magical family, she herself has no magic. This makes her unsavory to the high society set. Not only that, she seems to make any spells set in her presence go all wonky. When she is sent away with her Grandmother to Hungary, she begins to figure out what she is and how her power could actually break the world. Along the way she meets her cousins Noemi and Matyas as well as revolutionaries determined to break the Binding that limits the common man's access to magic. She also finds herself drawn into the world of the Romani- especially Gabor- who tries to help her channel her magic. Theirs is a forbidden relationship for many reasons. (Some of which still exist today) Anna must make decisions that will put those she loves in danger as well as the world order. Big decisions for an impetuous teenager. I liked the historical aspect of this novel, but I wasn't really connected to the characters. I didn't find myself drawn into their world. But I love reading about history and how people have fought throughout time to find some level of equality. It is a universal problem still a concern now more than ever. You'll have to decide about his one yourself. Happy Reading my friends!

The You I've Never Known

Ellen Hopkins is a unique voice in YA. She has a masterful way of weaving the characters of her stories together in ways you would never suspect. This is no different. This is Ariel's story. She and her dad live the live of wanderers. Moving from place to place, woman to woman, sometimes living in their car. The story is that Ariel's mother had deserted the family to live with her girlfriend. This is the story Ariel carries with her. When they finally put down roots for a minute Ariel finally starts to make friends. She is questioning her sexuality and finds herself drawn to both Monica and Gabe. This is a confusing and stressful time for Ariel as she must navigate these feelings in the presence of a homophobic and volatile father. Interspersed is Maya's story. She is trying to escape from a mother who wants to drive her into Scientology. Her way out is getting pregnant by an older soldier and moving onto the base with him. She is hopeful that this is her way out. Unfortunately, Jason is not the loving and compassionate husband she was hoping for. Ariel and Maya's stories collide in ways that are both natural and unexpected. It will shatter one and give the other one long lost hope for the future. If you have read Hopkins' books you know that they are written in beautiful free verse poetry, with Maya's story told in journal entries. These books are for a mature audience and always deal with relevant current issues. So that is 3 modern, issue based books in a row for me. I may take a little break and head back into the fantasy realm for a while. Happy reading my friends.

The Hate U Give

This book is a must read. For everyone. Starr is a black girl living in two worlds. Her home is in the Garden Heights area, it's where her father's store is. But her school is in a fancy, mostly white neighborhood. She has to be two Starrs to fit in. When her best friend from way back is shot and killed by the police, Starr is the only witness. She and her family must decide if she is going to use her voice to speak for Khalil or stay safe and remain quiet. This book was eye opening, relevant and heartbreaking. Its perspective is important and thought provoking. It should be required reading in every police academy. It should be required reading for everyone. Can't recommend it enough and my words won't do it justice. Trust me, take the time and then take heart. Happy reading my friends.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda

Simon is gay. He is trying to decide if he wants to come out to his friends and family. He has started an online relationship with Blue- another boy at his school whose identity is a mystery. He and Blue are having similar experiences and use each other to work through problems. They finally each have someone to talk to. Simon's best friends Nick and Leah don't know about him. Leah has a crush on Nick and Nick has a crush on the newest member of their group Abby. Then there is Martin, who stumbles on Simon's emails and uses them to blackmail Simon into setting him up with Abby. When things don't go Martin's way, he makes a decision that will take away all Simon's decisions. This book is the fallout of these actions. I think this book is amazing. It is current, thought-provoking and character driven. Each character is going through their own journey- all of which resonate with today's teens. It touches on the perils of social media, bullying and the way family dynamics can impact how topics are dealt with. Simon is a lovable goofball who has no shame in his game. His interactions with his friends is genuine and his family relationships are refreshingly positive. I can't recommend this enough. It should be on every bookshelf. Loved this book. Happy reading my friends.

Valkyrie

Freya is about to go on her first reaping. She is a Valkyrie- the Reapers of  Norse mythology. She is the youngest of the Valkyrie (but still 600 years old) and she has no interest in dealing with humans. She is tired of their wars, tired of the constant fighting and drinking in Valhalla and just not excited about joining her sisters on the battlefields. As she reaps her first soldier, Tyrone, she is surprised to find that he has no interest in joining the brave soldiers in Valhalla, he just wants to find a way to help his family. He makes Freya promise to go to Earth and find his family and make sure they are ok. But leaving Asgard and going to Earth is forbidden by Odin and the consequences of getting caught are severe. Loki helps Freya cross the Bifrost and make her way to find Tyrone's family. But she is distracted by Archie, who is about to get a beatdown by bullies at his school. Freya is fuming over this treatment and decides to step in and help Archie. This sets in motion a series of events that can cause nothing but trouble for Freya even as she decides to risk everything to help these humans she thought she hated. Freya is a feisty little Valkyrie with a good heart. The novel was for a younger audience and has a nice moral. As my girl Rylee said as I was reading it, (in regards to a romance) that the author would find a way to make it work and lo and behold I think she did. I really like mythology so I enjoyed that aspect but I don't know if I'd read the rest of the series. I will recommend it to the appropriate reader though- you can never have enough tough girl characters. Happy reading my friends!

Jane, Unlimited

I was so excited to see a new Kristin Cashore book. She has written some of my favorites: Fire, Graveling, and Bitter Blue. They were filled with fantastical creatures with magical powers and characters you fell in love with. (I am still mourning the loss of Archer) This new novel is quite a bit different. It is set in the modern day with a normal teenage girl dealing with the loss of the aunt who raised her. Jane promises Aunt Magnolia if she is ever invited to Tu Reviens, the home of her tutor, she would go. So when Jane runs into Kiran and is invited to visit, she can do nothing but say yes. What happens next is really up to which path Jane decides to follow. Or more to the point, WHO she chooses to follow. Each path leads to a more fantastical outcome for Jane. Talking dogs, multi-verses, spy rings, a love story, missing paintings, stolen children- all could be a part of Jane's future. The only thing that stays the same are the characters. Sounds mind blowing- yes? What are the chances that the last two books I have picked up have been about the possibility of multi-verses? Is that some kind of sign? This book makes you think about the choices you make in life and the paths you did not choose. Who can say which is the right one or even if there is a right one? If you are ready to follow all Jane's paths- be sure and take Jasper with you- he knows what's up. Happy reading my friends!

Invictus

When Empra goes back in time and falls for a gladiator from AD 95, the consequences have the power to destroy all of time. See, she gives birth to Gaius's baby out of time, in the grid. Seventeen years later Far McCarthy's life is about to be changed forever. During his final exam to become a Corps Time Traveler, Marie Antoinette winks at him, ruining his chances to follow in his mother's footsteps and maybe even go through time and find out what happened to her. He is forced to work for Lux, jumping through time and collecting important objects and bringing  them back to the future.  He loves his job, along with his cousin Imogen, his girlfriend Priya and his technician Gram, the travelers are good at what they do. On a mission to find a book that went down with the Titanic, he is beat to the punch by none other than Marie Antoinette- AKA- Eliot. She holds him hostage as she has the book he needs to keep his crew in the air. She, however, has another task- find out if Far is the one who is causing the Fade- the eating away of time. If he is, her one job is to neutralize the threat- i.e.- take out Far and set time right. But as Eliot gets to know Far and his crew, she finds that killing him might not be as easy as she thought. This book is wonderful. Full of twists and turns and journeys into times past and future. The characters are fun, smart and willing to do the right thing no matter the cost to themselves. Every book I have read by this author have been like nothing else I have read and that is quite a feat. If you like adventure, history and maybe even a little romance, pick up this gem and find a few hours to spend traveling through time with these intrepid teens. Happy reading my friends. TU FUI, EGO ERIS!

Nemesis

Every other year on her birthday, Min is murdered. And comes back to life. She tells someone when she is little and they think she has a big imagination. She decides to stop telling them, but it keeps happening. The older she gets the more determined is to figure out what is happening to her. She uncovers notes her psychologist has taken during her sessions and she realizes something is not right. Her memories begin to come back- strange tests, inoculations, blood draws. When strange things start happening in their little isolated town, events begin to unfold quickly. Min discovers that there may be more people involved in her experiences than she can believe. People she trusted- including her mother. As global catastrophes begin to occur, Project Nemesis goes into full effect. Her entire class at school is left alone to fend for themselves. Who will take the lead? Who are the other 3 Beta test subjects? How will violence and desperation take hold of the teenagers? The answers they get are beyond anything that they can believe and more terrifying than can be imagines. Friends will have to take sides and this time death might be permanent. This book reminds me a bit of the Gone series by Michael Grant and Lord of the Flies all mixed with a technological twist. I'm sure book two will bring about more deceit and death- the cliffhanger was most definitely epic. Happy reading my friends.

Mapping the Bones

I don't like Holocaust books for the obvious reasons. I just had the chance to go to Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, so the emotions are even greater now. So why did I read this book you ask? I think I didn't read the synopsis very carefully and thought it was something else. But once I started reading, I couldn't put it down even as I knew there would be no happy ending. Chaim and Gittel are living in the Lodz Ghetto with their parents. They are twins with their own language. Chaim only speaks in 5 word sentences but writes poetry that moves to tears. Gittel is full of life and knows what her brother is thinking. When their family is called up to be relocated, their parents decide to make a run for it. They go on a dangerous mission to find the partisans who can help them cross the border from Poland into Russia. It is fraught with peril and hardship. When they reach the partisans, the kids are separated from their parents who will meet up with them later. Chaim and Gittel wind up in a work camp where they suffer from starvation, typhoid, cold and mistreatment. When a doctor arrives to help with the typhoid epidemic, the kids think they are finally going to get some help. All but Chaim, he doesn't trust the doctor with the smile that doesn't reach his eyes. The horrors they face are only made survivable through the fact that they have each other. The story is told through Chaim's eyes with inserts from Gittlel's prospective. It is heartbreaking, all the more because it happened. The power of the written word saves Chaim in his bleakest moments and their determination to live for each other gets them through the roughest of times. I wish we had all learned a lesson from this time period, but I fear we haven't. Jane Yolen has written what is sure to become a must read book for everyone. Read with your tissues near, that is my advice to you my friends. Happy reading.

One of Us is Lying

When the biggest gossip monger at school dies in detention, the only suspects are the four students in detention with him. Bronwyn- the brain, Nate- the sketchy drug dealer, Cooper- the athlete and Addy- the girlfriend of the most popular guy in school. Each of them are harboring secrets that could change their futures and Simon knew them all. Did one of them kill him to keep him quiet? If they did, it didn't work as all their secrets are revealed through the police investigation. They decide to ban together and try to figure out who killed Simon as they believe someone is setting them up. As their investigation heats up, the four of them start to become friends even as their other friends pull away. Who had the biggest motive for killing Simon? How were the four of them connected? And who is pulling the strings after Simon is dead? This is told from the four characters points of view, each revealing a little more about themselves as the story goes. There are break ups, make ups and new romances to go with the twists and turns. This was a fast paced read that touches on so many relevant problems teens are facing today. Social media, cheating, drugs, abusive relationships and family drama all play a role in this novel. There is something for everyone. Happy reading my friends!

The Fates Divide

The sequel to Carve the Mark did not disappoint! Cyra, Akos, Cisi and the rest are working to overcome their fates. Cyra is fighting her family and all their evil deeds. She faces the guilt of being their enforcer- hated by all on her planet. Her brother controlling her every move. Akos is fighting his fate, the one that says he will die at the hands of the Noavek. Does he really love Cyra or is he just succumbing to his fate. Cisi must use her gift to stop all out civil war from happening as she manipulates those around her. Will she know when to stop? And what's this- Lazmet Noavek is still alive?? When the patriarch with mind altering powers gets back on the scene, no one will be safe. Then there's  the book altering twist that is revealed by the oracles. What will this do to the fates of these characters. I enjoyed this short, two book series. The characters were interesting, a happy ending wasn't assured- I don't trust Veronica Roth after what she did to Tris! and the settings were unique and deadly. Summer has started so I plan to pick up the reading pace, turn off the tv and put down Candy Crush and lose myself in some strange new worlds. Year 27 is done my friends so enjoy your summers and happy reading!

Obsidio

So the conclusion to the Illuminae Files. This is one of the most innovative series I have read. And the third book is not a disappointment. Our new additions to the family are Asha Grand and Rhys Lindstrom. They used to be a couple, but circumstances as they are, have been separated for a few years. When they meet back up, they are on opposite sides of the war. Asha is ANGRY and Rhys uses the old, I'm just doing my job excuse. But Asha knows she needs Rhys if she has any hope of getting a message to the WUC that they are alive and about to be exterminated by Biotech. Meanwhile, somewhere in space, Kady, Ezra, Hannah, Nik and Ella are struggling to be taken seriously by the adults in charge. They know how to get home, but the obstacles in their way are almost insurmountable. But wait, what about AIDAN you ask? The creepy AI is up to his old tricks that may or may not result in thousands more deaths. You can't live with him but you most definitely can't live without him. You can't start with this book, so the twists and turns don't need to be discussed until you start at the beginning. I honestly think this series is genius, novel and un put down able. (new word). I can't recommend it enough. If you want to take a wild ride through space, time and destiny, pick up the first book in the series. But keep your parachute on, you never know when you might need it. Happy reading my friends!

Tempests and Slaughter

I love Tamora Pierce and haven't read one of her books in a long time. Trickster's Queen is one of my all time faves. So when this popped up when I was ordering other books, I was excited. This is Arran's story. He is a young mage at mage school. His powers are impressive and out of control so the masters take him under their wings. (not literally!) He meets two friends Varice, a beautiful charismatic kitchen mage and Ozorne, one of the line of princes who may one day rule the land. But he is so far back in the line of succession he only wants to become a mage. These three form an unbreakable bond as they maneuver through the rigors of school, family and societal norms. That is a fancy way of saying, they struggle through school. But the more Arran sees of the world, the more injustices he wants to fix- especially slavery. The gladiators of the arena have caught his attention and he hope one day they can be freed. As Ozorne gets closer to the throne, Arran gets more hopeful that his friend will make this wish come true. Arran meets many interesting characters including the river god in the shape of an enormous crocodile. The god puts Preet, a rare and priceless sunbird, in his care and she is the most wonderful character in the book. I loved this book which is setting up great tales for the future. Will these friends be able to remain friends as their worlds shift into adulthood? Will the bonds be tested? Of course they will and I, for one, can't wait! Happy reading my friends!

Iron Gold

Well, it's been a while my friends! I finished this one a few weeks ago, but spent my spring break on a  dream river cruise of the Rhine River, so reading wasn't on the agenda for a change. This book brings us back to the Red Rising series that I thought was over. I had happily left Darrow a victor in his war, happily on the beach with his son and wife. But here we are again- more death, destruction and heartbreak as Darrow is now an older man- in his 30's making decisions that ruin his friends and family all so he can end the vicious war he started. Sevro stands by his side, even against his beliefs, but when their children end up in mortal danger, the ties of friendship are strained. Mustang is trying to lead the society, but she faces opposition on all sides. Cassius is off with Lysander who find themselves in tragic predicaments. Nothing good happens in this book 4. Betrayal, death and destruction is all it brings to the reader. I was almost glad when it was over, I needed a break. The good thing is that the only way (I hope) to go is up?? I love this series, but be warned it is a violent and mature one, not for the littles. It is almost now out of the YA genre and into adult sci-fi. But if you have started, you should get back on Darrow's journey and see if he can pull out one more victory for the Reds. Happy reading my friends- 7 weeks to a summer of books and the beach- but who's counting!?

Girls Made of Snow and Glass

One created from the snow. One with a heart of glass. Who will love these girls? In this twist on Snow White, Mina and Lynet take on the roles of the Evil Queen and Snow White. Mina has been told by her magician father that the only reason anyone would love her is because she is beautiful. When she meets and marries the King, she finds this to be true as even he rejects her love. Lynet has always loved the snow. Her father, the King, treats her as if she will drift away and break if she isn't protected. He knows she will grow up to be the exact image of her mother. A mother she never knew. As Mina and Lynet grow close, those around them do everything they can to drive a wedge between the two. Lyne, growing up to take Mina's place as Queen. Mina, doing all she can to push Lynet away. In a series of lies, misinformation and deceit, Lynet runs away to save herself from Mina. But Mina never meant to drive Lynet away. How will these two women break the cycle of hate and find a way to rule together to make the world a better place? This was an interesting twist on this classic fairy tale. It has a mirror, a huntsman and a love interest. No dwarves though I kept waiting for some. It was a statement about women who are often pitted against each other by society overcoming the norms and becoming allies instead of enemies. It won't make my favorite list, but for my fairy tale lovers, this is a new take they may enjoy. Happy reading my friends!

Renegades

In a world of superheroes and villains, who is to decide which side is more justified in their actions? Nova and her parents were supposed to be under the protection of the heroes. But when a rival gang came to their apartment and killed all her family, Nova swore revenge. With the help of her uncle Ace, Nova honed her powers and became the villain Nightmare. With one touch, she can put her victims to sleep. She teams up with the villains in an effort to take down the superheroes. Adrian, AKA Sketch, is the adopted son of the two most famous superheroes. He is also looking for a way to make his mark. He has created his own persona- The Sentinel- but no one knows that he is the Sentinel. And they aren't too thrilled with this creation when some of the heroes get hurt by him in a battle against Nightmare. At the annual search for new members of the superhero team, Nova is sent in by her team to infiltrate the heroes and learn about their organization while reporting back to the villains. But when Nova is chosen by Adrian's team, she finds herself unsure of which side is truly in the right. She spends more and more time with Adrian and is confused when members of her own team are making moves she doesn't understand. And Adrian is finding himself falling for Nova even while he searches for Nightmare. This is a great read with interesting characters and story line. It is hard to know who to root for when both sides have both positives and negatives, much like life. This new series by Marissa Meyer is a winner, much like the Lunar Chronicles are. You won't be disappointed, especially with the surprise ending. No spoilers here. Happy reading my friends!

Thunderhead

The first book in this series, Scythe, was one of the books my students have really gravitated towards. What's not to love?- kids their age becoming what are basically grim reapers. Throw in a little love story that can only end in tragedy and you have a hit on your hands. In this sequel, we get to hear a new point of view- the all seeing Thunderhead. AI that basically keeps society running, all the while adhering to some very strict rules. It will not interfere in the doings of the Scythes. And Scythes seem to be turing away from their original purpose and rules and turning towards a lawlessness that while the Thunderhead disagrees with, it will not get involved. Well, almost never. The Thunderhead finds way around it's own rules and tries to set people on a path that will help keep society from imploding.  Citra is finding her way as Scythe Anastasia. Her gleanings have attracted the attention of the other Scythes. Rowan has taken on  the robes of Scythe Lucifer and is determined to glean Scythes that are breaking the rules. This puts him in great danger. When Citra finds herself the target of an assassination, the Thunderhead sends Greyson Tolliver to warn her. By doing so, Greyson gives up the life he desires to save hers. To make matters worse, some dead Scythes find a way back to wreak havoc upon the Scythedom. Citra must use all her cunning to keep Rowan from being caught while saving humanity from the evil that has been unleashed upon it. This was an interesting sequel that I enjoyed reading, especially the author notes from each chapter at the end of the book. And while Rowan and Citra do not spend much time together in the pages of the sequel, I am sure they will get some time in the next book. Characters live, characters die and the Thunderhead lives on becoming more and more human as he goes.... I love Neil Shusterman's books. He knows how to tell a story that makes you question humanity and all it's foibles. Happy reading my friends.

Natural Born Angel

In this sequel to Immortal City, we find Maddy adjusting to life as a half angel, half human. She is trying to decide if she wants to join the Guardians and train to protect humans. Her boyfriend, superangel, Jacks is trying to recover from their encounter with a demon who shredded one of his wings. Jacks is finding life difficult without the ability to fly. Who is he, if not a Guardian? Just Maddy's boyfriend? That is not sitting well with him. To make matters worse, Senator Linden is trying to get legislation passed that would stop the Immortals from using any of their supernatural powers. The Immortals won't stand for this. On a third front, someone is disappearing homeless and blowing up humans. Demons have been spotted around the world. This is concerning to  humans and angels alike. Maddy seems to be both sides hope for the future. They want to fast track her Guardianship and she must learn to use her new wings to do this. They hook her up with Tom Cooper, a pilot. They hope he can help her learn to use her wings like he uses the wings of a plane. Surprise, surprise, feelings start to develop between her and Tom. With Jacks pulling away in his depression, she finds Tom understands her plight. All things come to a crashing conclusion, with Maddy left to decide which side she will stand on- human or angel, Jacks or Tom. No decision will be easy and consequences will be major in Angel City. Where will her heart leave her?? I don't know- cliffhanger!! I really liked the first book in the series, but this one wasn't as riveting. It may be that I have fallen for some other angels between books- Akiva, Patch.... But if you like a good angel v. the world book, try out this series. Happy reading my friends!

The Warden's Daughter

Disclaimer alert- I love Jerry Spinelli. He wrote one of my all time favorite books Maniac Magee. You laugh, you cry, you are better for having read the book. This one is no different. Cammie is the warden't daughter. She lives at the prison and has access to the female prisoners, who become like family to her. But Cammie is lost. Her mother died when she was a baby saving her life. She was hit by a milk truck. Came is angry. At everyone and everything. She is never happy. She beats up on her friends. But she saves a lot of her anger for Eloda, the prison trustee whose job it is to take care of Cammie during the day one long summer before junior high. Cammie wants to make her her mother, but Eloda does not seem to want that to happen. Everything Cammie does is meant to get Eloda's attention, but to no avail. At least that is what Cammie thinks. One day Eloda is gone. Released. With no goodbye. And Cammie must decide if she can let go of the past and get on with her life. This one was a tearjerker for sure. Cammie comes to find out just what Eloda had done for her and learns the meaning of motherhood and love. Loved this. Try it, I dare you not to cry at the end. Happy reading my friends.

Afterworlds

In this clever book, you get two stories in one. Darby is 17 and has just sold her first novel. She now has to navigate the publishing world as she moves to New York City and meets her first love, another first time novelist named Imogen. Darby must fight her own insecurities as she faces rewrites in the year before her book is published while starting to work on the sequel. Everything costs more than she planned, her parents want her to go to college and Imogen is hiding something. In every other chapter, you get to read her novel. It is a supernatural tale of a girl who survives a terrorist attack. She is now a psychopomp, someone who can cross to the underworld and speak to the dead. Lizzie meets Yama- a death lord and falls for him, but even this has dire consequences. Lizzie is also navigating a new world filled with perilous choices. Scott Westerfeld has found a way to blend these two stories while giving the non-write a glimpse into the world of a YA author. I found it really interesting and inspiring as we just finished a round of Nanowrimo in my school and I have 3 new authors who would love this book. If you like the Pretties series, this is a little different, one story based in reality and one supernatural. The best of both worlds. I enjoyed both very much. Happy reading my friends.

Her Dark Curiousity

Juliet Moreau has escaped the island after she killed her father. She had to destroy the man who was creating abominations and letting them loose. Montgomery has stayed behind and she winds up in London living with an old friend of her father's, Victor Von Stein. Juliet tries to adapt to society but finds it difficult to forget her father's experiments. Unfortunately, it seems, one of them has made it to London and is killing people who have wronged Juliet. She knows it's Edward, the human hybrid whom she once kissed on the island. He is both man and beast, but the beast seems to be getting more powerful by the day, keeping Edward hidden inside. When Montgomery shows up in London to hunt Edward, Juliet is put in the middle. To make matters worse, there is a secret society that seems to be recreating her father's dreadful experiments and plans to unleash them upon London. Juliet must keep her own darkness at bay while she tries to save Edward and London. But she may be more of her father's daughter than she cares to admit and this will put everyone she loves in danger. This sequel to The Madman's Daughter, is a mixture of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and leads into Frankenstein. The classic monster tales that beg the question, who are the real monsters- the creatures or the men who have created them. There is one more book in the series and I will follow it to Frankenstein's Scottish castle, if only to enjoy the view. Happy reading my friends!