Call Down the Hawk

It is fitting that my last completed read of the decade (where does the time go) is the newest by Maggie Stbievater. My darling Rylee bought this for me (my book soulmate and former student) and I have been eagerly anticipating a return to Ronan Lynch. Now if you haven't read The Raven Cycle, you do need to back up and start there. This is about the brothers Lynch. Ronan, the dreamer, Declan the reliable and Matthew the dream. After the death of their father, they are finding a way to make their way in the world amongst some mind shattering secrets. On top of all that, someone is hunting and killing dreamers to save the world from an apocalypse. When they meet Jordan Hennessey, another dreamer, they are in even more danger than they realize. A mysterious man named Bryde may be both the answer they are looking for and the most terrifying of them all. I loved this book, I like the world they live in. I enjoyed getting to know and understand Declan more and loved the glimpses of Gansey and Blue and Adam. It was like meeting up with old friends after graduation and helping them solve some world changing issues. I haven't read anything by this author that I haven't liked and she wrote one of my top 5 in The Scorpio Races. Give it a chance in this new decade and as always, Happy reading my friends!

Angel Mage

It is prophesied that Liliath will return and bring about destruction. Anyone who shows signs of her powers is sent to the Tower for safe keeping. But what they don't know is that she is already among them and searching for the last pieces of her puzzle. When she finds them, she will bring back a powerful angel that may destroy the earth. In this time, people have the ability to call on help from the angels using icons. This has a cost, usually in bits of your life. Four strangers are brought together by Liliath as they have pieces of an angel inside them. She needs them to unleash her love. They don't know why they have been brought together, but feel they have known each other all their lives. They work together to figure out what is going on. But will it be in time to save themselves? I don't think I would recommend this book to my students, The subject matter requires a thoughtfulness and patience that most of my students don't possess. And there isn't enough action to keep them engaged. I may be saying this because I really didn't enjoy this one, and it was hard to me to finish. Especially knowing what I had waiting on my shelf. Not every book is for every reader and this one wasn't for me. Happy reading my friends.

The Black Witch

I loved this book, it was my favorite of the week. Elloren is the spitting image of her grandmother, the infamous Black Witch. But she has none of her powers. At least that is what she has been lead to believe. Her uncle has hidden her in the forest to give her a normal life. When she reaches the age where she should be getting wand fasted (engaged, but magically) her Aunt swoops in and takes her away to the university. Elloren wants to be an apothecary, but her aunt wants her to marry the amazing Lukas Gray. Elloren doesn't want to be wand fasted to someone she doesn't know so she does everything she can to avoid it, but she is intrigued by Lukas. One problem, the evil Fallon Bane wants Lukas for herself and will do anything to get Elloren out of the picture. This book is so much more than a love triangle. It has lupines, icarals, fae and all sorts of different types of people and Ren finds herself amazed by those in society who are discriminated against becoming her best friends. They all must work together as a new leader is being chosen who will make being different a crime punishable by death. Ren will not let that happen to her friends so she teams up with someone who hates her and all her family represents. Of course, Ren finds herself having feelings for the mysterious Yvan, who is harboring secrets of his own. I loved everything about this book and am so excited that the sequel came in the mail today. This reminds me of Sarah Maas's worlds, where you can get lost in the characters, each more interesting than the next. Give it a try! Happy reading my friends!

Goodbye Days

If you are looking for a book with a clear villain or happy ending, this isn't for you. It was the only book I read this week set in modern times in a real place. Blade- nickname- sends his friends a text asking where they were. When Marcus tries to respond, he crashes the car into the back of a semi, killing all three of Blade's best friends. Blade reveals his guilt through a series of flashbacks and funerals. Some of the parents blame him for sending the text, some don't. But Blade most definitely blames himself. As he works through his grief, he befriends Eli's girlfriend, the only person willing to give him a chance. But there is guilt in that too as he finds himself attracted to her. Blade also spends one day with each of his friends' families living the day as the friends would have wanted. This has mixed results. This is a powerful novel of those who are left behind after a tragedy. And it is made worse, because texting and driving is completely avoidable. I think my students will love this book and maybe it will stick in their heads when they take the wheel in a few years. Highly recommend. Happy reading my friends.

The Merciful Crow

This was my second favorite read of the week. In this society, people are broken into castes. Each has power except for the lowest caste- the Crows. Their job is to come into plague towns and remove the bodies as they are immune. But they are looked down upon and discriminated against. Fie is the future leader of her clan. When they are sent to the royal palace to claim some bodies, she finds that her father has been keeping a secret. They have smuggled out the Prince and his body double under the guise of the plague. The Queen is out to dethrone the Prince's father and has been trying to kill the Prince. Fie isn't happy with the deal that her father has made, but as things get dicey, she makes her own deal that will protect the Crow's from those who will do them harm. But in return, she must get the Prince and Tavin, safely across the country to Tavin's aunt, who will protect the boys. Along the way, traitors appear and put everything Fie loves in danger as she is left on her own to drag the boys to their destination. I enjoyed this world and this story. It was a new take on plague and plague masks in an alternate world. I love a strong girl protagonist and Fie is formidable. Of course there is love story, but I won't tell you between who. Happy reading my friends!

The Traitor's Game

I love Jennifer Nielsen's books. In this one, Kestra is forced to become a traitor when she is kidnapped and told if she doesn't help find a mythical blade, her guardians will be killed. She has been living in exile as her father is working for the evil ruler Lord Endrick. The blade will make him immortal once he destroys it. This is the last think Kestra wants. But her kidnappers also want the blade since it is the only thing that can kill Lord Endrick. All Kestra wants is to save her friends. When she realizes one of her kidnappers is her old friend Simon, she tries to use their friendship to help herself escape. But Simon is harboring old wounds and is not exactly on Kestra's side. As they tromp all over to find the blade, Kestra and Simon get closer and closer. The problem is that Kestra has a mind of her own and is not looking to follow along with what others want. She is out to save her friends, and it won't matter who tries to get in her way. I liked this book, it was interesting and the story moved along quickly. The characters were likable and the dilemmas intriguing. Happy reading my
 friends.

Once a King

Lirra is a Channeler. She can control the wind. But Channelers have been persecuted and driven underground, her mother having been killed for her powers. Lirra's father became  a traitor to Malam when he tried to bring the two sides together and now he says for the King of Malam. Lirra helps her father whenever she can but is angry when he won't be back in time for the Jubilee where LIrra will be showcasing her amazing gliders that could change peoples' view of Channelers. When her father sends her with a letter for the new King Aodren, Lirra finds herself intrigued by what her father has so say to the young King. She makes a deal with him, she will help him sneak out of the castle if he will tell her what is in her father's letter. Aodren and Lirra make a great team and as their feelings for each other grow, they find themselves in danger as they run down an illegal drug. But the Channeler behind the illegal drugs may be closer to Lirra than she realizes, turning her world upside down. I loved this story, Lirra is a firecracker and Aodren is adorable. The story line was interesting and characters were in constant peril. I ordered the two books that come before this one, but they are different characters so I am curious to see how Aodren is introduced. Definite thumbs up for this one! Happy reading my friends.

Treason of Thorns

Violet loves her house. In this world, the great houses have magical power that keep the countryside fertile and maintained. But her house is failing and Violet's father is it's caretaker. When he is accused of treason, he is punished by being locked inside the walls until the magic kills him. Violet gets news of her father's passing and head home to Burleigh house to see if she can bring the house under control. Her childhood playmate is there waiting for her as he had been locked inside the house for the seven years. He wants her to leave and start  life elsewhere but she won't leave. Reluctantly he stays to help her find the missing piece of the house so she can set it free. But the cost is high and the house is not in the mood to negotiate. I have to say I didn't like this book very much. It was flat and the house thing was not interesting to me. So I won't recommend my friends, I read many more interesting books this Thanksgiving break so read on... Happy reading my friends!