Crescent City

First this is NOT a book that will go on my 8th grade bookshelf. But Sarah Maas is one of my favorites and this is her first foray into adult novels. And I do mean adult. This is the story of Bryce Quinlan, half fae, half human living in a world with wolves, archangels, angels, demons, vampyrs and every other creature you can think of. Her father is the Autumn Kind of the Fae but will not claim her as she is half human. When someone or something kills her best friend, she is forced to team up with Hunt Athalar- the Shadow of Death. What comes after is too much to tell. If you are old enough to read her other series- wait a couple more for this one, If you are grown- well, you can never go wrong with Sarah Maas's characters. They draw you in and keep you captive. Which may not be a bad thing. Happy reading my ADULT friends!

All the Stars and Teeth

There was a lot of buzz about this book on social media. Pirates and princesses and mermaids galore. Throw in a little misused magic and you have a high seas adventure. Amore was born to lead her people. All she has to do is prove herself in front of the kingdom. It shouldn't be a problem,  she has been learning to control her magic all her life. But we wouldn't have a story if that were true, now would we? When it all goes wrong and she is thrown in jail waiting to be executed, a savior comes along with the promise to get her to safety. What choice does she have but to follow Bastian? Little does she know that he has ulterior motives to helping her. And what she finds on her adventures makes her question all her father has taught her. Why had he lied to her all her life? What will she have to sacrifice to save her people? Amora's tale is filled with the high seas, magic, sea monsters, a deadly mermaid and human monsters. She will have to use everything in her to get through it alive in time to save the kingdom. This was a good story. I really liked the character of Mira the mermaid. There were no damsels in distress in this book- something I always appreciate. Did I love it- no, not really, but I don't regret reading it. Happy quarantine reading my friends!

The Downstairs Girl

Jo Kuan is living in a time where being Chinese is not looked upon favorably. She works in a hat shop until she is fired by her racist boss. She gets a job as a ladies maid for the most disagreeable girl in town. She and her protector Old gin live in the basement of the house where the owner of the newspaper lives. She can hear their conversations and grows up listening in until she feels like they are her family. When she hears the paper is in trouble, she creates an advice column called Ask Miss Sweetie. Miss Sweetie has some progressive ideas about how people of different races and genders should be treated. The column saves the paper but sets the town talking- who is Miss Sweetie? Jo knows if they find out, she will be in major trouble. There are many other subplots to this delightful book. Jo is fierce and determined and the people around her make her stronger- either because they try to keep her down or try to build her up. Of course there is a little, sweet, love story, some dastardly deeds, and a race to save her family and herself. I loved this book. It was different then anything else I have read in a while. I love historical fiction and I highly recommend this gem of a book. Happy reading my friends- stay safe in these strange times.