Court of Silver Flames

 Not shelf appropriate for middle school. That being said- Nessa and Cassian. If you know you know. Happy reading my ADULT friends. Now we need an Azriel story. Please Sarah Maas!!

The The Rule of Wolves

 Have you jumped on the Shadow and Bone bandwagon yet? If you are a loyal reader you have already jumped into the world of King of Scars, which chronicles Kaz Brekker's life This sequel follows Nikolai, Zoya and Nina as they navigate the civil wars raving in and around the Fold. These are old friends at this point and if you haven't jumped into the Grishaverse, you should start at the beginning. That being said, this is filled with adventure, romance and sacrifice, each more heartrending than the last. The characters are really getting more defined which makes the reader more attached. You just want good things to happen for them. When you see the struggles they have had and how far they have come, and how much they love each other, you really want to be a part of the crew. When other characters pop up unexpectedly it make it even more fun. I absolutely love this series and highly recommend any book in the Grisha world. And when you are finished- and I mean finished- check out the Netflix series. It is well done and offer a different storyline as all the characters are thrown together from both groups. So beware the Darkling my friends, he really can't be trusted. And if you see Kaz Brekker, send him my way. Happy reading my friends

The Gilded Ones

 This book is similar to Witches Steeped in Gold. Deka is a teenage girl awaiting her blood rite. This will determine if her blood runs red and she can become a part of her village or if her blood runs gold, in which case she will be killed instantly. Unfortunately for Deka, her blood runs gold and the village tries to kill her. But with her gold blood comes powers, and one of those powers is that she can't be killed. But boy do they try. When a strange woman comes to their village and offers her. way out, she jumps on the chance to leave everything she knows to join an army of gold blooded woman. They are set to defend the land from monsters who roam into villages and kill everyone. Deka discovers that she has powers over these monsters who seem to obey her orders. How is she doing it? Does it mean she is a monster? What if someone finds out what she can do? Deka builds a group of friends who will stand at her back and by her side into whatever trouble they find. Deka must unravel the mystery of these monsters to unveil the real killers. But will she have the strength to do what she must? I liked this book much better than the other one. Deka is likable, strong and determined. Her friends are equally interesting as is the twist regarding the monsters. I will continue with this series and look forward to see what Deka is doing next. Happy reading my friends!

Unchosen

I am continuing my blog catch up with Unchosen. The world has fallen victim to Crimson. This is a blood disease that turns people into flesh eating monsters with one look. When Charlotte, Harlow and Vanessa lose their parents to the disease, they must figure out a way to survive. The world is searching for the Chosen One, the one who can end the curse and rid the world from Crimson. What the world doesn't know is that Charlotte's little sister Vanessa is the Chosen One. The bad news is that those infected with Crimson want her dead- they like the new world order. When Crimson infected rebels infiltrate the compound where the sisters' live, Charlotte knows what she must do- announce herself as the Chosen One in order to protect Vanessa. Charlotte is swept up into the battle between good and evil and has to use her wits to convince the people who have her that she is more valuable alive than dead. She has to find a way to stay alive until her sisters can find her. Charlotte may have to take matters into her own hands and instead of following Harlow, she has to become confident and secure as a leader. Being the middle sister isn't easy for her for reasons I won't reveal, but be assured there may be a little romance, a lot of peril and a healthy portion of adventure. I enjoyed this book and the mythology that is introduced. I am definitely interested in reading a sequel and finding out whether or not the curse will be broken. In the meantime, don't look them in the eye- keep your head down and keep moving. Ha
ppy Reading my friends.. 

Little Monsters

 I always have students that only want to read realistic fiction. This is definitely one they will want to pick up. Kacey has just moved to Broken Falls. She is now living their with her father and his new family. She falls in with Bailey and Jade and they become inseparable. But one night, her little sister sneaks out to hang with them and they decide to go the the "haunted" house down the block Kacey isn't sure what happens in that barn, but her sister is changed by it. Then the girls don't invite her to go to a party with them. Kacey is confused and hurt. When Bailey can't be found the next day, she is even more confused about what has happened. After Bailey turns up dead, all eyes are on Kacey. Did she have something to do with the death or is she being framed? As the investigation heats up, Kacey finds herself alone and under suspicion. This book takes a look at friendships- my mother always told me groups of 3 just don't work- and how you never really know what people's motives are. It's a fast little whodunnit that will leave you on the edge of your seat at times. Great summer read! Happy reading my friends!

Witches Steeped in Gold

I receive several book box subscriptions for YA books. This was in the last one I got. It is the story or rival tribe leaders. Both girls are doing everything they can to protect their people and their ways of life. Unfortunately, they have the history of deceit and treachery to overcome. As one girl plots to kill her mother, the other is an empress in hiding. Neither is ready to lead, neither is willing to trust the other and neither have an easy path of decisions to make. Jazmyne has placed her trust in Kirdan and a group of rebels trying to overthrow her mother But Jazmyne may not be ready to kill her own mother. Iraya puts her trust in no one. She must break out of prison to get close enough to kill Jazmynes's mother and get her tribe back in control, but she has not interest in leading them. Both girls face moral dilemmas that could impact the fate of the people counting on them. I found it interesting that their powers derived from gold, it is very similar to another book I have recently read, which I will also be adding to this blog.This is not a genre I would normally gravitate to, which is why I joined the subscriptions. That being said, I had a hard time liking any of the characters in this book. I couldn't trust any of their motives, which bothered me. But it was filled with twists, turns and characters who were not who they said they were and at the end of the day, it was a cliffhanger. I don't know that I'd read the sequel, but I am glad to have read a book that took me into a different world. Happy reading my friends.

Fable

Fable is most at home under the water dredging for treasure, like her mother used to do. She is alone in a place filled with people only out for themselves. She is in constant danger of being robbed, starving or worse, being killed for her stash of coppers. How did she find herself in this predicament? Her father, a ruthless trader, left her there after her mother died. The only advice he gave her? If she wanted what was hers, she had to find a way off the island he left her on and make her way back to him. So that is what Fable does, day after day, dredging for metals she can sell to buy her way off the island. When things don't go as planned, she must make a snap decision and rely on the kindness of West, a ship captain, to get her off the island before she is killed. The last thing he wants to do is help her. He has his own mysterious crew to worry about. He too is trying to get free of his situation to become his own man with no debt to anyone. As Fable finds her way  back to her father, she comes to regard West's crew as family and when things go sideways, she turns to them with a proposition that could save them all. I loved this book, Fable is a strong, determined young woman with a great head on her shoulders. The crew is one interesting character after the next and the love story is sweet and of course ends in a major cliffhanger. Who could ask for anything more? This would be a great movie, but of course, reading the book first is a must. Action, adventure and revenge serve the day in this tale of family and friendship. Happy reading my friends!

House of Salt and Sorrows

 12 sisters, mysteriously dying off. The remaining sisters mask their grief by dancing the night away at various balls they get to through a secret passage in a cave. But suddenly their shoes are worn down and something isn't right. Annaleigh, the second oldest sister left, stops attending the balls and starts to become concerned about her sisters' behavior. With the help of a mysterious boy named Cassius, she sets out to discover what has happened to her sisters. And time is running out- the remaining sisters are in grave danger. The story is set in a small town at the edge of the sea, where the sea turtles are born and myths and monsters are real. Tricksters cause trouble and peril is real. This is a retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses with many twists and turns. You won't know who to trust or what to believe. The twists and turns are like the sea in a storm. So hold on tight to the side of your dinghy and hope Old Maude is lit so you can find safety on the shore. Happy reading my friends!

Winterkeep

 Sometimes you have to wait a long time for an author to go back to your favorite universe. If you have entered Kristen Cashore's world, you remember little Queen Bitterblue. This is the continuation of her story. When her emissaries go missing on a fact finding trip for her, she is spurred into action. She and her faithful friends Giddon and Hava venture into Winterkeep. A land of airships and sea creatures that talk. Oh, and don't forget the foxes- who will bond to a human if they want so they can communicate. Living in Winterkeep is Lovisa Cavenda. She is a curious girl who is living with parents that are sketchy at best. Lovisa is sworn to protect her little brothers from a cruel mother and indifferent father. When the queen is presumed dead in a sea accident, Lovisa is determined to find out what happened to her. The truth will be devastating to her as her family is not innocent of the crime. With the help of her friends from school and a cunning fox, Lovisa will risk it all to help the darling queen find her way home. I cannot get enough of this series. It started with Fire, one of my all time favorite books and she has not let me down yet. The world of the Gracelings is magical, with each new creature topping the last. I want my own fox. Well maybe not, but they sure are fun to read about. If you have the imagination, jump into this world and get lost in the magic. Happy reading my friends!

The Cousins

 If you haven't read a Karen McManus book yet, you are missing out. In her newest tome, three cousins are called home to the island resort owned by their grandmother. Their parents had been disowned and not allowed to contact their mother. So when the kids get a chance to go to the island to get back into her good graces, they are left with no choice but to go. Milly, Jonah and Aubrey Story have never met. They have no choice but to become fast friends as they are thrown into a summer of intrigue and lies. Why were their parents banished? Why is their grandmother ignoring them? And are they even who they claim to be? As the summer goes on, the cousins are forced to look deep into their family's past and they may not like what they find. As each deception comes to light, they have to figure out what really happened 24 years ago to unravel the mystery of their grandmother. But long held secrets coming to life can be dangerous and deciding who to trust may be a matter of life or death. I couldn't put this down as most of her books. The twists and turns keep you reading long past your allotted reading time. Happy reading my friends. 

Lore

 Yet another book that was stalking my Instagram. Lore is of Greek descent. Every seven years, the gods come back to earth and fight it out. If you can kill a god, you can take their power. But Lore isn't interested in the Agon. In fact, she has been hiding from the game. After she lost her parents and sisters to the game, she slipped into the background and hid who she was. But the fight is still in Lore. She wants revenge on the god who killed her family, however that would mean coming out of the shadows and risking the new family she has created. Then one day he shows back up in her life. Her best friend Castor. Who she thought was dead. He needs her help. He is now the god Apollo and he doesn't have anyone he can trust. Lore gets pulled back into the past and thrown into the middle of the Agon fighting for all she loves. Deception, power, myth and love are all at odds in this modern Greek myth. This is a book about strong women and strong friendships. Lore exudes confidence and power and can think on her feet. I love Greek mythology so I really enjoyed the modern take this book brings. Imagine, Athena walking the streets of New York City. Well you don't have to- just pick up this book and enjoy the ride. Happy reading my friends!

The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue

 This was a book that kept popping up everywhere and when I'm given a sign, I try to follow it. This is the story of Addie, who in a moment of desperation, sent up a prayer to the wrong god. She just wanted a chance at a life and a life she did get. But there are always strings. And her string said that she could live as long as she wanted, go where she wanted, see what she wanted, but no one would ever remember her. Imagine the problems. Where would you live, how would you have a place to call home? And how lonely would you get if no one recognized your face moments after you left them. Addie makes the best of it. She guides musicians, and becomes the muse of artists across time. But the connection she seeks is missing. She could end it all- that is what HE is waiting for her to do. To give the soul she promised back to him. Yet, Addie is not willing to let go, she thinks she can outlast him. Then one day someone remembers her. And she falls in love. How come he doesn't forget? Well he has a story of his own, one that is quickly coming to it's end. Can Addie's last act save him as she loses herself? Or does she have one more trick up her sleeve? This was a fantastic journey through time and place. It asks the question- if you could, would you live forever? Is it the time or the people that make a life worth living? This is more on the mature side of the typical YA. But I am glad I followed the signs. Happy reading my friends!

Where Dreams Descend

 Kallia is a magician. In a time where women are kept in the shadows, Kallia was born to shine. She has been kept at Hellfire House where Jack makes sure she stays put. He creates illusions to keep her happy, even as she starts to figure out things are not right. When she gets wind of a contest in the neighboring town of Glorian, she sees her chance to escape Jack and make a name for herself. Once in the contest though, things start to get weird. Magicians disappear, strange things happen on stage and whatever you do, stay away from the mirrors. Daron DeMarco is a retired magician. Something terrible happened to cause him to give up performing. Now he finds himself a judge in the competition. And he can't seem to shake the feelings he gets from Kallia. The two are thrown together by circumstance and the fact that all the other judges hate Kallia. Hate her for being a woman in a man's world, for being the best, and for being unapologetically herself. When Jack starts showing up in her mirror, filled with threats to all she cares about, Kallia is determined to stop him from hurting anyone else. On the night of the final performance, all the stars align into the perfect storm. A stage full of mirrors, a possessive ex and a room full of rapt audience members. Will history repeat itself? Who will live and who will die? And who is the real enemy? I wish I knew... As for a recommendation, I don't think this is a YA book to tell the truth. It read like an adult book, even though it came in one of my book subscription boxes. I was ambivalent through much of it, but the end hooked my attention enough to look forward to a sequel. And honestly, the fourth Ember in the Ashes book was sitting on my counter mocking me to start it. So it is up to you my friends- Happy reading!

The Guinevere Deception

 The most enduring legend of all time- the Arthur Legend- Camelot, Excalibur, Merlin, Guinevere and Lancelot. But what if there is a twist? What if Guinevere isn't who she is supposed to be? What if magic is banned from Camelot? What if Excalibur is evil? Well, all these are questions posed in this wonderful novel. Arthur is in danger and Merlin is bound to help him. But Merlin has been banned from Camelot, so he sends Guinevere to protect him. But she is not the real Guinevere. She is a changeling blessed with magic. Arthur knows who she is - kind of- and knows she is there to protect him. The problem is, who is she protecting him from? As intrigue creeps around the castle, Guinevere has to be Queen as well as protector and sometimes the lines can get blurred. And then there is Mordred, whom Guinevere finds disturbingly appealing. What's a girl to do? Decisions have to be made and allies must be forged and hopefully, the right decisions made. Because if the wrong ones win, Camelot will fall and all Arthur has created will disappear. I absolutely loved this novel. Throw a little fairy magic into a legend and twist around characters that have been around forever and you have a un-put-downable book. Kiersten White has become an author I look forward to reading and already have the sequel on the stack on my bookcase. I also love the modern attitudes in this story, gender switches and the like. I won't give that one away. Enjoy your trip to Camelot, but beware, if you use your magic you won't be welcome long. Happy Reading my friends!

Lies Like Poison

 Poppy, Belladonna, Lily- all poisonous flowers. Equally poisonous friends. When their friend Raven is being abused by his step-mother, they concoct a plan to poison her tea. One flower from each of them, slipped into her tea. A plan is formulated and written down. But Raven gets sent away as does Bella so the plan is put on the back burner. When Raven is just about to come home, his step mom dies. Of poison. One by one his friends are called into the police station and questioned. Alibis are given, betrayals happen and a love triangle is concluded, but whodunnit?  Still unclear. As the old friends make amends, they need to figure out who really killed her or one of them will wind up in prison. I don't know that I loved this book. There were some great, modern situations, and it is very LGBTQ friendly. I liked that those issues were explored in a loving and accepting way. It was a fast read and had some interesting parts but it won't go on my favorites shelf. Happy reading my friends!

Rebel Rose

 Tale as old as time.... what happens after the big dance where Belle and the Beast live happily ever after. Now a country needs to be ruled, Belle needs to take on her queenly duties, and they have to figure out how to stop the French Revolution from happening in their country. Belle doesn't want to be Queen. She just wants to build her library and settle into her marriage. But events in Paris are creeping closer and Lio has been called to King Louis's court. With Lio gone, Belle is left to figure out how to rule in Lio's stead. But who can she trust? Intrigue is afoot. And so is magic. A magic mirror gives Belle a warning she can't ignore. How will she manage to keep Lio from suffering the same fate as Louis and Marie? I loved the idea of this novel. The idea of taking a Disney princess and putting them in the real world in the real time is fascinating. Belle is a smart woman who is confident in her ability to read situations. Without her, Lio would be left to fumble around listening to unreliable advisors. I enjoyed the French Revolution backstory and the real life characters interspersed into the fairy tale. I will happily ever after read any other of the books that put Disney princesses into  the real world. Happy reading my friends!

Daughter of a Pirate King

 Alosa is the daughter of the Pirate King. He has sent her on a mission to find a map to unguarded treasure. In order to find the map, she allows her ship to be captured and herself taken hostage. What she didn't expect is the first mate- Riden, brother of the captain of the capturing ship. He is torn between throwing her overboard and keeping safe from the pirates on board. As she finds ways to search the ship for the map, Riden gets more and more suspicious of her actions. And naturally, the beautiful daughter of a pirate queen is also irresistible. The closer she and Riden get, the more confused their feelings become. But what Riden doesn't know, is the Alosa is more than meets the eye. She may have more power over these pirates than they can ever know. I really liked this book. I love the strength and confidence of Alosa. I love that her father has trusted her with a secret mission. I love that she has an all female crew. And I love the secret she is keeping from everyone. This book was filled with action. intrigue, romance, and an strong female protagonist. I definitely will read the sequel and look forward to seeing what Alosa will do next. Happy reading my friends!

Guinevere Deception

 

Who can resist a Camelot legend tale? Not I. So when I saw that this one had a new twist, I knew I'd be hooked from page one. And I wasn't wrong. Guinevere is on her way to meet her new husband Arthur. But Guinevere isn't really Guinevere. The real Guinevere had died and Merlin has replaced her with a changeling. The new Guinevere had magic, which is outlawed in Camelot. She is being sent to protect Arthur and root out the underlying dissent rising against him. She has to be careful, if she is caught she will be sent out of Camelot and Arthur and all he has created will be at risk. Her mission is fraught with danger as she is drawn to the darkness in Mordred and the good in Arthur. Will he become more than just her husband in name only? Will she be able to fill the role of Queen while still rooting out the evil? Guinevere also finds herself being protected by the strange new knight- Lancelot. Lancelot is also trying to find a place in Camelot without revealing too much of their own past. This was an outstanding book. I loved the magical twist, the Merlin machinations and the revelation of this version of Lancelot. I already have the sequel waiting in my pile of Christmas vacation books. I love when a story that is tried and true is turned on it's head. And Kiersten White is an author I auto buy! Happy reading my friends!

Sisters of Sword and Song

 

Eva and Halcyon are sisters. Eva tends the family Olive grove. Halcyon is making her mark in the Queen's army. They are finally to be reunited, but Halcyon shows up early and on the run from her commander. She has accidently killed her commander's son, her best friend and partner. She has fled for her life. Eva tries to hide and protect her but Halcyon is captured and sentenced to hard labor. At her trial, Eva speaks out and takes on part of Halcyon's punishment- 5 years serving the commander's family. She meets Damon, the brother of the slain boy and rather than hate her, he sets out to help her clear her sister's name. She finds an ally amongst her would be enemies. Eva sets out to find a relic that can give her the magic to free her sister. But forces larger than her are at work to gather all the relics and give ultimate power to whomever finds them. The more she and Damon grow closer, the more the magic they seek evades them. And even if they do find who is behind the relic hunting, will Damon have enough magic to save Eva and his family? And was Halcyon just a pawn in a game far more deadly than any of them know? I absolutely loved this book. The twists and turns kept me reading long past the time I had. The sisters have an amazing bond and the message of forgiveness is a powerful one. Highly recommend this novel. Happy Reading my friends!

Dangerous Alliance

 

Lady Victoria Aston wants to live in a Jane Austen book. But not one of the ones with damsels in distress, the ones where the heroines take things in their own hands. When her sister's marriage falls apart, it is up to her to marry into some money- and if she can fall in love as well- that would be a bonus. Tom Sherborne is the boy next door, he was once Vicky's best friend until circumstances caused him to leave his adjoining estate. When he returns to his familial home, Vicky can only hope that they rekindle their friendship. Vicky sets out to court all the eligible men in her social circle at the same time someone is out to hurt her family. Tom seems to be on hand to rescue her even though she is trying to take care of herself. This is a delightful book. If you love the 1800s and all their societal pressures, you will love the way Vicky tries to overcome them. The characters are likable and fun and most can't be trusted. But the ones who can are charming and worthy of Vicky's attention. I read this one a while ago and am just catching up, but I am still enchanted by the plot. Happy reading my friends!