Deathcaster

I love when a series gets to the point when all the characters, who have been living their own lives, come together finally. Deathcaster is the point in this series that it finally happens. Siblings reunite, love finds love, parents find children, those thought dead reveal themselves alive and dragons win your heart with their internal thoughts. This series follows the kids of Raisa and Han from the Demon King series. Alyssa, heir to the throne, and Adrian, the healer, and their ragtag bunch of friends are fighting the evil empress Celestine, who is trying to take over the Seven Realms. Now, I'm not going to talk plot, you really need to start at the VERY beginning to appreciate this world and story. I am going to say that every new character that enters this universe is interesting, diverse, and current. And the DRAGONS, they are absolutely hilarious and lovely and exactly what you want a dragon to be. Williams is one of my favorite authors and having had the pleasure of meeting her, I can't say enough nice things about her books. They could keep you entertained for months and months. So if you like a fantasy world with magic, deception, betrayal, love, and yes- DRAGONS, then start at the beginning and enjoy the ride. I envy the adventure you have ahead of you my dear readers. Happy reading my friends!

Four Dead Queens

Quadara has always been ruled by the four queens. They are kept in the castle so no outside influence can mar their judgement. Keralie is a thief. She is a highly regarded member of Mackiel's crew. She can get in and out with no one the wiser. When he charges her with stealing a comm chip, she accepts the challenge. Varin is the unfortunate carrier of the chips. When he realizes what Keralie has done, he must get the chips back. Together they discover what the chips hold. It is the assassination attempts on all four queens. They decide they have to try and stop this from happening, but who to trust. Certainly not each other. As the story of the queens unfold, this novel pulls you into the four realms of Quadra. Each unique and different at their queens. I don't know that I loved this book. It was a quick read with some interesting ideas. But none of the characters really held my attention and I don't think I'd read a sequel. That being said, I didn't dislike it. So I will leave this one to you my favorite readers to decide. Happy reading my friends.

Courting Darkness

If you have read Robin LaFevers Her Fair Assassin's series, then this is the book you were waiting for. It follows Sybella as she is trying to help the new Queen find her way in an unfriendly court in France. Mortain is dead and she is questioning her role as his assassin. She knows she must find the youngest initiates of Mortain to keep the order alive and well. But they have been in hiding and Sybella doesn't know their true identities. As she makes her way through the intrigues of court, she must protect not only the queen, but her young sisters from their evil brother. With only Beast to protect her, Sybella has to use all her wits to keep those she loves alive- and not always succeeding. On the other end of the story is Genevieve. The young initiate of Mortain. She is waiting for the call, a crow feather, to jump into the action she has been waiting for all her life. When she gets news that the convent has closed, she finds a way to break away from the castle to hunt for her fellow assassins. Before she makes her escape she encounters a prisoner left to rot in a cell in the ground. She takes pity on the man and feeds him in exchange for a dueling partner. When she finds out his true identity, she realizes he will make a great pawn in her negotiations. What she doesn't expect is the feelings she winds up having fore Maraud. Can she really use him to save her order? The book, of course, ends in a cliffhanger so the wait begins to see if either woman can outwit, outlast and outplay those against them. I love this series for the strong, independent women it presents, with the men in the backgroud appreciating what the women can do. It's a message the world needs, and so do I! Start with Grave Mercy and meet the assassins, then catch up with Sybella and Beast in this one. You will be transported to another time and place where anything is possible if you are determined and confident enough. Happy reading my friends!

On the Come Up

If you loved Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give, you are about to take another trip into the Garden. This is the story of Bri. She is the daughter of a slain rapper. She is the daughter of a drug addict who has finally gotten clean. She is the niece of an affiliated drug dealer. She is the best friend of Malik and Sonny. She is the sister of Trey, who has just graduated from college and can't find a job. She wants to help her family get out and has to decide what or who she is willing to become to achieve her goals. Bri has inherited her father's rapping skills. When she goes to battle in the Ring, she becomes a neighborhood sensation. But at what cost? The girl she portrayed in the rap isn't her and the neighborhood is coming to their own conclusions about what her words mean. Bri is torn between the need for money and success to help her family and remaining true to her own voice. This novel is timely, relevant and another reminder how even the simplest things can go terribly wrong if you are the wrong color in society's eyes. The issues are straight from the news and the answers are not always readily available. I couldn't put this down and know my students will devour this book like they did the last. Nothing resonates more with teens than stories that could be happening to them. Happy reading my friends.

Queen of Air and Darkness

And the Shadowhunter saga continues. This is the third volume in the third series inside this world. It picks up where the last one left off with the Blackthorns reeling from the death of Livvie at the hands of Annabel. Julian and Emma are fighting their love for each other lest their parabatai bond burn them out. Ty and Kit are in the throes of a new friendship that could be something more. Mark, Kieran and Christina are deciding what their relationship will become and oh, there is a group of Shadowhunters trying to register all Downworlders. So not much going on at all. Plus there is a parallel world that may or may not be the answer to all Emma and Julian's problems. This over 800 page book is filled to the brim with love, mystery, grief, intrigue and bravery. You can't start with this one so it doesn't really matter what I tell you about it, you need to go back to the beginning and start there, otherwise you will be as lost as Jace would be without Clary. See- to even get that reference you need to start at the beginning. You won't be disappointed, there is much to celebrate at the conclusion of this book. But unfortunately, the ending will leave you in fear for one of the original's lives. Darn you Cassandra Clare. So enjoy my friends no matter where you are in the journey of the Shadowhunters from Will to Jules to Kit and everyone in between. Happy reading!

Bridge of Clay

Markus Zusah has written two of my favorite books, so I was very excited to read his newest. It is the story of a family of boys who face tragedy after tragedy. Each boy is more interesting than the last. The fighter, the thinker, the gambler, the animal collector, the protector and Clay. They collect animals named after characters in The Odyssey, they terrorize the neighborhood, they skip school and they love each other fiercely. But at it's heart, this is the story of Clay and how he holds the family together. This book is told in flashbacks and flash forwards. It is told in stories and timelines. It is told as a love story, a tragedy and a comedy. It is not for a casual reader. It is not for the feint of heart. It is for a reader who likes to go on a journey, who doesn't mind shedding some tears, who likes to be challenged. This book tells the story of what happens when all the structures that make up a family fall apart and new structures have to be built. But again, it is the story of Clay and his heart, and all the ways he takes on the troubles of those around him until he can't anymore. Then it becomes the story of the brothers who help him pick up the pieces. Happy 2019 my friends and happy reading.

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!