Alex Rider Secret Weapon gets 4 Stars {ya lit, action/adventure}

I know books, but I am not a music expert.  However, with the spy and adventure theme of this book I couldn't get the theme music for James Bond and Mission Impossible movies out of my head. If I had to create a Playlist of sorts for this book, it'd definitely include those songs. 

It's not all action and adventure. There is some humor. ;) "Of course it'll work!  I mean, I hope it'll work. But it is a prototype, you know..."

"You should be careful whom you choose to trust." 

Alex Rider, aka the teenage James Bond.  He's a teenage spy for MI6.  Therefore, he gets really cool gadgets, he's super smart, a linguist, martial arts master, and he just seems like a good 14 year old.  This book has seven short stories, which make for a super fast read that'll have you keep turning the pages. You'll finish before you know it, and if you are anything like me you'll love that reality is briefly suspended and that things work out for Alex.  I'm such a sucker for the happy ending.  To be honest, I didn't know the Alex Rider books were for more than just middle and high school boys.  I'm actually a big fan of Alex Rider now, and don't worry, you don't have to have been an AR fan and have read the other books to enjoy this one.  Horowitz does a great job including any necessary background information.  

Basically, this Alex Rider book is fantastic.  At times there are a few gaps in the action, but otherwise I felt the writing was great.  The story moves quickly and there is enough development, but this is definitely a plot driven story.  Definitely a great book to hand to a kid in 5th grade and up; middle school libraries should most definitely have this book on the shelf. 

Alex Rider Secret Weapon by Anthony Horowitz
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 12 and up, action/adventure fans will love this fast read. 
# of Pages:  336
Clean Read: Yes. There is action and violence, but it isn't gruesome. I think an 11 year old could enjoy this.   
Worth a Check Out: Yes. It is such a fun quick read. It's worth a read when you are looking for a page turner that will help you escape reality. 
Buy It or Not: Maybe.  If you are an Alex Rider fan then you definitely should. 
Read Aloud:  Actually, it could be a fun read for 6th-8th grade classroom. 



I received a copy of this book from Penguin Random House, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I Spy the Illuminati Eye: What's the Big Secret? gets 4 Stars {

The Illuminati aka a secret society about enlightenment that began long ago in a forest in Europe has possible connections to the Freemasons and other secret societies.  To be honest, I've never been one to think and ponder conspiracy theories.  To be honest, I didn't know much about the history of the Illuminati before this book.  However now... who knows, maybe I'll drive my husband bonkers with my Illuminati spottings.  😉

I Spy the Illuminate Eye: What's the Big Secret? by Sheila Keenan is a fun read.  It's an easy read, and it would make a great book (or gift, b/c books make great gifts *hint*hint*) for a middle school or high school student that doesn't  like to read.  The pop culture references and the secret societies are sure to engage every reader.  

After beginning this book with very little secret society knowledge (besides the movie Skulls that I watched way back when Blockbuster was a thing) I found myself engaged and wanting to keep turning the pages.  It's a fun book. Definitely check it out. 

If you are, or become an Illuminati believer, you may start seeing signs of the Illuminati all over.  Have you ever seen: 

• The eye on top of the pyramid found on US money?
• Someone make a symbol of a triangle? 
• A triangle drawn inside a triangle? 
• Seen an eye tattoo? 

The book even shows that the White House Lawns (shaped like an owl), and the top of the Washington Monument (looking down it's a circle with a dot in the middle) are both Illuminati symbols.  

Honestly, this book is quite a fun read, but I'm not sure I can say I'm an Illuminati Believer.  However, since reading I Spy the Illuminati Eye I've caught myself noticing little things here and there and it makes me chuckle and wonder for a second.  

What about you?  Do you find yourself saying "Illuminati Confirmed?" 

I Spy the Illuminati Eye: What's the Big Secret? by Sheila Keenan
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10+, 4th grade and up
# of Pages:  111
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.  If conspiracy theories are fun for you, and you want a quick non-fiction read, then definitely give this book a check-out.
Buy It or Not: Maybe.  This book is a quick easy read and a good choice for middle school and high school reluctant readers.
Read Aloud:  No.  Non-fiction usually do not make the best read alouds, but they are fun to browse and read here and there.
Lesson Ideas: Illuminati, Secret Societies, Conspiracy Theories. 

Not that you could tell me if you are in the Illuminati or another secret society, but are you a conspiracy theory/secret society fan???


A few aspects I love about I Spy the Illuminati Eye that may make you grab a copy sooner rather than later:

There are instructions for making invisible ink. (pg 47) So cool! 


The Bohemian Grove, aka quite the gathering of people in a secret society, is a fun party like meeting every July in a redwood forest near San Francisco.  (pg 70)

The Illuminati Charts with famous musicians like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Eminem and their "supposed" Illuminati connections or signs. (pg 100-101)


Thank you Penguin Young Readers for the book to review.  All thoughts and comments are my own. 

Love and Gelato gets 4 Stars {ya lit, contemporary fiction, romance}

Tuscany. Romance. Sweet story. Delicious bakeries. Gelato.  

Seriously, there's not much you can't like about this sweet young adult book.  

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is a fun book that any teenage girl would enjoy.  There's romance, mystery, great character development, and some deep subjects, like cancer, as well.  A fun book with some depth in topics is hard to find.  There's a lot to love with Love and Gelato, and therefore it's well deserving of it's 4 out of 5 stars rating.  

This novel is a quick read, and even though the story line was almost completely predictable, I'm pretty sure only adults reading this ya book would care about that.  I did feel the growth Lina experienced in the story was great.  I loved seeing, in a glossed over way I believe, how Lina dealt with her mother's death from cancer.  I loved seeing Lina find a father-like figure.  I believe there's a good chance this book could benefit others who have to deal and work through a death in the family especially a parent. 

Overall, this book was the light fun read I was looking for after a heavy book like Ghost Boy. 

If you pick this YA book up, enjoy! 

Happy Fun Light Romance in Tuscany YA Reading!  

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 13-18 year old girls, 7th grade and up 
Clean Read: Yes, a little language.   
Worth a Check Out: Yes, when you are looking for a fun light read.
Buy It or Not: Yes if you like chick-lit, Meg Cabot, or Ally Carter type of books.  
Book Club Discussion: Did Lina feel obligated to go to Tuscany b/c it was her mother's wish, or her mother's death-bed wish?  Why do you think Lina felt like it was difficult to be social after her mother's death? Cancer is always tough, but do you think it was tougher on Lina b/c she was a teenager?  Would you consider this story a "coming of age" story, if so why?

Did you read Love and Gelato?  What did you think? 

A quote I loved from Love and Gelato: 

"You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it's for the same two things." 
"What?"
"Love and gelato."

The Beauty of Darkness gets 3.5 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, series: remnant chronicles #3}

With  Kiss of Deception and Heart of Betrayal read I, of course, had to finish off the Remnant Chronicles by reading The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson. 

This third book in the series gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.  It's a good story, though it does drag a bit more than the others.  The writing of the many action parts of the story felt choppy.  Overall, the writing was good, but it wasn't Pearson's best writing for the series.  Books one and two were far more engrossing with their writing even with the incredibly predictable and sort of annoying love triangle.  

In regards to characters, I felt Lia was a different person in this last book; she was too hardcore and cruel so the change/development wasn't for the better. I was frustrated that in 3 books Lia and Rafe still couldn't communicate and express their true feelings and thoughts.  I thought Kaden made a quick jump to team Lia and it would've been nice to see more struggle.  All in all, the characters were weaker and less developed in this last book.  
There are things I liked about the book.  I liked that it was a clean read.  I  liked that the main character is a strong girl.  I liked her brother's unwavering trust in Lia.  I liked the happy ending the minor characters received, but I was frustrated by the abruptness of the ending for Lia and Rafe.  

I really did like The Beauty of Darkness, but I don't think I would've been disappointed had I not read it.  I may have enjoyed the series more if hadn't b/c the ending left me with a bitter taste in my mouth for the series.  

Did you read the series?  What were your feelings of the last book? What would you rate the entire series?  I  think I'd give the series 4 stars, but that third book may have to lower that score. 

If you do pick up this book, and the Remnant of Chronicles series, Happy Fun Young Adult Fantasy reading!


The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Best For: 14 and up, 8th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: No, unless you really need complete series in your life and you bought Kiss of Deception and Heart of Betrayal
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Topics: Lia ran from her fate of an arranged marriage, but did she stay true to herself when it came to her fate with the Book of Venda? Did you like or dislike Kaden's ending?  Lia and Rafe, good or bad ending?  

The Heart of Betrayal gets 4 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, series: remnant chronicles #2}

The Kiss of Deception, Book 1 in the Remnant Chronicles didn't leave me, as the reader, hanging for the next book, but it did grab my attention and make me want to read the next book.  I quickly requested it from the library.  Personally, I feel it is a sign of a good book when it makes me want to read the next one in the series, or it makes you sad the book is over.  I personally think a good author doesn't need a major cliff hanger to bring readers back.  Cliff hangers are cheap to me.  

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson is Book 2 in the Remnant Chronicles series.  Overall, this book and the series is fun, and it causes the reader to not want to put their book down.  

This clean read would be best for 8th grade and up.  

4 out of 5 stars is what The Heart of Betrayal earned.  It's a fun book where Lia still grew as a character with her gifts and her confidence.  I loved that Lia did some of the really hard things, and that she was able to treat the people with love.   There were parts of the story that I truly did not see coming, especially when it came to her dealings with the Komizar. (Wow!) The writing and the story line were good, and in my opinion it was a solid 2nd book for the trilogy.  

However, not everything was fantastic for me.  There were parts of the story that were a little convenient.  The Komizar not know Rafe was the Prince was a bit too convenient for me.  Lia, able to sneak around the castle, learn the language so perfectly and become the leader and person the people of Venda adored and needed also seemed a little too perfect.  The pace of the story dragged on a bit in Venda too. To be honest, it wasn't painfully slow, but it was a touch slow in parts.    

As I mentioned above, a major cliff hanger at the end of the book seems like a cop out for the author.  Sure, it's easier and can get your readers back, but it seems sloppy to me b/c you don't tie things up.  The Heart of Betrayal has a major cliff hanger, and I was frustrated by that.  Obviously, my review for Book 3: The Beauty of Darkness will come this week.  

All in all, The Heart of Betrayal is a great book, and a good 2nd book in the series.       


Happy Fun Young Adult Fantasy reading!

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 14 and up, 8th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: Yes, if you bought Kiss of Deception
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Topics: Did you think the storyline was well crafted, or were there too many convenient aspects to the story?  What is the benefit for a society ran like Venda?  Do you think there are no rules when it comes to survival?  Did you like book 1 or book 2 better, and why? 

What did you think of The Heart of Betrayal? 

Caraval gets 4 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, subscription box}

What do you get when you mix the books Night Circus and Mr. Lemoncello's Library?  Caraval by Stephanie Garber is most definitely the answer.

This fantasy young adult fiction novel has the magic of a traveling circus of sorts, but a scavenger hunt type of a game.  It's a fun read, and earns 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  

I felt Caraval was a well written story, with a complex storyline, and good character development.  There were many aspects of the story that surprised me; I find myself feeling this novel was creative, fun, and unpredictable story with a happy ending.  It was definitely a fun read.   

The fun unpredictable story was great, but I also truly loved seeing Scarlett grow in confidence throughout the story.  Scarlett started as a girl that was afraid of her abusive father and throughout the story she began trusting herself more, standing up for herself, and even fighting for what she wanted.  Confidence is something I believe teens could definitely use more of, and a book that highlights how a character builds her confidence is definitely worthy of a check-out. 

Caraval is a mostly clean read.  There is no language, sex, or drugs, but there is violence related to action as well as sex being referred to tho it never happened.

In regards to the audience, this book is best geared for 8th graders and up.  It's a long book, and not a constant page turner therefore it is not for the reluctant reader.  However, reluctant readers, and all y'all that drive a lot or find life is too busy to read, will really enjoy the audiobook, which is well read, and gets you into the setting and suspense that much more.

A few aspects of the story that I wish was done better is in regards to the romance and the abuse.  Scarlett's romance with Julian was a bit too instant, but I guess that is the YA coming out.  Though, the romance just seemed too sudden and unbelievable.  I also felt the parent-child abuse Scarlett and Donatella experience by their father wasn't dealt with.  With abuse being a big aspect to the story, I feel Garber missed an opportunity to give her book more value and depth.

Overall, Caraval is a fun story.  It isn't amazing, but it's an enjoyable light fantasy read.  Definitely give it a check-out this summer. 

Just so you have a better idea of the storyline, Amazon had the following book description: 

"Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away."

I got this book in my February Owlcrate box, but it took me a couple months before I could get around to reading it. However, I felt the box was fun even though I don't use a lot of it. The tote bag does make an excellent piano lessons bag for my daughter, and the cotton candy chapstick is pretty fun. 

What did you think of Caraval? 

Happy Fantasy YA Lit Reading!  


Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 13 - 18 year olds, 8th grade and upWorth a Check Out: Yes!
Buy It or Not: Not.
Read Aloud: it's a great audiobook, so it could be a great read aloud, but I probably wouldn't.
Lesson Ideas: Confidence, Family relationships

Dumplin' gets 3.5 Stars {YA} {Realistic/Contemporary Fiction}

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy is a a YA/Young Adult/Teen read about an overweight girl that breaks stereotypes.  It's a fun contemporary fiction about Willowdean, a 16 year old, learning more about herself, what she is capable of, true friendship, and a little of what love and romance is. 

I give Dumplin' 3.5 out of 5 Stars in my book review. This fun quick read is good, but it wasn't great.  I liked that it was about breaking stereotypes. I liked that it is a book about a fat girl (she calls herself that, not me) and the struggles she has with loving and accepting herself.  I liked that this book, a first in a soon to be series, was a light, quick read.  

However, I didn't like that this book had so much potential and just left me with a "Meh" feeling.  I didn't like that Willowdean really didn't have a positive body image or herself when a book about breaking stereotypes and a fat girl really should have.

Overall, I liked Dumplin', but it wasn't amazing.  However, teenage girls in 9th grade and up would enjoy this read, and they probably wouldn't over analyze it like I do.  As far as content is concerned this book has language, underage drinking, and sex is talked about.  It's not squeaky clean, but it wasn't offensive. 

Amazon had the following book description: 

"For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell comes this powerful novel with the most fearless heroine—self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson—from Julie Murphy, the acclaimed author of Side Effects May Vary. With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom, Willowdean has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American-beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . .  until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.  

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all."

To be honest, I would put this book more in line with Rainbow Rowell; I think John Green's writing has more depth, but Dumplin' is still a fun read.  

Hare you read this book?  Are you going to read it? Go check it out! 

Happy Fun Light Contemporary Fiction Reading! 

Splintered gets 3 Stars {YA} {Fairytale Twist}

Splintered by A.G. Howard is the first of a four book urban Alice in Wonderland twist story.  The four books in the series are Splintered, Unhinged, Ensnared, and Untamed. 

Splintered is her first book, and apparently she got the idea for this book and series while working in a school library.  Go school libraries!  

I read Splintered for book club; it was actually the book I suggested.  I love book clubs and I love when you read books everyone chooses.  That will usually allow you to read a wide variety of books.  We've read 18th century settings as well as urban fairy tale settings.  I think the variety is good. 

I give Splintered 3 out of 5 stars.  Now to be honest I wish I could've given it 4.5 of 5 stars; it's always fun to suggest an awesome book for book club. :) If you are looking for a great book for your book club just click on the "5 Stars" tag.  

I feel this book was just blah.  It dragged on and was incredibly cheesy, and I do not plan to read the others in the series.  There were several lines Alyssa and Jeb said in their little romance that was a bit dorky and childish (though I guess middle school or high school kids wouldn't mind).  I also felt the obvious characterization lacked originality; there are too many books with the main character in love with the handsome guy who's dating the mean rich and beautiful girl.

Now, I am all for fairy tale retellings or fairy tales with a twist; I love them. However, I was disappointed with Splintered.  If you love modern day fairy tale retellings give Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce a read; his Fairytale Retelling series is fun. 

Splintered is a mostly clean read.  There was no sex, drug use, or language that I can recall.  However, there were some adult ideas and sex and virgnity was talked about.  As we discussed in book club, the writing is geared towards middle school girls, but some of those adult topics make it inappropriate for some parents to allow their children to read.  

Though, there were things I liked.  I think the setting and it's descriptions were fascinating, and the idea of it would make a great movie with a lot of action.  I also think this book would drag a little less if you enjoyed it as an audiobook.  I also think Morpheus, the most interesting character, was written well.  During the reading I found myself going back and forth with him being a good guy or a bad guy.

All in all, it's okay.  If you love Alice in Wonderland or you are looking for an audiobook series to enjoy give this one a read.  

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal:

"This darker, modern update of Alice in Wonderland is more likely to please fans of Tim Burton's film adaptation than those of Lewis Carroll's novel. Alyssa, 16, is a descendant of Alice Liddell, the girl who was Carroll's inspiration for Alice. Her mother lives in a mental institution, and she herself struggles with hearing voices from insects and flowers. Do the women in her family suffer from a curse that can somehow be traced back to the original Alice? The opening chapters drag a bit, but the action picks up when Alyssa finds herself in Wonderland, fighting for her survival-and for her mother's sanity. Howard maintains a lush atmosphere throughout, reintroducing Carroll's characters as truly nightmarish monsters. Though Alyssa's ongoing quests can sometimes seem aimless and the requisite love triangle forced, teens looking for a creepy, descriptive read with a generous dollop of romance will gravitate toward this title."         


Have you read Splintered? What did you think? 


Happy Fun Modern Alice in Wonderland Fairy Tale Twist Reading! 

Star Cursed gets 4.5 Stars {Supernatural, Fantasy} {YA} {Cahill Witch Chronicles #2}

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood is the 2nd Book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, and I liked it better than Born Wicked, the first one.  Just like I mentioned in Born Wicked's book review, if you are in 7th grade through high school and you like the Vampire Diaries or the House of Night series you should give this one a read; it's completely clean with a slight romance and a lot of action.   

However, read Born Wicked first; this is definitely a book series that needs to be read in order if you want to avoid frustration and confusion.      

I give Star Cursed 4.5 out of 5 Stars.  For not being a supernatural fan I'm sure enjoying this book series.  For the most part it was fast paced and kept my attention.  I felt the character development had more depth than the first book, and I loved seeing the complexity of Finn, Tess, Maura, as well as Cate.  I will say I was a little annoyed with Cate at times, but I felt her actions were true to her age and maturity level.  I enjoyed the strong female characters in Cate, Maura, and Tess; I especially love the storyline of Tess really coming into her own.  

Star Cursed lost 1/2 a star for one of the same reasons as Born Wicked.  Spotswood seems to really love the drastic cliffhanger at the end of the book; these cliffhangers remind me of James Dashner and the Maze Runner series.  I feel the drastic cliffhanger is a weaker writing style and down right mean to readers.  The end of Star Cursed had me upset; I honestly, out loud said, "Ahhhhh!  How could she do that?!"  She being Maura, but that is all I am going to tell you. 

I have already requested the 3rd book, Sister's Fate.  Are you reading this series?       

Amazon had the following book review from Booklist.  It should give you a better picture of the plot and storyline. 

"In the second title in the Witches of Cahill series, Cate, a protected novitiate at the Sisterhood’s convent, is being groomed to be Sister Cora’s successor. Yet she has never had a vision and, in spite of her mind-magic and healing powers, is unable to hold an illusion for more than a few minutes. She doubts her own designation within the prophecy as the most powerful witch in centuries, especially once her sisters Maura and Tess arrive at the convent. Maura grandly announces her intent to join forces with Sister Inez, who is determined to wage war on the evil Brotherhood; sweet Tess seems older, wiser, and more prescient than her 12 years. The Brotherhood’s blatant vendetta against all women regardless of age; their imprisonment and torture of those females who are merely suspected of being outside the norm; and Maura’s jealousy and frustration with her older sister—not to mention lovers Cate and Finn’s clandestine meetings—make for a riveting paranormal-historical fiction adventure whose outcome readers will absolutely refuse to accept without a sequel, a fait accompli the author has promised in a recent blog post." 

Happy Plot Driven Supernatural Book Series Reading!

Did you read this book?  What was your reaction to the end of the book? 

Born Wicked gets 4 Stars {Fantasy, Supernatural} {YA}

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood is the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles.  It's a YA/Young Adult/Teen Read, and it was definitely written for the junior high and/or high school girls who love the supernatural genre.  If you liked Twilight, Vampire Diaries, House of Night book series, or even the Young Elites then you will be a fan of this fantasy/supernatural book series. 

I give Born Wicked 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I feel Born Wicked is a great series for the YA supernatural genre for girls.  I liked the alternative historical setting to the Salem Witch Trials time period; I liked the idea of the "Brotherhood" similar to the Puritans controlling society with the "Sisterhood" which is full of witches no one knows about.  I liked Cate, Maura, and Tess; their sister relationship was fun to read.  I really liked Tess; she's awesome!  I liked the character development, and I loved that it was a clean read with no sex, language, or even violence.  I liked the strong female characters, and felt that Cate as a teenager trying to figure herself out and find her way was correctly portrayed.  I liked that the story wasn't predictable and kept a good pace once it got going.  All in all, I really thought Born Wicked was a fun light read perfect for the beach or a rainy day. 

Born Wicked lost a star for two reasons.  First, the beginning of the book was a bit slow to get moving; a lot of people I saw on Goodreads abandoned ship and DNF (did not finish).  The second reason this book lost a star is b/c of the blatant series push and the cliffhanger ending.  I think it is poor writing or a poor storyline decision for an author to have such a blatant cliff hanger ending just to get you to read the next book.  However, besides those two reasons I did thoroughly enjoy the book. 

I am not much of a supernatural genre (a branch of the fantasy genre) fan, but I enjoyed this read enough to want to read the 2nd and 3rd books in the series.  So, I guess that is saying something. 

Have you read Born Wicked; what did you think? 

Amazon had the following book review from Booklist so you can get a better idea of the storyline. 

"The prophecy written in Mother’s diary is clear: “A trio of sisters will come of age, all witches. One of the sisters, who will be gifted with mind-magic, will be the most powerful witch born in centuries.” Her daughters—Cate, Maura, and Tess—compose the trio, and Cate is the one who possesses mind-magic. But Mother is dead, Father is oblivious, and the Brotherhood is intent on stamping out all witches in New England in an effort to squelch female independence and initiative. How can Cate protect herself and her sisters from the Brotherhood’s terrifying scrutiny? Spotswood has melded historical fiction with the paranormal into an intriguing story of witchcraft, family responsibility, and unrequited love. A constant undercurrent of uneasiness permeates the novel; readers will find themselves tantalized by Cate’s two suitors and their marriage proposals, terrified by the Brotherhoods hatred and disgust of girls and women, and frustrated at the necessity to wait for the second book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles to learn what becomes of the sisters."

Happy Supernatural Feminist YA Book reading! 

Audiobook fans...

I was able to listen to part of this book on audiobook and felt the reader was great!  It didn't drag nearly as much on audiobook.  However, books 2 and 3 are not on audiobook as far as I can tell. 

The Rose Society gets 4 Stars (Young Elites #2} {YA} {Series}

The Rose Society by Marie Lu is the second book in the Young Elites series.  This series is full of action and has a slight love/romance to it just like the Legend series. 

I give The Rose Society 4 out of 5 Stars.  It's a good book and an entertaining series, but I do not like it as much as Lu's last series.  The character development of Adelina, the main character, is well written; it really is quite impressive that Lu is able to have an anti-hero as the main character and some people actually like her.

I know some people actually like Adelina.  She's powerful and ambitious, but to me she is a little annoying.  I don't like how hung up on power and revenge she is to the point of treating, even her sister whom she loves, so poorly.  As a redeeming quality, Adelina is finally realizing that even though she may be getting the revenge and power she thinks she wants she is at least realizing that being alone with her accomplishments isn't all that great.  

I do like this book, but there is too much darkness in it for me. The story is dark and full of action and violence, but besides the action/violence it is a clean story.  

This Young Adult/Teen read is a great story for boys and girls alike in ninth grade or above.  However, younger students/readers that don't mind the action and darkness will be fine reading this series.  

This book lost a star in my book review b/c there were aspects in the story I didn't love. I didn't love how dark the story was, and I didn't love how cruel, and somewhat evil, Adelina, the main character, was.  The love story, well love stories, was okay.  I liked one of them, and the other one just made me mad.    

All in all, I am glad I read the book.  However, I have learned that I do have a darkness limit, and to be honest I'm not sure I can handle the third book.  Though, I'm sure I'll read it b/c I'm a sucker for a series.  

Amazon had the following book review to give you a little more detail into the storyline.  

"Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, so she destroyed them all." Lu's epic series takes a dark, gritty turn with her latest offering. Adelina, known as the White Wolf, has fled Kenettra with Violetta, her sister, in order to recruit other malfettos (superpowered humans) for revenge upon the Inquisition—the faction that killed her love Enzo and countless other malfettos. Turned out and betrayed by her former comrades, the Daggers, Adelina is determined to form her own army, especially once she stumbles upon the near-mythical malfetto named Magiano. As the leader of the Inquisition, Teren, continues to search for Adelina so he can destroy her, she turns toward a more somber facet of her energy. Her path explodes into a dizzying array of power, murder, and revenge, leaving Adelina to question her true nature. When a malfetto queen conspires to raise Enzo from the dead, Adelina must face, once and for all, her feelings and her desires for power. What sets this novel apart is Adelina's slow spiral into bleak, joyless corruption; Lu doesn't wrap up the narrative with a shiny bow. Teens will be fascinated to watch the main character descend into villainy and revel in it. VERDICT Fans of Sarah Maas's Throne of Glass (Bloomsbury, 2012) and Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes (Penguin, 2015) will enjoy the author's latest."

How are you with Dark stories?

Happy Dark Fantasy and Action YA Reading!  

What are you reading?

The Wrath & The Dawn gets 4.5 Stars

Happy February!  Some people think of this month as the month of Love, and other's think it's the last month for at least a few months with a paid holiday.  Other's think of Black History Month, and some thing Leap Year, Superbowl, or Groundhog's Day.    

I mostly think of love b/c I was a school teacher and librarian and the whole Valentine's thing is a big deal for kids.  However, we have a lot of lessons for Black History Month, and I always had a library display for both Valentine's Day and Black History.  However, since I think of Love first, today I am going to share a book I LOVED. 

The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh is an absolutely fantastic book.  Ahdieh, a fellow University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate (Go Heels!), is a new author and this is the first book in her saga/series of Shahrzad and Khalid, a retelling/twist of the Arabian Nights..

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.  I really wanted to give this book 5 stories, b/c the storyline is creative and unpredictable, and the book really was a page turner.  I loved everything about the story, and I'll definitely be reading the second book.  

My only qualm with this book, and the reason it lost a 1/2 a star, was b/c of a few writing instances.  There were times that I found the story confusing b/c of how the action was written, and I had to go back and re-read it to clarify.  I also felt the excerpt for the second book in the series, The Rose & The Dagger, was interesting, but it didn't grab you, the reader, as much as I would've hoped, or as much as this book grabbed you.  I do think the problems I had with this book was b/c Ahdieh is a new author; I do think she has great potential as a writer and her writing will only improve.  

The Wrath and The Dawn is a great book.  It is a clean read with no language and only implied sex.  There was really only a little detail of a hug and a kiss.  There is some violence though; I mean the story is based on a king that killed his brides.  In regards to the violence there isn't any gruesome details.  All in all, I would say this book is a clean read.   

I think this book and series would be great for 8th graders and up.  A younger reader that is mature would be fine with the novel, but the difficult names and the depth of the characters and story may be hard for a younger reader.

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"A reimagined tale based on One Thousand and One Nights and The Arabian Nights. In this version, the brave Shahrzad volunteers to marry the Caliph of Khorasan after her best friend is chosen as one of his virgin brides and is summarily murdered the next morning. She uses her storytelling skills, along with well-placed cliff-hangers, to keep herself alive while trying to discover a way to exact revenge on the Caliph. However, the longer she stays in the palace, the more she realizes there's more going on than just a murderous prince. While her feelings for the Caliph grow and change, the first love she left behind is busy plotting to overthrow the entire palace. When the various plotlines come together in a final conflict, the story is brought to a satisfying, if unexpected, ending. A quick moving plot and sassy, believable dialogue make this a compelling and enjoyable mystery, with just the right amount of romance and magic. The main characters are well drawn and surprisingly likable, while secondary characters also develop in endearing ways. The rich, Middle Eastern cultural context adds to the author's adept worldbuilding. Intimacy is dealt with in a straightforward way, without graphic details, and a subtle message of strength is portrayed through the brave independence of the protagonist. VERDICT This well-written mystery will be a surefire hit with teens."


Have you read this fantastic teen read?  What did you think? 

Happy Fabulous Not Your Typical Fairy Tale Retelling Young Adult Reading!

The Young Elites gets 4 Stars {YA Fantasy} {Series}

I recently finished The Young Elites by Marie Lu; she also wrote the Legend series that I reviewed here.  I really like the Legend  series, and think it is a fantastic dystopian trilogy.  I liked The Young Elites, but I still think Legend,  a completely different type of story, is better.  

I give The Young Elites 4 out of 5 Stars. This YA (Young Adult) book aka teen read is in the fantasy genre b/c there is magic involved.  However, it isn't high fantasy, like Lord of the Rings or The Three Kings kind of fantasy books.  This book has magic, or more so the power of the Gods given to a select number of individuals that were infected with a disease.  I personally found it to be an interesting concept.   

I personally think this book is best for boys and girls alike in the 9th grade and up.  This book is a clean read, with no swearing or bad language that I can recall and only a handful of instances involved kissing, but it is a dark story and there is definitely violence with quite a bit of fighting and even killing.  Adelina, the main character, is quite conflicted but also quite dark.  She thrives and flourishes off the fear of others.  I think the darkness of the book and the complexity of the storyline makes it more well suited for the older audience.

Overall, the story was really good, but the ending was fantastic.  The ending was very well written, however, the middle of the story dragged slightly, was choppy, and overall I was a little unsure what was going on.  Even the major battle with Teren, a major point in the story, was confusing.  I realize battles are difficult to write b/c there is usually so much going on; both the Hunger Games, Mockingjay especially was hard for this reason, and Divergent series all had battle scenes that were confusing for the exact same reasons.

I do think Lu did a great job keeping the story unpredictable with an interesting storyline; I also think her character development was well done.  Though, Adelina was a complex and confused girl.  Her complexity of emotions, dark but also wanting to be honest and pure, was confusing.  Adelina was well written, but at times her character confusion was confusing to me as the reader.  I realize that Adelina is a teenage girl with a lot of confusion on love and who she is, but I feel that confusion could've been written in a way to not confuse the reader to the same extent of Adelina's confusion.  Overall I did grow to mostly understand Adelina; I may not have agreed with her choices, but I did want her to succeed and figure herself, emotions, and powers out.  

I did state it before, but I want to say again that the ending of The Young Elites was fantastic.  The ending of Young Elites may be the best ending I've read in awhile.  It definitely sets the story up for the sequel, Rose Society, and leaves the reader wanting to read more.  However, it isn't a cliff hanger which I hate when authors do that b/c I think it portrays poor writing and laziness. 

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"A rollicking series opener from the author of the "Legend" series (Putnam). Imagine surviving a plague of fever, only to be marked as an abomination by your countrymen. Most survivors of the sickness that vanquished thousands in this alternative medieval world possess a strange and unique marking, whether it be a facial coloring, oddly tinged hair, or, in Adelina's case, a missing eye. Called malfettos, some are endowed with magical gifts that enable them to control wind, fire, earth, and even humans. All Adelina has ever wanted is to feel accepted and loved, but she's ignored by her father, and her sister doesn't have the power to save her. When the teen escapes an unwanted proposal, she unwittingly becomes a member of the Dagger Society, an Elite group of malfettos bent on using their supernatural abilities to escape the Inquisition's genocide and place their leader, Enzo, on the throne of Kenettra. Adelina struggles with an increasing distrust of Enzo, her fellow Elites, and herself, all while learning how to control her powers of illusion and disillusion. Lu seamlessly melds an unforgettable and intoxicating historical fantasy narrative with a strong female protagonist that grapples with an issue experienced by all young adults—acceptance of one's self. Well written, fast paced without being confusing, and enjoyable enough for teens, reluctant readers, and even adults. Brimming with engaging battles—physical and emotional—and meticulous backdrops, Lu's new series will be a surefire hit with old and new fans alike."

Are you a Lu fan?  

Happy Action Packed Fantasy Reading! 






*******SPOILER ALERT*******






I will say that I did not see Enzo's death coming at all.  It completely surprised me, and actually made me a little sad for him.  

I also did not anticipate Raphael kicking her out of the Daggers.  He seemed far more compassionate to me at the beginning that his bluntness and action at the end surprised me.  I understand why he did it, but it still made me sad.  I personally think the reason for kicking her out, b/c she's more powerful than she knows and her powers and abilities are overwhelming and terrifying to others.  i feel he would rather have, or should have her stay in the group to keep her on their side rather than fighting against her.  

Have you read this book?  What did you think?  


Click here for the review of Book 2 of the Young Elites Series: The Rose Society