book review, young adult

Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (Review)

Two sisters. One brutal murder. A quest for vengeance that will unleash Hell itself…And an intoxicating romance. Emilia and her twin sister Vittoria are streghe – witches who live secretly among humans, avoiding notice and persecution. One night, Vittoria misses dinner service at the family’s renowned Sicilian restaurant. Emilia soon finds the body of her beloved twin…desecrated beyond belief. Devastated, Emilia sets out to find her sister’s killer and to seek vengeance at any cost-even if it means using dark magic that’s been long forbidden. Then Emilia meets Wrath, one of the Wicked-princes of Hell she has been warned against in tales since she was a child. Wrath claims to be on Emilia’s side, tasked by his master with solving the series of women’s murders on the island. But when it comes to the Wicked, nothing is as it seems… Read More Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco (Review)

book review, young adult

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black and Rovina Cai (Review)

An irresistible return to the captivating world of Elfhame. Once upon a time, there was a boy with a wicked tongue. Before he was a cruel prince or a wicked king, he was a faerie child with a heart of stone . Revealing a deeper look into the dramatic life of Elfhame’s enigmatic high king, Cardan, tis tale includes delicious details of life before The Cruel Prince, an adventure beyond The Queen of Nothing, and familiar moments from The Folk of the Air trilogy, told wholly from Cardan’s perspective. This new installment in the Folk of the Air series is a return to the heart-racing romance, danger, humor, and drama that enchanted readers everywhere. Each chapter is paired with lavish and luminous full-color art, making this the perfect collector’s item to be enjoyed by both new audiences and old… Read More How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black and Rovina Cai (Review)

book review, young adult

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor (Review)

Two worlds are poised on the brink of a vicious war. By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera’s rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her. When the brutal angel emperor brings his army to the human world, Karou and Akiva are finally reunited – not in love, but in a tentative alliance against their common enemy. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves. But with even bigger threats on the horizon, are Karou and Akiva strong enough to stand among the gods and monsters?… Read More Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor (Review)

book review, young adult

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor (Review)

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war. This is not that world. Art student and monster’s apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it. In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life. While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?… Read More Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor (Review)

book review, young adult

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (Review)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious “errands”, she speaks many languages – not all of them human – and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out. When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?… Read More Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (Review)

book review, nonfiction

Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval (Review)

Accidentally Wes Anderson began as a personal travel bucket list, a catalog of visually striking and historically unique destinations that capture the imagined worlds of Wes Anderson. Now, inspired by a community of more than one million Adventurers, Accidentally Wes Anderson tells the stories behind more than 200 of the most beautiful, idiosyncratic, and interesting places on Earth. This book, authorized by Wes Anderson himself, travels to every continent and into your own backyard to identify quirky landmarks and undiscovered gems: places you may have passed by, some you always wanted to explore, and many you never knew existed. Fueled by a vision for distinctive design, stunning photography, and unexpected narratives, Accidentally Wes Anderson is a passport to inspiration and adventure. Perfect for modern travelers and fans of Wes Anderson’s distinctive aesthetic, this is an invitation to look at your world through a different lens… Read More Accidentally Wes Anderson by Wally Koval (Review)

book review, children's

The Princess Bride: A Counting Story by Lena Wolfe and Bill Robinson (Review)

Heroes, giants, wizards, true love. Celebrate the beloved film with this charming counting primer that fans will want to share with the youngest readers. There are 6 fingers on the Count’s right hand, 3 outlaws on a mission, 2 destined lovers, and 1 unforgettable story that brings them all together. Illustrated with vibrant art, this adorable counting book is the ultimate gift for fans of The Princess Bride to share with the toddlers in their life or give as a gift to fellow fans. It’s inconceivable that anyone wouldn’t love this charming book… Read More The Princess Bride: A Counting Story by Lena Wolfe and Bill Robinson (Review)

book review, nonfiction

Friendsgiving by Shoshana Stopek (Review)

Let Friends be your guide to hosting unforgettable year-round celebrations. This one-of-a-kind handbook is filled with recipes, entertaining tips, and group activities inspired by the feasts and fun of everyone’s favorite sitcom squad. In part one of Friendsgiving you’ll find recipes like Righteous Mac ‘n’ Cheese and Neslé Toulouse Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies. Part two is filled with Friends-style entertaining tips, such as creating the ultimate Friendsgiving playlist and DIY-ing party decorations. Part three keeps the fun going with Pin the Tail on Ugly Naked Guy, Unagi Pictionary, and many more activities… Read More Friendsgiving by Shoshana Stopek (Review)

book review, children's

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le (Review)

When I first came to this country, I felt so alone. A young immigrant girl joins her aunt and uncle in a new country that is unfamiliar to her. She struggles with loneliness, with a fierce longing for the culture and familiarity of home, until one day, her aunt takes her on a walk. As the duo strolls through their city park, the girl’s aunt begins to tell her an old myth, and a story within the story begins. A long time ago, a group of refugees arrived on a foreign shore. The local king met them… Read More Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar and Khoa Le (Review)

book review, nonfiction

Mad and Bad by Bea Koch (Review)

Regency England is a world immortalized by Jane Austen and Lord Byron in their beloved novels and poems. The popular image of the Regency continues to be mythologized by the hundreds of romance novels set in the period, which focus almost exclusively on wealthy, white, Christian members of the upper classes. But there are hundreds of fascinating women who don’t fit history books limited perception of what was historically accurate for early 19th century England. Women like Dido Elizabeth Belle, whose mother was a slave but was raised by her white father’s family in England, Caroline Herschel, who acted as her brother’s assistant as he hunted the heavens for comets, and ended up discovering eight on her own, Anne Lister, who lived on her own terms with her common-law wife at Shibden Hall, and Judith Montefiore, a Jewish woman who wrote the first English language Kosher cookbook… Read More Mad and Bad by Bea Koch (Review)