— ARC review, book review, young adult —

These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (ARC Review)

March 28, 2021

The year is 1926, and Shanghai hums to the tune of debauchery. A blood feud between two gangs runs the streets red, leaving the city helpless in the grip of chaos. At the heart of it all is eighteen-year-old Juliette Cai, a former flapper who has returned to assume her role as the proud heir of the Scarlet Gang—a network of criminals far above the law. Their only rivals in power are the White Flowers, who have fought the Scarlets for generations. And behind every move is their heir, Roma Montagov, Juliette’s first love… Read More These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Wings of Ebony by J. Elle (Review)

March 26, 2021

“Make a way out of no way” is just the way of life for Rue. But when her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, life for her and her younger sister changes forever. Rue’s taken from her neighborhood by the father she never knew, forced to leave her little sister behind, and whisked away to Ghizon—a hidden island of magic wielders. Rue is the only half-god, half-human there, where leaders protect their magical powers at all costs and thrive on human suffering. Miserable and desperate to see her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue breaks Ghizon’s sacred Do Not Leave Law and returns to Houston, only to discover that Black kids are being forced into crime and violence… Read More Wings of Ebony by J. Elle (Review)

— book review, young adult —

I’m a Gay Wizard by V.S. Santoni (Review)

March 1, 2021

You try magic once and it sticks to you like glitter glue… When Johnny and his best friend, Alison, pass their summer holidays dabbling in magic, they never expect it to have consequences. Sure, it’d be great if they could banish bullies or change their lives for the better, and what harm could come from lighting a few candles and chanting a few spells? When they cause an earthquake that shakes Chicago to its core, they draw the attention of the Marduk Institute, an age-old organization dedicated to fostering the talents of young wizards. Once there, Johnny and Alison are told they can never return to their previous lives, and must quickly adapt to a new world shimmering with monsters, fraternities, and cute boys like Hunter and Blake. But when they’re pulled into an epic, supernatural fight that could cost them both their lives, Johnny and Alison find strength they never knew they had as they battle for love, acceptance, and their own happy ending—all with the help of a little magic… Read More I’m a Gay Wizard by V.S. Santoni (Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova (ARC Review)

January 12, 2021

Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she’s been feeling lost. She has brand-new powers she doesn’t understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father’s return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father’s memory loss has been a lie. As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There, Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters. But if Rose wants to return home so she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first… Read More Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova (ARC Review)

— Adult, book review —

The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire (Review)

November 25, 2019

Hundreds of years ago, the Selkies made a deal with the sea witch: they would have the sea for as long as she allowed it, and when the time came, she would call in all their debts at once. Many people assumed that day would never come. Those people were wrong. When the Luidaeg—October “Toby” Daye’s oldest and most dangerous ally—tells her the time has come for the Selkies to fulfill their side of the bargain, and that Toby must be a part of the process, Toby can’t refuse. Literally… Read More The Unkindest Tide by Seanan McGuire (Review)

— Adult, book review —

Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (Review)

August 29, 2019

Things are not okay. In the aftermath of Amandine’s latest betrayal, October “Toby” Daye’s fragile self-made family is on the verge of coming apart at the seams. Jazz can’t sleep, Sylvester doesn’t want to see her, and worst of all, Tybalt has withdrawn from her entirely, retreating into the Court of Cats as he tries to recover from his abduction. Toby is floundering, unable to help the people she loves most heal. She needs a distraction. She needs a quest.… Read More Night and Silence by Seanan McGuire (Review)

— Adult, book review —

The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire (Review)

July 11, 2019

Things are slow, and October “Toby” Daye couldn’t be happier about that. The elf-shot cure has been approved, Arden Windermere is settling into her position as Queen in the Mists, and Toby doesn’t have anything demanding her attention except for wedding planning and spending time with her family. Maybe she should have realized that it was too good to last. When Toby’s mother, Amandine, appears on her doorstep with a demand for help, refusing her seems like the right thing to do…until Amandine starts taking hostages, and everything changes… Read More The Brightest Fell by Seanan McGuire (Review)

— Adult, book review, bullet point review, fiction, multiple reviews —

October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire: Books 7-10 (Multiple Bullet Point Reviews)

June 1, 2019

I finished the 12th book in the October Daye series the other day…which means that I’m all caught up now! Ah! In case this is the first October Day themed post of mine that you’ve come across, I highly recommend that you read my full-length review for the first book and my mini-reviews for books… Read More October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire: Books 7-10 (Multiple Bullet Point Reviews)

— book review, young adult —

Scion of the Fox by S.M. Beiko (Review)

March 13, 2019

As the winter ice begins to thaw, the fury of a demon builds — all because one girl couldn’t stay dead . . .Roan Harken considers herself a typical high school student — dead parents, an infected eyeball, and living in the house of her estranged, currently comatose grandmother (well, maybe not so typical) — but she’s uncovering the depth of the secrets her family left behind…… Read More Scion of the Fox by S.M. Beiko (Review)

— calendar girls —

Calendar Girls (November 2018): Not Quite the End (Favourite Middle Book in a Series)

November 5, 2018

Hello everyone, and hello November! It’s the start of a new month, which also means it’s time for a new Calendar Girls Books post! This month’s theme is Not Quite the End: Favourite Middle Book in a Series, and I’ve been very excited about completing this prompt. I’m also excited to see what all of… Read More Calendar Girls (November 2018): Not Quite the End (Favourite Middle Book in a Series)