Always Jane by. Jenn Bennett | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Always Jane

Author: Jenn Bennett

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 3/29/22

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, Music

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

A chauffer’s daughter finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with the sons of her boss’s wealthy next-door neighbors in this delightfully romantic story from the author of Alex, Approximately, Jenn Bennett.

Love—and Fen Sarafian—do not care about your summer plans.

Eighteen-year-old chauffeur’s daughter Jane Marlow grew up among the domestic staff of a wealthy LA rock producer, within reach of bands she idolizes, but never a VIP. Every summer, Jane and her father head to the Sierras to work at the producer’s luxury lodge at Lake Condor—a resort town and the site of a major musical festival.

The legendary family who runs the festival are the Sarafians, and Jane’s had a longtime crush on their oldest son, Eddie—doltish but sweet. So when a long-distance romance finally sparks between them, she doesn’t hesitate to cross class lines.

But Jane’s feelings about Eddie are thrown into question after she returns to the lake and reconnects with his alluringly intense brother, the dark horse of her placid summer plans. A fellow lover of music—and hater of the game—Fen Sarafian has been ousted from the family and is slumming it at a vinyl record shop. He burns for Jane like a house on fire and will do anything to sabotage his older brother, even if it means taking a wrecking ball to a multi-million-dollar music festival. Or Jane’s heart.

Content Warning: Drug Use

First off – the cover of this book does not match the story. I get that the main character Jane loves pink but I feel like the cover should’ve matched the aesthetic of other Jenn Bennet book covers.

Right away I was intrigued with this story of a girl who has a brain injury because of an accident – she ends up dating one of the guys who was there at the time of the accident but then ends up liking his brother. Yes, beware, this is a love triangle that involves brothers but I have to point out Eddie and Jane’s relationship is pretty flimsy and it’s not a serious love triangle.

Jane wasn’t a character I could say I really connected to but I like that we see how her life is affected by her brain injury, aphasia, and also we get a glimpse into her life as a domesticate worker for a music mogul, Mad Dog. Her dad is the chauffeur so her whole life has been in the employ of Mad Dog. There is a rumor though that Jane may be Mad Dog’s child – but it doesn’t matter, she knows who was her dad is and who took care of her from when she was a baby. I did enjoy Jane’s relationship with her father, they are so close to one another. Jane is eighteen and not sure what she wants to do with her life, if that means moving in with her boyfriend Eddie or keep working for Mad Dog. When she returns to the place she had her accident, she meets Fennec/Fen, Eddie’s brother and she realizes she has more in common with him than Eddie. I did like to see Jane’s growth by the end of the story.

Fennec comes off as the ‘dark horse’ in his family compared to the ‘golden boy’ Eddie but we learn that isn’t true – he is a young man who loves his family, loves music and loves Jane. He is not afraid to speak out against his brother, even if it gets him kicked out of his own home. I thought he was the more interesting character between him and Jane but he is definitely filled with a lot of angst. Fennec comes from a bigger family who are always involved in each other’s lives. Fen’s mom was very interesting and seemed to run the household even though Fen’s dad is the head of the family. He doesn’t have a good relationship with his dad.

Now as far as how the romance unfolds – Jane is Eddie’s girlfriend and he is on a business trip. I got the feeling right away that he wasn’t into the relationship like Jane was and that made me feel so bad for her because she didn’t know much about him but she was ready to move in with him! She learns more about him through his brother Fennec. Jane and Fen have so much in common especially when it comes to music. They go from enemies, to friends, to more than friends but obviously Fen has been crazy about Jane since before her accident.

Overall, I didn’t connect to the characters as much as I’d like, and I think there was a bunch of things going on in the story that didn’t make it flow as easily as her other books. Jane is trying to decide her future and get out of being a domestic worker, she’s trying to navigate her feelings about the rumors about her real dad being Mad Dog, she’s an assistant to Mad Dog’s daughter Velvet and trying to deal with her drug using antics, and she’s supposedly in a relationship with Eddie but falling in love with Fennec. Jane grows and learns to stand up for what she wants out of her life by the end, even though it means to do it without Fen.

Why you should read it:

you love Jenn Bennett’s books
Jane and Fennec bonding over music – he’s so in love with her
Jane’s growth

Why you might not want to read it:

I didn’t connect as much to the characters as I would have liked
seemed like there was too much going on in the story

My Thoughts:

This is not my favorite Jenn Bennett book but the signature imperfect characters are present in this book. It’s what I adore about Jenn Bennett books. I just wish I connected to the characters more and there was less going on when it came to Eddie’s drama, and maybe Mad Dog being Jane’s father (which didn’t matter because her dad was there from day one). Jane and Fennec are both eighteen years old kids who are trying to figure out life, obsessing about music, dealing with some family drama and falling in love.

📚 ~ Yolanda

How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by. Holly Black | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (The Folk of the Air, #3.5)

Author: Holly Black

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 200 pages

Publication Date: 11/24/20

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Categories: Series, Illustrated, Novella, Fantasy, Young Adult

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, his 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.

Content Warning: Abuse

I’ve been wanting a copy of this for awhile. I don’t have the physical copy (will have to get it for my collection) but I did borrow the ebook and it was exactly as I expected it would be. The story brings us back to Elfhame but we get to know Cardan much better. We get a glimpse into Cardan’s childhood and his relationship with Nicasia. And I absolutely adored all the scenes he has with Jude, with her as his Queen. They are seriously too cute together. I enjoyed this installment very much.

Why you should read it:

if you love The Folk of the Air series, this is a must read
it’s short, a quick read and has illustrations
the magical writing of Holly Black

Why you might not want to read it:

it’s too short and you may want more lol

My Thoughts:

I absolutely enjoyed this illustrated novella and need it on my shelf!

📚 ~ Yolanda

A Deadly Education by. Naomi Novik | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️💫

Title: A Deadly Education (The Scholomance, #1)

Author: Naomi Novik

Format: eBook (owned)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 9/29/20

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Categories: Series, Young Adult, Dark Academia, Romance

Lesson One of the Scholomance: Learning has never been this deadly.

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets.

There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere.

El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

Content Warning: Violence

This one did not work for me even though there were some parts I actually did like about the story.

I like how appropriate the title of this book is. It is a deadly education indeed! I like the tone – there are monsters everywhere, I don’t even see how these kids survive and not a lot do. El is the perfect main character for a place like this school – she is grumpy, sassy, rude, not someone you will like or relate to, definitely not a likable character but she’s smart and aware of her surroundings, she knows how to survive this school, I give her credit for that! Her relationship with Orion the hero of Scholomance is one of my favorite parts. They become reluctant friends, and eventually more than friends but that was the only time the story held onto my interest. I did think the world building is great, a school infested with monsters – sounds pretty crazy and they have to use their magic skills to stay alive and graduate.

What didn’t work for me is we are seriously in El’s head the whole time! This book is only 336 pages and took me 2 weeks or more to finish! 😳 It’s a lot of info dumping and rambling and I could not get through it fast enough. It would have been nice to have more dialogue with other characters. I skipped a lot of her rambling. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Why you should read it:

you are a fan of the author (this was my first book from her)
dark academia – these kids can’t leave the school unless they survive by killing monsters and then graduate!
El and Orion are such an unlikely pair, she’s the grump and he’s the nice guy

Why you might not want to read it:

you are in El’s head a lot, a lot of rambling

My Thoughts:

This did not work for me, I skipped a lot when all I was getting from the book was El’s thoughts. It might have been due to my mood as well because I did love the world building and concept. Also the action parts were great but the rest was just not working for me. I’m not sure if I will continue the series but I am curious to see what happens next.

📚 ~ Yolanda

American Street by. Ibi Zoboi | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: American Street

Author: Ibi Zoboi

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 336

Publication Date: 2/14/17

Categories: Young Adult, Haitian Immigrant, Family, Romance, Abuse, Magical Realism, Own Voices

The rock in the water does not know the pain of the rock in the sun.

On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie—a good life.

But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit’s west side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own.

Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?

Content Warning: Violence, Physical Abuse, Death

This is the second book I’ve read from Ibi Zoboi and once again she drew me into a story with compelling characters. This time the story is gritty, set in Detroit, with a family who have seen tough times and has a reputation in the neighborhood for it. But the main character Fabiola is starting off her journey from Haiti to Detroit without her mother – she got detained in New Jersey and all Fab wants to do is have her mother back with her.

I loved getting to know Fabiola’s cousins who are all very different from one another. There are three sisters, Chantal – the oldest and in college, Pri and Donna who are twins: Pri is the tough girl at school who has a crush on another girl and Donna is the beautiful one and in an abusive relationship with Dray – a drug dealer. His best friend, Kasim has his eyes set on Fabiola.

Fabiola navigates her first days in America fairly well even though she has an accent and her use of American slang isn’t the best. She doesn’t even really curse but in Detroit around her cousins and new friends, she is surrounded by a lot of crude language. Fabiola starts to dress the way her cousins do, even more so when she starts dating Kasim. But she hasn’t forgotten her mom in New Jersey and she’s trying to find a way to bring her back to her. Opportunity presents itself but it will mean going behind her family’s back.

I thought the magical realism in the story was fascinating because it tied so much into Fabiola’s Haitian culture. I loved learning about the Lwas (spirits) and how one was outside their house, guiding Fabiola with his songs. I loved all of Fabiola’s memories of Haiti although sometimes they were sad and scary memories, like the earthquake – she always mentioned that even with misery, there were neighbors and community to share that misery with and in turn it helped them move on, cope and love life despite the bad things. Another thing I enjoyed was getting a bit of perspective from each character, even if it was just a snippet.

Some issues with the book I had: I wish there was more about getting Fabiola’s mom back to her. Maybe too many things happening at once in the story? Also…Donna and Dray…he physically abuses her and I know her family doesn’t like him for her and yet they can’t do anything about it. Hard to read but so realistic.

Why you should read it:

it’s an OwnVoices story Haitian rep, diversity
it’s a raw story about family and trying to survive in the American Dream
Fabiola’s separation from her mom and acclimating to life without her a new country is powerful

Why you might not want to read it:

you don’t like magical realism
some tough subject matter like physical abuse

My Thoughts:

I liked reading the female perspective in American Street, this story is full of strong females. Fabiola, who was born in America but raised in Haiti has to find her way in American culture and without her mother. Her cousins, the Three Bees, are tough Hatian-American girls from Detroit, all with different personalities and roles to play. Their loyalty to the family is rock hard. Nothing can seem to break them up, not abusive boyfriends, debt, or drug dealers and I love their bond. This is an important story about the cost of trying to live the American Dream.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“No one would be left alone in a tiny house with only their regrets and sorrows to keep them company.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“In Haiti, with all its problems, there was always a friend or a neighbor to share in the misery. And then, after our troubles were tallied up like those points at the basketball game, we would celebrate being alive.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

“But then I realize that everyone is climbing their own mountain here in America. They are tall and mighty and they live in the hearts and everyday lives of the people.”
― Ibi Zoboi, American Street

Dear Martin by. Nic Stone | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Dear Martin

Author: Nic Stone

Format: eBook (borrowed)

Pages: 224

Publication Date: 10/17/17

Categories: Young Adult, Racism, Police Brutality, Coming of Age, Contemporary

Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can’t escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates. Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up—way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack.

Content Warning: Racism, Violence, Death

This is a very short book, barely over 200 pages but it is impactful.

It tells the story of Justyce, a boy who is going to a really good high school even though he is from a rougher neighborhood. He has dreams of going to Yale and he has the grades and test scores to do it. His best friend is Manny, a rich black boy who hangs out with the other rich kids at their high school but all of those guys are white. He writes letters to Martin Luther King, Jr. just to make sense of himself. When Justyce has a scary experience with a cop, he sees his world in a different light, questions a lot of things, is more aware of the racism happening around him and wonders how to move forward in life as a young black man in America.

Justyce and Manny have an amazing friendship that is tested by the racism happening around them. Manny chooses to ignore it but after Justyce’s traumatic experience it makes him question Manny’s friends. I really liked how they brought up race issues in Justyce’s classroom and seeing how it pertains to his life outside of the class. But this isn’t only about Justyce’s life in high school trying to be a dutiful student, a good best friend and falling in love. There is a very shocking event that makes the news, there is a trial – Justyce goes through a lot and we see if his letters to Martin help him deal and make sense of his situation. Honestly that moment in the book took my breath away, I really like how that part was written.

The book made me feel all kinds of emotions, especially angry and and frustrated for Justyce. He is trapped from all sides.

One of my issues with the story that threw me off at times was the way the characters spoke and the way it was written like a script. It mostly happened when they were in the classroom. I kept wondering why it was done that way! Couldn’t that have just been written as dialogue? I just chalked it up to Justyce seeing these moments as a play and he’s in the background or something…not sure. But it was distracting and making me question what was the point. Also this book is short – I kind of would have love more in the second half of the story where things really go down.

Why you should read it:

important and impactful story about racism in America and police brutality
Justyce and Manny’s friendship
Justyce’s story

Why you might not want to read it:

some parts of dialogue is written like a script and I don’t know why
wish second half of the story was more fleshed out and longer

My Thoughts:

This one is short and quick but it is powerful. We get to watch Justyce’s journey from somewhat having the things in life going for him (hot girlfriend, good grades, good school) to him realizing he will always struggle as a black man in America, no matter how smart he is, what school he goes to and what job he gets. Justyce will have to decide what type of man he wants to be and maybe writing to Martin will help him figure it out.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the Book:

“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave. “
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

“You can’t change how other people think and act, but you’re in full control of you. When it comes down to it, the only question that matters is this: If nothing in the world ever changes, what type of man are you gonna be?”
― Nic Stone, Dear Martin

Heartbreakers and Fakers by. Cameron Lund | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Heartbreakers and Fakers

Author: Cameron Lund

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 352

Publication Date: 6/8/21

Publisher: Razorbill

Categories: Young Adult, Romance, High School, Fake-Dating, Enemies to Lovers, Coming of Age

From the author of The Best Laid Plans comes another fresh voiced, hilarious rom-com perfect for fans of Tweet Cute and The Rest of the Story.

Penny Harris just ruined her life.

As one of the most popular girls in school, she’s used to being invited to every party, is dating the Jordan Parker, and can’t wait to rule senior year with her best friend, Olivia. But when Penny wakes up on Jordan’s lawn the morning after his first-day-of-summer bash, she knows something went terribly wrong the night before.

She kissed Kai Tanaka.

Kai, her long-time nemesis. Kai, Olivia’s boyfriend. Penny can’t figure out what could have inspired her to do it–she loves Jordan and she would never hurt Olivia–but one thing’s for sure: freshly dumped, and out a best friend, the idyllic summer she pictured is over.

And despite the fact that Jordan seems to be seeking comfort (and a whole lot more) in Olivia, all Penny can think about is winning him back. Kai wants to save his relationship too, so they come up with a plan: convince their friends that they really do have feelings for each other. After all, no one can resist a good love story, and maybe seeing Penny and Kai together will make Jordan and Olivia change their minds.

But as summer heats up, so does Penny and Kai’s “relationship,” and Penny starts to question whether she’s truly faking it with Kai, if he’s really as terrible as she always thought he was, and if the life she’s fighting so hard to get back is the one she really wants.

Content Warning: Bullying

Penny is that girl who wasn’t always popular but once she became best friends with Olivia, the queen bee at school, she’s been her number two girl and she tries her best to keep her spot. This makes Penny a follower, and not the most likable character but she is relatable because she used to be the one who was bullied. It makes sense she doesn’t want to be bullied anymore but being friends with Olivia makes her a bully too.

As far as the romance, it’s an enemies to lovers, fake-dating situation where her enemy is the one who came up with the name she was bullied with! It’s natural that Penny hates Kai, but as they get thrown together, they finally get to know one another and in essence both of them was trying to survive being picked on in school. The story has a lot of high school drama but in a way I could understand Penny’s fears. Who likes to be bullied? No one.

Penny does grow by the end of this and I’m glad about that because it was hard to watch her try to find her way back to Olivia’s side when clearly Olivia is not a nice person and a worse friend at that. I like that Kai teaches her to let go a little and not be afraid to be herself. But it’s high school and people can change.

I do like how this author writes complicated and not automatically likable characters. They are flawed, make messy decisions, they are kids in high school who think everything matters in that very moment when as adults reading we know something bigger is coming their way. Bills. LOL…just kidding, but not kidding. 😅

Why you should read it:

fake dating, enemies to lovers
you like high school drama
realistic characters, even though not exactly likable, relatable high school situations

Why you might not want to read it:

you are not into the mean girls high school drama

My Thoughts:

Penny isn’t perfect, she is friends with a mean girl, and then she becomes one of the mean girls to survive. Penny and Kai’s enemies to lovers fake-dating situation helps them really get to know each other and pushes Penny to take a good look at who her friends are, and who she is without Olivia. Navigating high school is not easy and trying to figure out who you are in high school won’t happen overnight. Most people find ourselves after high school. This was full of messy high school drama, and as an adult I enjoyed it because it’s relatable. This one would appeal definitely appeal to teen readers.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the book:

“If you make a bad choice, you have to try to fix it. You have to put in the work to make things better.”
Heartbreakers and Fakers by. Cameron Lund

“The truth is high school is such a small blip on my timeline. Life is too short to waste the whole thing worrying.”
Heartbreakers and Fakers by. cameron Lund

“Who cares if people are staring? The fact is, they probably aren’t even looking my way at all.”
Heartbreakers and Fakers by. Cameron Lund

Once Upon a Broken Heart by. Stephanie Garber | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart

Author: Stephanie Garber

Format: hardcover (borrowed)

Pages: 408

Publication Date: 9/28/21

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Categories: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance

How far would you go for happily ever after?

For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings…until she learns that the love of her life will marry another.

Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic but wicked Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing.

But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game—and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy….

Content Warning: ~

We are back in the Caraval world and it’s nice to be back. I will always remember Caraval for it’s world building: dark, mysterious, magical, and dangerous. In Once Upon a Broken Heart, we get to be back in that world, but a different part, the Magnificent North. We are reintroduced to a certain Fate – Jacks, the Prince of Hearts. He should be the Prince of Broken Hearts. 😅 I love his character – he’s untrustworthy, and such a seductive bad boy, you just want to be that girl to take his kiss and survive!

Evangeline Fox has made a deal with Jacks because her heart was broken. But broken hearts and bad decisions make a bad combo! And making deals with the Fates have consequences. She’s been turned to stone (but that was her fault), she’s been made to be the darling of the tabloids (a consequence of turning to stone and coming back to life), then she becomes a Prince’s wife (Jack’s fault), and throughout all this we find out she is the key to a prophecy (her hair color’s fault lol). Evangeline is a romantic and just wants the kind of love her parents had, true love. At times she’s a bit naive and too trusting but this is book one, so let’s see if she grows from here on out. The tension between Evangeline and Jacks is wonderful and makes me want to see what happens between the two of them.

The Fates are fun and I’m glad we meet more like Poison, LaLa and Chaos…um hello! Chaos is a vampire. Uh huh, now we have vampires in this story lol.

Story-wise it felt flighty at times and not as solid as Caraval was. I felt like I was in a dream…if that makes sense? The story totally gives fairytale, whimsical vibes, but I felt like I couldn’t quite pin it down at some spots. It was fast paced, sometimes too fast. For example, Evangeline is whipping through events like turning into stone one minute and then becoming a wife in another! The scandal papers were kind of fun, that was the surface story it seems while more is happening underneath. There is a prophecy that Evangeline is tied to and Jacks needs her to open the Valory Arch but we don’t know why. There are lots of questions that I hope get answered in the next book.

Why you should read it:

you are a fan of Jacks from Caraval
you love bad boys with cold hearts and fangs
you want to immerse yourself in the magical world of Caraval again but a different part of it

Why you might not want to read it:

fairytale, whimsical story telling isn’t your style
there is no love yet, there are lots of broken hearts, kisses, tension and temptations though 😅

My Thoughts:

I just went along for the ride with this one and right away I was transported to that dark, magical, dreamlike place that could only exist in the world of Caraval. There are twists and turns, some that leave you confused, some that make you want more. I do want more of Jacks, LaLa and Chaos and to see if Evangeline’s faith in love is about true love or wanting the kind of love that only belongs in fairytales? And I want less of Evangeline being so naive. I’m looking forward to see what happens in book two and if we get any answers to the many questions left open in this book.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the book:

“He looked like a bad decision some unfortunate person was about to make.”
Once Upon a Broken Heart by. Stephanie Garber

Bound by Firelight | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Title: Bound by Firelight (Wickery, #2)

Author: Dana Swift

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 448

Publication Date: 1/18/22

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

After a magical eruption devastates the kingdom of Belwar, royal heir Adraa is falsely accused of masterminding the destruction and forced to stand trial in front of her people, who see her as a monster. Adraa’s punishment? Imprisonment in the Dome, an impenetrable, magic-infused fortress filled with Belwar’s nastiest criminals—many of whom Adraa put there herself. And they want her to pay.

Jatin, the royal heir to Naupure, has been Adraa’s betrothed, nemesis, and fellow masked vigilante… but now he’s just a boy waiting to ask her the biggest question of their lives. First, though, he’s going to have to do the impossible: break Adraa out of the Dome. And he won’t be able to do it without help from the unlikeliest of sources—a girl from his past with a secret that could put them all at risk.

Time is running out, and the horrors Adraa faces in the Dome are second only to the plot to destabilize and destroy their kingdoms. But Adraa and Jatin have saved the world once already… Now, can they save themselves?

Content Warning: violence

Book two of the Wickery series picks up immediately after the major event that happened in the first book. Adraa is pegged as an enemy and imprisoned. The amazing world building and magic is back. Jatin and the crew are going around town reminding me of the Avengers. It was nice to see the old crew back.

The story is told between Adraa and Jatin’s perspectives but I think the one with more of a journey and lots of growth is Adraa because she is separated from the group and thrown in prison. She faces many challenges and fights, literally – to the death. We see Adraa out of her comfort zone fighting in prison without her magic and we see her try to relearn how to make magic with some help.

What I found fun about the first book was Adraa and Jatin’s friends helping them on their missions and becoming a group of superheroes. They are back in this sequel, doing what they do best!

I think one thing I missed about the first book was Adraa and Jatin’s enemies to lovers romance because of course, now they are together with no qualms about their love for one another. And they were kept apart for most of the story so I did miss them interacting with one another.

Why you should read it:

a solid duology with lots of magic and romance (mostly in book one)
Adraa goes through a lot of challenges and growth
magic wielding superheroes and lots of action

Why you might not want to read it:

not a lot of romance
couple was spent apart for most of the book

My Thoughts:

Although not my favorite between the two books in this duology because I miss all the romance, I think this was a solid conclusion to this series. I enjoyed all the world building, magic and camaraderie between Jatin and his friends. Adraa goes through a lot in this sequel shows but she rises to the challenge which is very inspiring.

📚 ~ Yolanda

This Poison Heart by. Kalynn Baron | Book Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: This Poison Heart

Author: Kalynn Bayron

Format: ebook (own)

Pages: 384

Publication Date: 6/29/21

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Categories: Contemporary, Fantasy, Mythology, LGBTQIA+

Darkness blooms in bestselling author Kalynn Bayron’s new contemporary fantasy about a girl with a unique and deadly power.

Briseis has a gift: she can grow plants from tiny seeds to rich blooms with a single touch.

When Briseis’s aunt dies and wills her a dilapidated estate in rural New York, Bri and her parents decide to leave Brooklyn behind for the summer. Hopefully there, surrounded by plants and flowers, Bri will finally learn to control her gift. But their new home is sinister in ways they could never have imagined–it comes with a specific set of instructions, an old-school apothecary, and a walled garden filled with the deadliest botanicals in the world that can only be entered by those who share Bri’s unique family lineage.

When strangers begin to arrive on their doorstep, asking for tinctures and elixirs, Bri learns she has a surprising talent for creating them. One of the visitors is Marie, a mysterious young woman who Bri befriends, only to find that Marie is keeping dark secrets about the history of the estate and its surrounding community. There is more to Bri’s sudden inheritance than she could have imagined, and she is determined to uncover it . . . until a nefarious group comes after her in search of a rare and dangerous immortality elixir. Up against a centuries-old curse and the deadliest plant on earth, Bri must harness her gift to protect herself and her family.

From the bestselling author of Cinderella Is Dead comes another inspiring and deeply compelling story about a young woman with the power to conquer the dark forces descending around her.

Content Warning: violence, death, poison reactions

There is a lot to like about This Poison Heart. I love that it’s a story about a girl, Briseis with plant powers and that makes her immune to very poisonous plants. Now the story of how she has these powers is fascinating and tied into Greek mythology. The mythology story that explains Briseis’ family tree is the one about Medea and Jason and The Golden Fleece which honestly…I don’t even remember. I don’t know much about Medea but I have heard of Jason and The Golden Fleece, but ask me what it is about and I have no recollection. But the story gives us the background about it.

A lot of this book is a mystery because Briseis is adopted and then she’s willed an estate which was owned by her bio aunt, Circe. We learn that all is not as it seems at this new home Briseis and her moms have moved into. I loved that Briseis has two very loving moms. Her moms were my favorite characters in the book. The story is wonderfully diverse with Briseis moms and she herself being bisexual. There is a blossoming love interest in this story as well.

Briseis is very trusting and that bites her in the end. At times I just wish she wasn’t so trusting but she has to make her mistakes and learn but it’s a hard lesson in this story. The second half of the book was so much better than the first half. The first half was a little too slow for me but it’s due to setting up all the backstory of Briseis connection to Medea. The second half pulls the story together and there are some crazy things that happen. It definitely sets everything up nicely for the sequel.

Why you should read it:

you like Greek mythology
Briseis’ moms are amazing and other lgbtqia+ reps
Briseis’ plant powers and poison immunity is really cool

Why you might not want to read it:

slow beginning but it’s setting up the story so push through

My Thoughts:

I took my time with this one and I’m glad because the ending was really great and makes me look forward to the sequel.

📚 ~ Yolanda

Quotes from the book:

“Can’t be done no other way. You fixin’ somethin’ for somebody you love, for this healin’. Gotta do it with your bare hands and your whole heart. Understand?”
This Poison Heart by. Kalynn Baron

These Deadly Games by. Diana Urban | ARC Review

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Title: These Deadly Games

Author: Diana Urban

Pages: 416

Publication Date: 2/1/22

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Categories: Thriller, Mystery, Young Adult, Gamers

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Let’s play a game.

You have 24 hours to win. If you break my rules, she dies. If you call the police, she dies. If you tell your parents or anyone else, she dies.

Are you ready?

When Crystal Donavan gets a message on a mysterious app with a video of her little sister gagged and bound, she agrees to play the kidnapper’s game. At first, they make her complete bizarre tasks: steal a test and stuff it in a locker, bake brownies, make a prank call.

But then Crystal realizes each task is meant to hurt—and kill—her friends, one by one. But if she refuses to play, the kidnapper will kill her sister. Is someone trying to take her team out of the running for a gaming tournament? Or have they uncovered a secret from their past, and wants them to pay for what they did…

As Crystal makes the impossible choices between her friends and her sister, she must uncover the truth and find a way to outplay the kidnapper… before it’s too late.

Content Warnings: mention of anorexia, abuse, alocoholism, murder, death

This one kept me on my toes even though I suspected the right people from the beginning but that doesn’t mean this was totally predictable. Getting to the end was a wild ride!

Crystal and her friends are gamers trying to enter a tournament with a big money prize, so the stakes are high and it seems not everyone in their group is playing fair. On top of her anxiety of trying to be part of the team, Crystal’s sister has been kidnapped and the person who supposedly makes her do all these crazy things in order to get her sister back safe and sound. Talk about stress!

Now let’s talk about the the things this kidnapper is making Crystal do – it’s tasks meant to hurt or kill her best friends! Craziness. And it’s a choice between saving her sister or hurting her friends. The more tasks she does the less control she has over this “game” even though she thinks she can beat the kidnapper at their own game.

My lists of suspects were pretty spot on but the twist in the end wasn’t something I saw. I like that I was kept on my toes, even though my suspicions were right. I read it one sitting.

Character wise, Crystal isn’t someone I came to care for also, she has secrets. She seemed like she was super-focused on making the team for the tournament, but with good reason (to help her family) but she wasn’t someone I’d say is likable. Her friends seem like a tight group until we get more into the story and we see where the problems are between them. So I didn’t quite connect to the characters but the story was intriguing with the cat and mouse game happening between Crystal and the kidnapper.

It’s a wild finish but it was left open ended so is there a sequel? It’s definitely set up for one.

Why you should read it:

good cat and mouse game to find the kidnapper
fast-paced, quick read
you like a good murder mystery

Why you might not want to read it:

lack of connection to characters

My Thoughts:

I have been reading a few young adult murder mysteries lately that haven’t really wow’ed me but this one had everything I wanted – it’s fast-paced, kept me on toes trying to figure out who was the kidnapper and their motive for making Crystal do some messed up things. I thought the ending twist was great and if there is a sequel, I would definitely check it out.

📚 ~ Yolanda