“We will never accomplish anything worthwhile in life if we require the guarantee of success at the onset.” ― Sherry Thomas, The Burning Sky
Goodreads Synopsis:
It all began with a ruined elixir and a bolt of lightning.
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she’s been told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the most powerful tyrant and mage the world has ever known. This would be a suicide task for anyone, let alone a reluctant sixteen-year-old girl with no training.
Guided by his mother’s visions and committed to avenging his family, Prince Titus has sworn to protect Iolanthe even as he prepares her for their battle with the Bane. But he makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the tyrant closing in, Titus must choose between his mission—and her life.
My Thoughts:
I love a romantasy, but I appreciate that this story leans more on plot than romance. Iolanthe and Titus’s feelings are more of an undercurrent to the mission of defeating the Bane. This was a fun adventure with a fascinating cast of characters.
“Reality told us we would fail. But again and again, we fought. We perserved . We rose.” ― Tomi Adeyemi, Children of Blood and Bone
Title: Children of Blood and Bone
Author: Tomi Adeyemi
Publisher: Henry Holt Company
Publication Date: March 6, 2018
Goodreads Synopsis:
They killed my mother. They took our magic. They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
My Thoughts:
While listed as YA I would place this on the high end and would still recommend it to adults who don’t usually read YA. There are some heavy issues which require a certain level of maturity to digest. One of the things I love about fantasy is that you can highlight societal issues through a different world, which allows the reader to seperate personal feelings and see things clearer. There is so much symbolism releated to the black experience here that I’m sure I missed a lot. Most importantly it’s put together in an entertaining, action packed story with complex characters.
Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.
Today’s book: Cloaked by Alex Flinn
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 14, 2012
Date read: August 23, 2015
Goodreads Synopsis:
I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.
It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.
There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.
Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED.
My Thoughts:
Alex Flinn does it again. She has a knack for taking classic fairy tales and putting them in a modern, entertaining setting. The nice thing about this book is that she chose some more obscure fairy tales that might not be familiar to the reader. My only criticism is that she tries to mix so many stories together that the plot doesn’t always flow. But, overall, it gives everything I want in a YA fantasy: humor, a valuable life lesson and a happy ending.
Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.
This week’s book: The Luxe by Anna Godberson
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: November 20, 2007
Date Read: February 28, 2010
Goodreads Synopsis:
Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hookups. This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan’s social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City’s elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone–from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud–threatens Elizabeth’s and Diana’s golden future. With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city’s gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan’s most celebrated daughter disappear… In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.
My Thoughts:
The Luxe series is filled with drama, romance, glamour, and scandal set at the turn of the 20th century. I was immediately drawn into the story. I love the contrast between all the characters’ beautiful facades that hide their secrets. If I were to pick up this book for the first time now, I would assume that it was inspired by Downton Abbey, but it was written before the show. This is a YA novel, but I would recommend it to any Downton Abbey lover.
Welcome to my weekly post where I look back at some of my four and five star reads before I started Nicole’s Nook.
Publishers: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: June 1, 2012
Date Read: December 8, 2013
Favorite Quote: “The act of reading is a partnership. The author builds a house, but the reader makes it a home.” ― Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer, Between the Lines
Goodreads Synopsis:
Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book–one book in particular. Between the Lines” may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.
And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.
Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.
My Thoughts:
Who hasn’t dreamed of a favorite book character coming to life? This is a fun diversion from Picoult’s usual issue driven fiction. While is aimed at YA readers, book lovers of any age will enjoy it.
“Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.” ― Sarah J. Maas, Throne of Glass
Goodreads Synopsis:
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king’s champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.
The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass—and it’s there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena’s fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.
My Thoughts:
I read this one as part of a challenge to read books that have been on my tbr pile the longest. I don’t why I waited so long. It was so good! I read a lot of fantasy novels with young, strong, female protagonists. But, Celaena stands out from the rest. Even though she’s faced many hardships and has lethal skills, Celaena still finds enjoyment out of life and holds true to her ethics. She loves dogs, reading, dressing up, and going to parties like many girls. She just happens to fight some dark forces along the way.
Reasons I liked Throne of Glass:
Celaena is incredibly relatable for an assassin
Even though some horrible things are happening in this world, there’s a thread of hopefulness throughout the story
Captain of the Guard, Chaol is a perfect combination of tough and kind
Welcome to my stop for the TBR And Beyond Tours for Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper
Book Info:
Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper by Brie Spangler
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Publishing Date: April 11, 2023
Synopsis:
A heartwarming graphic novel about a baseball-obsessed 7th grader, trying to find her place in the sports world and her family.
In their tiny corner of Fox Point, Rhode Island, Gemma Hopper’s older brother, Teddy, is a baseball god, destined to become a Major League star. Gemma loves playing baseball, but with her mom gone and her dad working endless overtime, it’s up to her to keep the house running. She’s too busy folding laundry, making lunches, getting her younger twin brothers to do their homework, and navigating the perils of middle-school friendships to take baseball seriously.
But every afternoon, Gemma picks up her baseball glove to pitch to Teddy during his batting practice–throwing sliders down and away, fastballs right over the middle (not too fast or he’ll get mad), and hanging curveballs high and tight.
Could baseball be Gemma’s ticket to the big leagues or will it mean the end of her family as she knows it?
My Review:
After Gemma’s mother left, she carries the burden of holding the family together. This doesn’t leave a lot of time to pursue her passion for baseball. Her brother, Teddy, is the baseball star of the family. But, when a video of her pitching goes viral it looks like it might be her big chance too.
This book does a great job of realistically portraying the impacts of a mother abandoning her family. Gemma and Teddy both feel responsibility beyond their years, and feel resentment towards each other. Beyond the home, the issues carry into school as Gemma is assigned a school project about her family history. She’s also faced with typical changes in teenage friendships, when her oldest friend seems more interested in impressing popular kids than Gemma’s feelings.
Despite the problems explored in the story, Fox Point’s Own Gemma Hopper, doesn’t feel like a “heavy” book. The graphic novel format adds a lightness by showing the emotions through pictures. The focus on baseball also makes it high interest for young readers. It was very refreshing to have a sports-centered book with a female protagonist.
Author/illustrator of children’s picture books and YA novels, Brie Spangler loves to draw and write stories and drink massive amounts of caffeine, but not quite Dave Grohl “Fresh Pot!”/require hospitalization levels. Writing down the ideas in her head was scary as a kid, so she turned to making pictures instead. Brie worked as an illustrator for several years before she began to write and immediately became a frothing addict. BEAST is her debut novel.
Welcome to my weekly post where I share some of the great books I read before starting Nicole’s Nook.
Today’s book: The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
Publication Date: May 16, 2017
Date Read: April 15, 2018
My Star Rating: 4 Stars
Favorite Quote:
“I don’t exist to teach her a lesson, and it irks me that she thinks labelling me is okay now. Like, by liking guys, I automatically take on that role in her life. That I’m suddenly a supporting character in her story rather than the hero of my own.” ― Cale Dietrich, The Love Interest
Goodreads Synopsis:
There is a secret organization that cultivates teenage spies. The agents are called Love Interests because getting close to people destined for great power means getting valuable secrets.
Caden is a Nice: The boy next door, sculpted to physical perfection. Dylan is a Bad: The brooding, dark-souled guy, and dangerously handsome.
The girl they are competing for is important to the organization, and each boy will pursue her. Will she choose a Nice or the Bad?
Both Caden and Dylan are living in the outside world for the first time. They are well-trained and at the top of their games. They have to be – whoever the girl doesn’t choose will die.
What the boys don’t expect are feelings that are outside of their training. Feelings that could kill them both.
My Thoughts:
The Love Interest had mixed reviews on Goodreads. The key is not to take it too seriously. It’s meant to poke fun at the overused tropes in YA romance. It is full of angsty romance and teen discovery. I enjoyed the concept of an agency manipulating major events through romance. I also liked the repeated analogy of life to a book as Caden fights to be the protagonist in his own life. Overall, it was a fun read with a good mix of romance and action.
Words matter, in fact. They’re not pointless, as you’ve suggested. If they were pointless, then they couldn’t start revolutions and they wouldn’t change history. If they were just words, we wouldn’t write songs or listen to them. We wouldn’t beg to be read to as kids. If they were just words, then stories wouldn’t have been around since before we could write. We wouldn’t have learned to write. If they were just words, people wouldn’t fall in love because of them, feel bad because of them, ache because of them, and stop aching because of them.
Cath Crowley, Words in Deep Blue
Goodreads Synopsis:
Years ago, Rachel had a crush on Henry Jones. The day before she moved away, she tucked a love letter into his favorite book in his family’s bookshop. She waited. But Henry never came.
Now Rachel has returned to the city—and to the bookshop—to work alongside the boy she’d rather not see, if at all possible, for the rest of her life. But Rachel needs the distraction, and the escape. Her brother drowned months ago, and she can’t feel anything anymore. She can’t see her future.
Henry’s future isn’t looking too promising, either. His girlfriend dumped him. The bookstore is slipping away. And his family is breaking apart.
As Henry and Rachel work side by side—surrounded by books, watching love stories unfold, exchanging letters between the pages—they find hope in each other. Because life may be uncontrollable, even unbearable sometimes. But it’s possible that words, and love, and second chances are enough.
My Thoughts:
I am always drawn to books that are centered around bibliophiles. Usually the protagonists in these books are well into adulthood. I liked that this was a new adult book, showing a young man who loves books and poetry. There is drama and misunderstandings, but I felt like they rang true for that age.
What I liked about this book:
Their bookstore has a library where customers exchange notes in the books. I loved this concept, and the excerpts were an innovative technique for adding depth to the story.
There is a deep appreciation for the power of words in this book, balancing Henry’s love of poetry and Rachel’s love of science.
Rachel is dealing with her brother’s death and how to move on without feeling guilty. She and Henry have a lot of deep discussions about life and death.
George and Martin are fantastic side characters. Even though the central romance is between Henry and Rachel, I was more drawn to their story. George is Henry’s cynical sister, but Martin wiggles his way into her heart by refusing to take her insults personally.
“All this time, I’ve been afraid of my ability, when instead I should have been regarding it as a treasured weapon.”
Namina Forna, The Gilded Ones
Goodreads synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Deka lives in fear and anticipation of the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs.
But on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death.
Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. They are called alaki–near-immortals with rare gifts. And they are the only ones who can stop the empire’s greatest threat.
Knowing the dangers that lie ahead yet yearning for acceptance, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she will discover that the great walled city holds many surprises. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself.
My thoughts:
I haven’t read a book like this in a while. There’s enough craziness going on in the world, so I didn’t feel like reading anything with dystopian themes. This one appealed to me because of its “girl power” message. I enjoyed Deka’s journey as she discovered her own power. She is a dynamic character who changes greatly throughout the book.
This book is definitely on the older end of YA as it deals with issues of physical and sexual abuse. However, I found the overall message to be powerful for young girls. It shows strength and the power to overcome obstacles without downplaying the long-term effects of trauma. Above all, it showed the value of female friendship and standing together.
What I loved about this book:
Complex characters that are developed
Strong friendships
BIPOC and LGBQT+ characters as leads without race or sexuality being the main focus
