My 5 Most Anticipated August Releases

It's the start of August, and you know what that means! Here are my most anticipated August releases (in no particular order). Covers link to Goodreads!

1) Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell & Faith Erin Hicks

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?

Release Date: August 27th, 2019

Why I'm excited: First of all, it has been well-documented that I LOVE seasonal reads, so the idea of seasonal best friends reunited ever September 1 has me over the moon. And it's a graphic novel! I really enjoyed Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park (review here), and I love the artwork on this cover, so I'm guessing I'll love the contents as well.

2) Say You Still Love Me by K.A. Tucker

Life is a mixed bag for Piper Calloway.

On the one hand, she’s a twenty-nine-year-old VP at her dad’s multibillion-dollar real estate development firm, and living the high single life with her two best friends in a swanky downtown penthouse. On the other hand, she’s considered a pair of sexy legs in a male-dominated world and constantly has to prove her worth. Plus, she’s stuck seeing her narcissistic ex-fiancé—a fellow VP—on the other side of her glass office wall every day.

Things get exponentially more complicated for Piper when she runs into Kyle Miller—the handsome new security guard at Calloway Group Industries, and coincidentally the first love of her life.

The guy she hasn’t seen or heard from since they were summer camp counsellors together. The guy from the wrong side of the tracks. The guy who apparently doesn’t even remember her name.

Piper may be a high-powered businesswoman now, but she soon realizes that her schoolgirl crush is not only alive but stronger than ever, and crippling her concentration. What’s more, despite Kyle’s distant attitude, she’s convinced their reunion isn’t at all coincidental, and that his feelings for her still run deep. And she’s determined to make him admit to them, no matter the consequences.

Release Date: August 6th, 2019

Why I'm excited: I discovered K.A. Tucker when her ebook Anathema, the start of a paranormal series, was offered for free. I really enjoyed that book, although I haven't finished the series yet and I'm excited to see how the author fares with contemporary fiction. I'm intrigued by the environment and main character this story promises - a female, high-powered executive in a male-dominated field. I also don't see a ton of books about this age group (not "new adult" but not middle-aged or family/children-oriented yet either), so I'm excited to dig in!

3) Of Ice and Shadows by Audrey Coulthurst

The long-awaited sequel to Of Fire and Stars—in which Mare and Denna travel to a new and dangerous kingdom where Denna must be trained to tame her magic by a mysterious queen who is not all she seems. Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Tamora Pierce.

Princesses Denna and Mare are in love and together at last—only to face a new set of dangers.

Mare just wants to settle down with the girl she loves, which would be easier if Denna weren’t gifted with forbidden and volatile fire magic. Denna must learn to control her powers, which means traveling in secret to the kingdom of Zumorda, where she can seek training without fear of persecution. Determined to help, Mare has agreed to serve as an ambassador as a cover for their journey.

But just after Mare and Denna arrive in Zumorda, an attack on a border town changes everything. Mare’s diplomatic mission is now urgent: She must quickly broker an alliance with the Zumordan queen to protect her homeland. However, the queen has no interest in allying with other kingdoms—it’s Denna’s untamed but powerful magic that catches her eye. The queen offers to teach Denna herself, and both girls know it would be dangerous to refuse.

As Denna’s powers grow stronger, Mare does her best to be the ambassador her kingdom needs. Her knowledge of Zumorda and its people grows, and so too do her suspicions about the queen’s intentions. With rising tensions and unexpected betrayals putting Mare and Denna in jeopardy and dangerous enemies emerging on all sides, can they protect their love and save their kingdoms?

Release Date: August 13th, 2019

Why I'm excited: I found Coulthurst's debut, Of Fire and Stars (review here) a little meh, but really enjoyed the author's writing. While it ended nicely (read: no cliffhangers), I was intrigued to see where Mare and would head to next. This new storyline looks super good, and I have high hopes that Coulthurst's writing has only developed since her debut.

4) House of Salt and Shadows by Erin A. Craig

In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.

Release Date: August 6th, 2019

Why I'm excited: This is a retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I love the setting of a manor by the sea, and the mystery sounds very intriguing. I haven't read the original fairy tale, so I don't know how it might deviate, but this sounds like it will take an original turn to the tale.

5) Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford

For generations, the princes of Ilara have married the most beautiful maidens from the ocean village of Varenia. But though every girl longs to be chosen as the next princess, the cost of becoming royalty is higher than any of them could ever imagine…

Nor once dreamed of seeing the wondrous wealth and beauty of Ilara, the kingdom that’s ruled her village for as long as anyone can remember. But when a childhood accident left her with a permanent scar, it became clear that her identical twin sister, Zadie, would likely be chosen to marry the Crown Prince—while Nor remained behind, unable to ever set foot on land.

Then Zadie is gravely injured, and Nor is sent to Ilara in her place. To Nor’s dismay, her future husband, Prince Ceren, is as forbidding and cold as his home—a castle carved into a mountain and devoid of sunlight. And as she grows closer to Ceren’s brother, the charming Prince Talin, Nor uncovers startling truths about a failing royal bloodline, a murdered queen… and a plot to destroy the home she was once so eager to leave.

In order to save her people, Nor must learn to negotiate the treacherous protocols of a court where lies reign and obsession rules. But discovering her own formidable strength may be the one move that costs her everything: the crown, Varenia and Zadie.

Release Date: August 27th, 2019

Why I'm excited: While I thought from the title and cover that this book would be about mermaids, my disappoint that it is not subsided once I read the synopsis. I love sister relationships, ill-fated marriages, and political intrigue as much as the next gal, so I think this will be a good read!

That's it for me! Feel free to comment below if you're excited for any of these releases as well, or whether you're pumped for one that I missed!

100 Days of Sunlight, or, the One with My Life Story plus More Cute Stuff and Some Blindness

100 Days of Sunlight

by Abbie Emmons

Pages: 311

Publisher: Self-published by author
Publication Date: August 7th, 2019
Cover Comments: Major props to the author for designing this cover herself. It's adorable and has so many clues pointing to plot lines in the novel.

First Lines: 
"The black pickup truck flies through the red light, heading straight for us." 
               Goodreads 丨 Amazon

When 16-year-old poetry blogger Tessa Dickinson is involved in a car accident and loses her eyesight for 100 days, she feels like her whole world has been turned upside-down. 

Terrified that her vision might never return, Tessa feels like she has nothing left to be happy about. But when her grandparents place an ad in the local newspaper looking for a typist to help Tessa continue writing and blogging, an unlikely answer knocks at their door: Weston Ludovico, a boy her age with bright eyes, an optimistic smile…and no legs.

Knowing how angry and afraid Tessa is feeling, Weston thinks he can help her. But he has one condition — no one can tell Tessa about his disability. And because she can’t see him, she treats him with contempt: screaming at him to get out of her house and never come back. But for Weston, it’s the most amazing feeling: to be treated like a normal person, not just a sob story. So he comes back. Again and again and again.

Tessa spurns Weston’s “obnoxious optimism”, convinced that he has no idea what she’s going through. But Weston knows exactly how she feels and reaches into her darkness to show her that there is more than one way to experience the world. As Tessa grows closer to Weston, she finds it harder and harder to imagine life without him — and Weston can’t imagine life without her. But he still hasn’t told her the truth, and when Tessa’s sight returns he’ll have to make the hardest decision of his life: vanish from Tessa’s world…or overcome his fear of being seen.

100 Days of Sunlight is a poignant and heartfelt novel by author Abbie Emmons. If you like sweet contemporary romance and strong family themes then you’ll love this touching story of hope, healing, and getting back up when life knocks you down.

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Review

100 Days of Sunlight is a cute book that made me smile and feel the sunshine a little extra on my skin. I’ve been on a string of really good contemporary novels lately (shoutout to my girl Kasie West), and I was sure that 100 Days would continue that streak. I loved the story as described through the synopsis, and I always like to support people in the blog/vlog community. However, I have a lot of qualms about the story, characters, and writing that took away from my enjoyment of the novel as a whole.

I’m a little convinced that Abbie Emmons has been stalking me, or my high school self anyway. In high school, I was homeschooled, Christian, bookish, lived with other relatives instead of my parents from a young age, and ran a blog in my spare time. I should have related a lot to the main character, Tessa, but the sentence above pretty much describes everything we know about Tessa, besides the recent turn of events that rendered her blind. I never got a sense for who she was as a person. Her character was mainly defined by her reactions to Weston. We got tiny insights into her personality when she’s talking with her online friends through chat, but there were so many missed opportunities to go beneath the surface. I felt like more could have been explored concerning Tessa’s parents and her feelings about them, her relationship with her grandparents, even her faith and how it is affected by this period in her life, but everything stayed surface-level. Also, I cringe when I read books about homeschooled teens who don’t have deep friendships with other teens face-to-face. I’m all for connecting with friends over the internet, but sometimes you actually need to be with friends, physically, and I don’t care for the stereotype perpetuated here that homeschoolers don’t have friends outside of the digital world. Also that Christian teens don't have "inappropriate" thoughts about boys.

The story gave a little more depth to Weston, mainly through his flashbacks to his injury. Weston’s story about how his disability began and how he coped with it was the part of the book where I began to be more pulled in - I wanted to know what happened and how he got to be the lil ray of sunshine that he was. Prior to the flashbacks, I thought Weston was annoying and creepy (how about not stalking someone to their home and then refusing to leave when asked, yeah?), but hearing more about his life, his friendship with Rudy, and his ADORABLE three little brothers was really interesting. However, at a certain point, his sections started to become more of a motivational speech (literally at one point) that teetered on the edge of being sanctimonious. This became even more evident when he monologues about how he needs to “save” Tessa, and show her how to stand up to Life, which is where his character got some points shaved off the cute guy total.

Getting past my initial dislike of the idea that Weston has decided to swoop in uninvited to show Tessa how to live, I really liked the way the book is divided into five senses - smell, hearing, taste, touch, and sight. I really think this book would make a great rom-com movie. The way Weston tries to make Tessa happy through showing her how to experience things through the senses she still has is truly sweet, and makes for some adorable moments. This is where the story really grew on me, namely when Weston and Tessa watch Tessa’s favorite movie - I’m leaving this intentionally vague so you can enjoy the sweetness yourself first. The only thing that spoiled the romance aspect of the book was a consent issue that made me uncomfy. I don't want to spoil anything, but you'll know it when you see it.

I thought that the obstacle to Tessa and Weston being together was pretty artificial. I didn’t buy that Weston would be afraid of Tessa knowing about his disability and wish that this point had been built to more. Finally, there were some aspects of the writing that I found a bit juvenile and irritating, like Tessa’s poetry (unless it was intentionally cringe-y, because I too wrote poetry like that in high school…), and the tendency of the author to emphasize things by doing this: I am blind.
I
am
b l i n d.

In a nutshell, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a short, cute contemporary romance in the style of Me Before You or Five Feet Apart. I loved reading about Weston’s little brothers, Weston’s relationship with his best friend Rudy, and sweet portions of Tessa and Weston’s romance. I know that Abbie Emmons is a young indie author and that this is her debut novel, so I have high hopes that her next offerings will be more fleshed out and enjoyable. 100 Days of Sunlight is a great start.

☆☆

*Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the chance to read 100 Days of Sunglight before its publication date.

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer (Reads)

One of my favorite things in this world is what I call seasonal reading (is this a real thing outside of my head? Not sure). I love to pick a book that reflects what it's like outside. It makes me feel more connected to the world outside and the world inside the book. So, I'm rounding up my favorite summer reads for your seasonal pleasure. Enjoy!

In no particular order...

1) Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

One of the more adorable novels I've read, Love, Life & the List follows Abby and her best friend Cooper as they spend the summer following a list Abby's come up with that will give her more emotional depth for her to channel into her art. There are more feels than I bargained for in this book though - in the best way. I loved Abby and Cooper's friendship and the complexity of Abby's relationship with her mom, who sometimes spends weeks never leaving the house. Add a sarcastic grandpa and I'm in love. This book makes me remember all the meandering summers you have before the "real world" gets ya - time to discover yourself and dive into the things and people you love.

2) The Secret Life of Bees

The Secret Life of Bees perfectly captures the feeling and atmosphere of summer in the south. The intense heat and humidity coupled with the sweetness of honey and bees, the hard social realities paired with the strength of Southern women - it all comes together poetically in this historical novel based in the 60's. It will make you laugh, cry, and want to become a beekeeper. This is up there as one of my favorite novels ever, and it's perfect for this time of year.

3) Stay by Deb Caletti

This book wrecked me. Stay covers an abusive relationship, leaving out none of the details. What's striking about the book is that it jumps between present day, when the main character Clara knows that her ex-boyfriend Christian was abusive, and the beginnings of their relationship, when she didn't see the signs. The setting is a beach town, but this isn't your typical light beach read. This is more of beach during a thunderstorm with waves crashing against the sharp rocks type of mood - still beautiful, but dangerous.

4) The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

The Summer I Turned Pretty perfectly captures the feeling of hope and possibility that summer can bring. Maybe this will be the summer that I learn to surf, take a long road trip, or hey, turn pretty! This book is total wish fulfillment for so many girls - I know I thought that every time I went back to school or saw someone I hadn't seen in a year I wondered - do I seem different? Can I reinvent myself now? Belly is experiencing that throughout the novel during her summer on Cousins Beach. This is the quintessential beach read - light and romantic.

5) Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

While I haven't actually gotten around to reading this one for whatever reason, the cover and description have always intrigued me. Main character Anna is attempting to deal with the death of her boyfriend Matt. It's complicated, though - Matt is her best friend Frankie's older brother, and no one knew they were together. Anna grieves alone while Frankie attempts a twenty-boy summer: with twenty days in Zanzibar Bay, if they meet one boy a day, they're bound to find true love. This book promises to be bittersweet, but if it's anything like Sarah Ockler's other books, ultimately worth it.

6) The Summer Wives by Beatriz Williams

Another book that I've only admired so far, but Beatriz Williams' writing is always well-researched and interesting. The Summer Wives is a historical fiction set in the summers of 1951 and 1969 on the New England coast. I love the idea of a New England summer since I've only experienced beaches in Georgia, Florida and Hawaii - I feel like New England is a completely different vibe (and obviously was in the 50's!). The novel follows Miranda from 1951 to her return to the same island town in 1969. I really want to fit this one in to read this summer, it looks amazing!

7) Summer Days and Summer Nights, anthology edited by Stephanie Perkins

And just in case you can't settle on just one or two stories - the perfect anthology for the summer! I've read the winter anthology My True Love Gave to Me, also edited by Stephanie Perkins, which seems to be the pair to this one. There are so many great authors contributing to this one - Cassandra Clare, Jennifer E. Smith, Libba Bray, Veronica Roth, and the list goes on.

See my summer reading list on Goodreads for these and other summer reads!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (3)

This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and was then passed on to Sheila from Book Journey, then Kathryn The Book Date, where it currently resides. It's a fun way to share what we've read in the past week, what we're currently reading, and what's next!

Covers link to Goodreads, reviews linked below if I've posted them!

Read:

1. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Sorcery of Thorns is one of my favorite books of 2019 thus far! I loved the focus on libraries and dangerous books, and the romance and love interest was sublime. Silas was probably my favorite character though - animal sidekicks ftw.

4.5/5

Review

2. Happy Together by Suzann Pileggi Pawelski and James O. Pawelski

I am literally always on a self-help kick, and wanted to read one about romantic relationships specifically. I thought Happy Together took a great approach to relationships by emphasizing positive psychology, and seeing the best in your partner. There are some great exercises in here that I can't wait to try out with my significant other! It wasn't life-changing, but I did quite enjoy reading this one.

3.5/5

3. Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Save the Date was a fluffy and funny contemporary novel revolving around the main character, Charlie, and her sister's wedding. It focuses on the issues of change when it comes to family. Charlie tries so hard throughout the novel to reconnect with her four siblings and get back that feeling of the whole family hanging out together and talking, the way it was before everyone moved out of the house. Charlie is the youngest, and the last one left, the house is being sold, and her mother's comic focusing on their family is ending. 

I liked Save the Date well enough, but I noticed something that many other readers on Goodreads did as well: it sort of read like a screenplay. There were some great scenes I could imagine full-out cackling at if it were a movie scene, but only got a slight smile, if that, in book format. I did appreciate the focus on family and siblings - although there is a little romance - and the realization that sometimes your family isn't perfect, and that's okay!

3/5

Currently Reading: 

I went a little crazy starting new books this week, as you can see... no judgement!!

1. Burned (Pretty Little Liars #12) by Sara Shepard

This is one of those series that never ends, but I kinda don't mind it (think the other neverending series, Gossip Girl). It's pure fluff, and interesting enough to keep me turning pages, even though I know that A is not whoever the girls are guessing at this point.

2. Split Second (Pivot Point #2) by Kasie West

I LOVED the first book is this series, Pivot Point, so I immediately started on the next one. This one alternates between the main character Addie's POV, and her best friend Laila. It's not quite as engrossing as Pivot Point, but I do like being able to see inside Laila's head since she seemed a little shallow in the first book.

3. Grim Tuesday (Keys to the Kingdom #2) by Garth Nix

I love Garth Nix with a probably abnormal passion, so I'm determined to get into this series despite not finding the first book very compelling. I'm not far into Grim Tuesday, but it's not hooking me so far, sadly.

4. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Summer #1) by Jenny Han

I'm almost ten years behind the hype on this one, but it's super cute so far! I love short chapters <3

5. The Gathering Storm (Katerina #1) by Robin Bridges

I plucked this one off my shelf through a random reads thing I've been doing - putting all my to-read books on Goodreads into a random number generator and reading the one that is selected. The Gathering Storm is a little different than what I expected based on the cover, but I'm intrigued.

Next: 

It'll be all I can do to finish my currently reading for next week I think, but I am going to start a couple new things despite that.

1. Coral by Sara Ella

I was just approved for an ARC of Coral on Netgalley, and I'm so excited! The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie as a kid, and adult me likes the angst of the original Hans Christian Anderson tale as well - this is a twist on that version. I can't wait to dig into this. The book comes out in November!

2. Messenger by Lois Lowry

I re-read The Giver recently and remembered how much I loved it - I'm finishing up the series now, and really enjoying the new stories and characters.

Sorcery of Thorns, or, The One with LIBRARIANS WIELDING SWORDS, SO MUCH YES

Sorcery of Thorns

by Margaret Rogerson

Pages: 456

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: June 4th, 2019

Cover Comments: This cover is gorgeous, and I love that it matches the style of the author's other book, An Enchantment of Ravens. I love that the sword and vines with thorns on them give subtle clues to the story without being heavy-handed. I wish Silas had made it on the cover though, in cat form of course.

Goodreads 丨 Amazon

Synopsis: All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.

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Review

“Books, too, had hearts, though they were not the same as people's, and a book's heart could be broken: she had seen it happen before. Grimoires that refused to open, their voices gone silent, or whose ink faded and bled across the pages like tears.” 

Sorcery of Thorns made it *this close* to my list of all-time favorite books, and definitely tops my list of favorite reads of 2019. Although quite a long book, it pulled me out of a reading slump and I flew through it. The premise of sword-wielding librarians and books that bite back is amazing, but Margaret Rogerson gets so much deeper into the library and grimoire mythology, really making this an amazing book.

The yays and nays, in no particular order:

Yays

1) Library magic (cue The Head & the Heart)

Okay, any book set in a library and revolving around libraries and books automatically gets a yes from me. I don't think I've read one that involves those elements that I didn't love. But Rogerson goes even deeper to make libraries and books not just an element of Sorcery of Thorns, but an integral plot point that leads to one of the most touching scenes I've read in recent memory. LOVE.

2) Nathaniel

Best. love. interest. ever. I am head over heels for Nathaniel's dry humor and complicated past. What's a boy without emotional baggage, amirite? *crickets* ...okay, moving on.

Nathaniel's backstory and his relationship with his demonic servant, Silas, is complicated and simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. And the way he and Elisabeth interact is hilarious and touching. For example:

“His severe expression faltered as his hand grazed the cape covering her gown.

"Scrivener," he said carefully, "I don't mean to be forward, but is that a—"

"A sword hidden underneath my dress? Yes, it is."

"I see. And how exactly is it—"

"I thought you didn't mean to be forward." She squeezed his arm. "Come on.” 

I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave the touching lines for you to discover.

3) Tall, strong female who don't need no man (but she does like one)

Elisabeth isn't afraid to wield a sword or crowbar, fight demons, or take down powerful men if they are doing wicked things. She's tall, brave, and not afraid to make a scene in social situations, which I personally enjoyed greatly.

4) Subtle nod to fluid sexuality

It's a very small part of the book, but it's mentioned that Nathaniel is bi-sexual, and it's totally not a big deal. You know why? CAUSE IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL, PEOPLE. It's nice to see different sexuality types thrown in without a huge plotline being made of it. It's just a natural part of the character.

5) World-building

As the plot unfolds, we get to learn more about the Great Libraries, grimoires, demons, and the Otherworld, and it's all so fascinating.

6) Silas

I LOVE SILAS, probably because he reminds me of Moggett from Garth Nix's Abhorsen series (see more on that below). The duality of his nature is fascinating, with his demon side constantly battling with the side of him that would kill his beloved master in a heartbeat.

“First, I learned how to make tea," he said finally, speaking more to himself than to her. "When humans wish to help, they are forever offering each other tea.” 

Also, his animal form looks a bit like this, I imagine, so ALL THE STARS.

Nays

1) Too much borrowing

There's a reason I love Silas and the Great Libraries so much, aside from their inherent awesomeness: I've seen them before. Silas is pretty much Moggett from the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix: great powerful, evil being who can take a cat form (check), can be released, but it might end the world (check), sarcastic (check), great/evil power held in check by a family that it serves (check). The Great Libraries in Sorcery of Thorns are much like the library of the Clayr in Lirael, the second in the Abhorsen series. Lirael herself was raised an orphan in a library, just like Lirael, or even Lazlo from Strange the Dreamer. The biggest difference is that Nix did it slightly better, no offense to Rogerson. Rogerson freely cites Nix's books and the restricted section in the Hogwarts library as inspirations for Sorcery of Thorns, and she definitely expands on the ideas in a new and interesting way, but it was a little too much borrowing for my taste. I probably would have given the book five stars if I had not already read Nix's series.

2) Slightly predictable

There were definitely some twists and turns in there that I didn't anticipate, but I knew who the villain was immediately, and knew how the battle at the end would turn out.

3) Could use some Jenny Craig

Some slight trimming could have been done here - the book is over 450 pages, and there were some parts in the middle that were a little slow and didn't contribute much to the plot. However, I didn't get bored!

I think this will definitely be a favorite for this year, for me and many other readers. I highly recommend for anyone who loves libraries, snark, and demonology (jk on the last one... sorta).

4.5/5 biting books

☆☆☆☆

Lovestruck, or, Greek mythology but more fun

Lovestruck

by Kate Watson

Pages: 300

Publisher: Flux

Publication Date: April 2nd, 2019

Cover Comments: I love the font and arrow motifs on this cover, plus the purple & sky is so pretty!

Goodreads 丨 Amazon

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old cupid-in-training Kali is in an Olympus-sized mountain of trouble. Rule number one in arrow-toting matchmaking: don't stick yourself. But accidents happen, and Kali instantly falls hard for her indie rock, bass-playing target, Benicio.

The God of Love is going to kill her. Even if he is her dad.

Being the daughter of Eros isn't all it's cracked up to be. For one thing, a girl can get jaded when her parents have the most beautiful and fatalistic love story in history. For another, immortality royally sucks when the Oracle condemns you to eternity in the wrong profession. Do the Gods care that Kali wants to ditch the love stuff and be a muse?

Nope.

To reclaim her heart and her destiny, Kali is left with no choice but to defy the Gods, tempt the Fates, date the mortal love-of-her-life, and hope she doesn't lose her best friend, Hector, in the process.

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Review

Finally, a book to help fill the void that Percy Jackson left in my Greek-mythology-lovin’ heart. Lovestruck by Kate Watson is a fun read with great characters and an interesting plot and world to explore. Our main character, Kalixtra, (Kali for short) is in training to be an Erote, an Olympian match-maker who strikes her intended targets with an arrow to speed up their love story. She used to enjoy her job and take matching very seriously, before the Thunderclap. One of the things that kept me engrossed in Lovestruck is the fact that we don’t find out what changed Kali’s attitude toward love and fate until later on in the novel.

Much of the novel is set in Olympus, where Kali interacts with her own demi-god friends, as well as full-fledged gods, like Apollo, Artemis, and Aphrodite. I loved reading more about Greek mythology, as well as Watson’s own spins and interpretations on the original stories. Kali’s friends aren’t two-dimensional support characters – they’re all fleshed out with their own backstories and unique struggles.

As you’ll know from the main description, the story really begins when Kali accidentally sticks herself with an arrow, thus falls in love instantly with Ben (Benicio), a mortal. Kali’s feelings on this event are mixed throughout the novel, as she struggles with feeling powerless against the Fates and feeling love towards Ben as she gets to know him better. I liked Ben, but like Kali, found myself annoyed by his insecurity. Hector, on the other hand, is a big ole dreamboat. Seeing Kali torn between Ben and Hector was realistic and heartbreaking.

The plot takes several turns throughout Lovestruck, involving Deya, Cosmo, and Teresa Kali’s best friends; Artemis, the goddess fated never to love; and Kali’s own mission to take back her fate and her heart. I was never bored and was often surprised at the twists and turns that occurred.

One thing I struggled with in Lovestruck was its end. After everything Kali goes through to reverse her match and take back her fate, the ending comes across like a deux ex machina, and so simple it seems a bit unbelievable. However, I still enjoyed where things ended up. I would dive back into the world Kate Watson has created in a heartbeat, and there’s potential for so many great stories following Kali or her other friends in Olympus. I highly recommend Lovestruck for fans of Percy Jackson, Greek mythology in general, and anyone who enjoys a fun, twisty story.

☆☆☆☆

*Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read Into the Hollow before its publication date.

Into the Hollow, or, The One with EVERYTHING + Appalachia

Into the Hollow

by Lynn Vroman

Pages: 310

Publisher: Owl Hollow Press
Publication Date: November 6th, 2018
Cover Comments: This cover is what drew me to the book. I love the watercolor feel of it and the pink and green together, and it evokes feelings about the the beauty of Appalachia but also its solitude. Lovely.

First Lines: 
"The last present daddy gave me was a gun." 
               Goodreads 丨 Amazon

The hollow was the perfect place to hide.

Or so Free’s dad thought. His plan: flee California with Free’s five-year-old brother illegally in tow, hide out in the mountains of West Virginia, make fast cash during ginseng season, then escape to a nicer place where the law can’t find them. Free isn’t thrilled about living in a holler alongside drug dealers and thieves, but she’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her family safe. Unfortunately, with their father disappearing into the woods with increasing frequency, Free and her brother exist largely alone. Until their neighbor Cole appears with lots of questions.

Cole’s spent his entire life in the holler—and his entire life working out a way to leave his druggie mother and incarcerated brother. As the editor of the school newspaper, he’s an expert at getting to the bottom of a story, and he’s determined to crack Free—who seems un-crack-able.

When the family she was desperate to protect is ripped apart, Free turns to Cole for help, the only person willing. But while her plan escalates, Free can’t deny the pull she feels toward the boy with too many questions—and who holds just as many secrets. As they become closer, she finds that Cole might need her help as much as she needs his.

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Review

Into the Hollow really surprised me, in a good way. I was expecting a novel about a girl finding love despite difficult life circumstances, but what I got was much more. This is a novel about family, hope, poverty, grief, and yes, love. It was unique, heart-wrenching, and pulled me in from the start. I loved Free, Cole, Little, and the supporting characters who helped them on their way and added context to this world.

Yays: 

1) Slow-building romance

As I'm sure we can all attest to, insta-love is a huge trope in YA novels, and Cole's immediate obsession with Free made me think that their romance might progress too quickly to be believable. However, Free is understandably skittish and her standoffishness successfully prevents that from happening. I loved seeing the romance build from friendship and trust to something more. Cole is so sweet and respectful and tries his hardest not to push Free despite her secrets and mistrust.

2) Non-catty girls

Initially, it seems as though one of Cole's female friends is going to be a sort of arch-nemesis for Free, as she makes her jealously pretty clear in the beginning. However, I was pleased with female friendships Free was able to cultivate (albeit through Cole) and Into the Hollow didn't really play on high school drama much at all - impressive since Free is an easy target with her ripped and out of fashion clothing, etc.

3) Math (ugh but also yay!)

Sorry y'all Mean Girls is just super topical

Free is basically a math prodigy, able to solve complex equations in her head and solving the math teacher's "unsolvable" riddle her first week in school. I love seeing girls represented in STEM and it was interesting to see Free use math as a coping mechanism. A sadder side of her gift is that her father doesn't seem to recognize it for what it is, even though her little brother is amazed by Free's mathematical prowess. 

4) Unique chapter openers

I'm a sucker for little "extras" in chapter openers - I love extra illustrations, quotes, anything to give a hint of what might happen in a unique way. The story is told in alternating perspectives - Free's and Cole's. Free's sections begin with a math equation and example - for example, a + b = c (in theory, anyway) opens up the first chapter, followed by more complicated equations captioned "momentum," etc. You can probably tell by this explanation that I'm not very good at math, but I loved this little extra insight into Free's mind. Cole's dream is to be a journalist, so his entries open up with a news article style captions like "Mystery Girl Moves in Next Door".

5) Unexpected plot

I had an idea of what I thought the climax of the novel might be early on, but when this event happened in the first third of the book, I knew it would be different than expected. It was so much better, and gave more time for the characters to develop as well as let us see them in different circumstances. 

6) A Dumbledore or Gandalf if you will

I love characters who are a sort of guiding force or Dumbledore, Gandalf, Yoda (pick your sci-fi/fantasy poison) if you will. The guidance counselor at Free's school gently pushes her to dream and expect more from her future without being annoying about it.

7) Appalachia

I feel like Appalachia is a region that has gotten a lot of attention in nonfiction and the news lately (i.e. Hillbilly Elegy and responses to it), so it's exciting to see the region represented in YA. The hopelessness and poverty that pervades the area in the novel is disheartening, but seems accurate. Cole's family is torn apart by opiate addiction and the incarceration of his father and his abusive brother, Free and her family is on the run and squatting at an abandoned house, and other characters grapple with issues related to poverty. However, the resilience and heart of other characters shine through and show another side of the community. Other scenes highlight the natural beauty of the area.

8) Strong supporting characters

I loved the development of even the smaller supporting characters. Lynn Vroman tricked me into thinking someone was a one-dimensional person, then show me another side of them later on in the novel. 

9) Hero/heroine

When Cole first helps to "save" Free, I thought that dynamic would stick throughout the book. However, Free gets the chance to save Cole too, and their relationship becomes more built on mutual trust and understanding than a white knight/damsel in distress situation.

10) We are family

I LOVED Free's relationship with her little brother, Little. It was the both the most heartwarming and heartbreaking part of the novel, and their little phrase "You're my favorite" ("I love you" in Little speak) made my heart grow three sizes each time it appeared. I also loved Free's memories of her mother, and her love of the music her mother loved. Free's relationship with her father is very complicated - they're affectionate and obviously love one another, but her father doesn't seem to be able to put what's best for his children first, sadly.

Cole also has a complicated relationship with his family. His mother and sister have struggled with opiate addiction, with his mother still on the drugs. His brother Richie is in prison at the beginning of the novel, along with this father, and Cole strives every day to make enough money to get out of the "holler" and away from his family. Cole's sister and her daughter, Cole's niece, provide some sweet spots in all the trauma, but ultimately add to the sadness of the situation since they are stuck as well. 

11) Road trip

'Nough said

12) Indie author

I'm ashamed to say that I typically avoid books from small or indie publishers and authors. This books shows me that that's a huge mistake. I think editing could be better (part of my only nay) but this story is too good to miss because of snobbery.

Nays:

1) A lil unbelievable 

I sat here for a few moments trying to come up with negatives for this book, but they're hard to come by. I can say that Cole is the sweetest and most understanding teenage boy I've ever read, and it's hard to believe he's real. It's hard to describe, but there's some small something missing from Into the Hollow that keeps me from rating it a full 5 stars. I think the writing is a little off in places, especially dialogue portions, possibly because this is an indie book (as far as I can tell). As we speak though, I'm reading another of Lynn Vroman's novels because I can't believe I haven't heard more about her before. 

I highly recommend Into the Hollow for anyone looking for an engrossing novel about family, love, and hope/hopelessness in a rich Appalachian setting.

☆☆☆☆

Goodreads 丨 Amazon

*Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read Into the Hollow before its publication date.