The summer before her junior year, paleontology geek Natalie Page lands a coveted internship at an Ice Age dig site near Austin. Natalie, who’s also a plus-size fashion blogger, depends on the retro style she developed to shield herself from her former bullies, but vintage dresses and perfect lipstick aren’t compatible with prospecting for fossils in the Texas heat. But nothing is going to dampen Natalie’s spirit — she’s exactly where she wants to be, and she gets to work with her hero, a rock-star paleontologist who hosts the most popular paleo podcast in the world. And then there’s Chase the intern, who’s seriously cute, and Cody, a local boy who’d be even cuter if he were less of a grouch.
It’s a summer that promises to be about more than just mammoths. Until it isn’t. When Natalie’s hero turns out to be anything but, and steals the credit for one of her accomplishments, Nat has to unearth the confidence she needs to stand out in a field dominated by dudes. To do this, she’ll have to let her true self shine, even if that means defying all the rules for the sake of a major discovery. Thank you to Edelweiss and Turner Publishing for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review. Mammoth is an adorable, affirming, original novel, and an absolute pleasure to read. It stars Natalie, a plus-sized fashion blogger and budding paleontologist, as she tries to make a name for herself and gain respect at a paleontology internship. The good:
The bad:
Overall: 4/5 stars for Mammoth.
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Princess Hesina of Yan has always been eager to shirk the responsibilities of the crown, dreaming of an unremarkable life. But when her beloved father is found dead, she’s thrust into power, suddenly the queen of a surprisingly unstable kingdom. What’s more, Hesina believes that her father was murdered—and that the killer is someone close to her.
Hesina’s court is packed full of dissemblers and deceivers eager to use the king’s death for political gain, each as plausibly guilty as the next. Her advisers would like her to blame the neighboring kingdom of Kendi’a, whose ruler has been mustering for war. Determined to find her father’s actual killer, Hesina does something desperate: she enlists the aid of a soothsayer—a treasonous act, punishable by death, since magic was outlawed centuries ago. Using the information provided by the sooth, and uncertain if she can trust her family, Hesina turns to Akira—a brilliant investigator who’s also a convicted criminal with secrets of his own. With the future of Yan at stake, can Hesina find justice for her father? Or will the cost be too high? Thank you to Netgalley and Albert Whitman & Company for sharing a copy in exchange for my honest review. Descendant of the Crane gets ALL MY STARS. Everyone else can GO HOME. This is the only political fantasy I want to read for the rest of my life, and I need the next one STAT. First: That cover. I left the image huge so you all can see the gorgeous detail in the artwork. That color palette, the crane's beak intersecting the N, the Chinese-inspired style, ugh! It's so atmospheric and matches the book perfectly. Look, I'm not an artist, but even I know this is DAMN GOOD. Let's talk book! To put it bluntly, there's not a thing I didn't love. Characters: All so real! So, so fleshed out and I cared about all of them. I didn't know the pitch was Chinese Game of Thrones, so when someone got hurt, I was genuinely surprised and sad. Caiyan, Lilian, Akira, Sanjing: I MUST PROTECT. Excellent side characters, and usually I hate side characters, but these ones found their way into my heart. Their relationships to Hesina, each other, and to their kingdom were great to read about. Hesina was an amazing main character. I respected her so much as a queen and as a daughter, and reading from her perspective was such a treat. The most important part about Hesina, though, was that she isn't righteous. She seeks justice in ways that bend laws sometimes. This whole book was an excellent exploration of morals, and how nothing and nobody is black and white. Plot: The political intrigue and mystery aspects were incredibly well-done. I loved the courtroom drama, and how clever everything was. Also, the plot twists! I was constantly surprised by the plot, and I was just along for the ride. I loved it. Predictable fantasy is the worst, and Descendant of the Crane is so inventive and refreshing. It sped up towards the end, and the beginning-middle is a bit slow, so that's my one quibble, but it doesn't affect the storytelling that much. Otherwise, it's a fantastic read. World: I want to read so many stories about these kingdoms. I liked the foundation on the Tenets, which made the legal system super interesting, as well as social dynamics between the sooths and everyone else. Speaking of, I'd love to see more exploration of the sooths' powers. I found what was in the book fascinating and I think it'd be awesome to read a book focused on a character who was a sooth. I'd also like to see different kingdoms! I don't have a physical copy of the book (yet?), but a MAP would be fantastic. Basically, everything explored in Descendant of the Crane gave me twenty more questions and a burning desire to read everything by Joan He. Overall: Descendant of the Crane is in the running for my favorite fantasy of 2019. I love everything about it, and it hits 5/5 stars for me. Every Friday night, best friends Delia and Josie become Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, hosts of the campy creature feature show Midnite Matinee on the local cable station TV Six.
But with the end of senior year quickly approaching, the girls face tough decisions about their futures. Josie has been dreading graduation, as she tries to decide whether to leave for a big university and chase her dream career in mainstream TV. And Lawson, one of the show's guest performers, a talented MMA fighter with weaknesses for pancakes, fantasy novels, and Josie, is making her tough decision even harder. Scary movies are the last connection Delia has to her dad, who abandoned the family years ago. If Midnite Matinee becomes a hit, maybe he'll see it and want to be a part of her life again. And maybe Josie will stay with the show instead of leaving her behind, too. As the tug-of-war between growing up and growing apart tests the bonds of their friendship, Josie and Delia start to realize that an uncertain future can be both monstrous...and momentous. Thank you to Netgalley and Crown BFYR for sharing a copy in exchange for an honest review. Before we start... can I just say... THAT COVER!! I left the image larger than usual so you all can appreciate how gorgeous it is. SO PRETTY! Anyways. Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee is possibly one of my cutest reads of 2019, and I would 100% recommend it. It was so good. In fact, as I'm writing this and looking back, I'm changing my rating. 5 stars all the way. In case my review is inadequate, I'm saying it here: READ THIS BOOK. The good: Everything? But especially the characters. Dual-perspective really did me in, because I got to feel all the feels for both Delia (Delilah) and Josie (Rayne). One got the sense that even though they had an incredible bond, they still had problems and insecurities in their friendship, which is so real. I am all the way here for complex relationships between female characters like Delia and Josie. They supported each others' endeavors, worked through problems, and communicated. The writing was funny in a natural way, with clever characters and snappy dialogue. I laughed out loud several times while reading. One particular line stood out to me, when Delia and Josie were watching an MMA fight, and Delia goes "Make him feel like every day is Monday," which I thought was hilarious. I didn't know anything about movie feature shows before reading the book, and now I have to say, I'm impressed with the girls' dedication to their Midnite Matinee. I liked the combination of enthusiasm and determination they had, even with the other stuff going on in their lives. Support of treatment for mental illness! Use of antidepressants as encouraged and appropriate for someone to help them keep living their life. I think this is so important, and I liked seeing Delia's mom forming good habits regarding her mental health. The romance: Adorable. I have to say, I expected a different ending, but I was not disappointed! Lawson was adorable and I appreciated that he served a purpose beyond "love interest," taking an interest in the Midnite Matinee and accompanying the girls to a con. Overall, 5/5 stars for Rayne & Delilah's Midnite Matinee, which features a great balance of humor and originality with sensitive topics. Ten-year-old Cassie lives with her working-class family in 1919 Winnipeg. The Great War and Spanish Influenza have taken their toll, and workers in the city are frustrated with low wages and long hours. When they orchestrate a general strike, Cassie -- bright, determined and very bored at school -- desperately wants to help.
She begins volunteering for the strike committee as a papergirl, distributing the strike bulletin at Portage and Main, and from her corner, she sees the strike take shape. Threatened and taunted by upper-class kids and hungrier by the day, Cassie soon realizes that the strike isn't just a lark -- it's a risky and brave movement. With her impoverished best friend, Mary, volunteering in the nearby Labour Café, and Cassie's police officer brother in the strike committee's inner circle, Cassie becomes increasingly furious about the conditions that led workers to strike. When an enormous but peaceful demonstration turns into a violent assault on Bloody Saturday, Cassie is changed forever. Lively and engaging, this novel is a celebration of solidarity, justice and one brave papergirl. Papergirl is a wonderful, educational, middle-grade novel about labor activism and working-class life in Winnipeg. I had a fun time reading it and learned a lot about an under-taught historical event. I'm not Canadian, so I didn't have much context before reading, but the novel filled me in on what life was like along the way, so I was never left out. However, this also became its downfall in a way. I liked Cassie and her family. They were a close-knit bunch, supporting each other and passionate about bettering their lives and the lives of those less fortunate than them. Cassie herself was brave in the face of much danger, but she also learned to understand those with a different viewpoint. Her friend, Mary, came out of her shell and started volunteering as well, and their enthusiasm was adorable. This book had great exploration of class and activism for younger readers. It was honest without being too graphic, and a perfect introduction. I especially liked Cassie's friendship with Freddie, a boy who sold a rival paper, because they both learned to see past situations and stereotypes into the heart of a person's choices. Only one bad thing: At some points, I couldn't get behind the writing style. I liked how educational it was, but information was presented in blocks sometimes instead of fluidly throughout the story. Additionally, there was a bit of telling instead of showing, that I felt was unnecessary even in a book targeted towards younger readers. Overall, 4/5 stars for Papergirl for illuminating labor activism and Canadian history in a thoughtful way.
Friends, I am so overwhelmed. So many feelings going on! First, I'm in the middle of my tech week. Secondly, there's so much work to do! I've got a bunch of writing assignments due soon, and I keep ditching them in favor of my pet projects. I've also got a super-secret writing thingy that I'm working on for Camp Nanowrimo which I'm thrilled about.
Back to the show: it is particularly special to me because, first, I read it before it was selected and loved it, and also, it's the first show I've scenic designed. I loved the process and I know this is something I want to keep doing. The show is Huis Clos (No Exit for anglophones) by Jean-Paul Sartre, and it's hilarious and thought-provoking and was a lot of fun to design. I'll have pictures for you later in the week. On the plus side, my blog scheduling is working out so well! I'm pushing through a bunch of ARC reviews, so that's pretty much what you'll be seeing in the next week. I've also got ANOTHER special thing lined up which I actually get to share with you! More on that... probably next week. ;) Lastly, check out my #bookstagram feed! I'm pretty proud of my latest, and it features the beautiful Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza, as well as my April bullet journal theme. Look up the word “nerd” and you’ll find Lily Bailey’s picture. She’s got one goal: first stop valedictorian, next stop Harvard. Until a stint in the hospital from too much stress lands her in the last place a klutz like her ever expected to be: salsa dance lessons.
Look up the word “popular” and you’ll find Stone Torres’s picture. His life seems perfect—star of the football team, small-town hero, lots of friends. But his family is struggling to make ends meet, so if pitching in at his mom's dance studio helps, he’ll do it. When Lily’s dad offers Stone extra cash to volunteer as Lily’s permanent dance partner, he can’t refuse. But with each dip and turn, each moment her hand is in his, his side job starts to feel all too real. Lily shows Stone he's more than his impressive football stats, and he introduces her to a world outside of studying. But with the lines blurred, can their relationship survive the secret he's been hiding? The synopsis of this one leaves out a lot of important elements, but also sort of does it justice. Either way, Eyes on Me is a sweet romance for fans of Sarah Dessen and Kasie West. The good: I liked Lily. She was confident in her under-confidence, if that makes sense? She owned who she was, but through the course of the book we saw her grow and consider other facets of her personality. Seeing female friendships is one of my favorite parts of YA lit, so Lily, Sydney, and Angéla were some of the best parts of Eyes on Me. Their thoughtfulness towards each other was touching. The plot was pretty standard for a romance, but I liked the dancing aspect. Mrs. Viktoria was hilarious, and I enjoyed the scenes in the studio, where I think Lily learned the most. The bad: It's so hard for a romance to surprise me, so of course Eyes on Me felt a bit predictable. It's not bad to follow a formula, but it sort of hurt my reading experience that I knew where the plot points would be. I also didn't like Stone. Some of his dialogue came across as repetitive to me, and the ways in which he described looking at Lily's body hit me kind of wrong. That being said, the majority of his narration was great, so I could get past it. Overall: 4/5 stars for Eyes on Me. A sweet romance and fun spring read. At first, teenager Annabeth Prescott thinks she’s found quite a deal when she talks down the price of an ankh pendant she discovers at a flea market. She soon wonders if the bauble is more than she's bargained for when she faints and glimpses images from a past life in ancient Egypt.
The discovery coincides with another new find: Gabriel, a handsome young man who takes an interest in her. When she meets his twin brother C. J. at a Halloween party, she realizes they look exactly like two boys who figure prominently into her memories. Does C. J. share the heroic qualities held by his past incarnation Sethe, her bodyguard when she was Princess Ana? Does Gabriel possess the same evil powers he wielded as Kha, the black sorcerer who sought her affection? Love meets the supernatural in this gripping young adult paranormal romance. Readers with an interest in reincarnation, as well as ancient Egypt, will be drawn to its mystical mixture of history and hesitation as Annabeth sways between the two brothers. Will her reincarnated soulmate win out? Or will Kha finally find the way to her heart? I've been reading this book intermittently for about 3 years, and I think it's time I finally just bite the bullet and review it. I really like stories that incorporate mythology! Unfortunately, Annabeth Neverending just wasn't for me. The plot was absolutely zany--I was never quite sure what was going to happen, and there were a few things that just... didn't make sense. My biggest problem was the whitewashing. How am I supposed to believe that a girl with the palest skin and reddest hair is from Egypt? I feel that this either wasn't considered or just ignored, and I'm not sure why. This element of the story is particularly strange given the choice of Egyptian mythology as the base of the story, and I couldn't get past it. Again, thank you to the publisher for sharing a review copy. These opinions are strictly my own, and you may have a different reading experience than mine. Way, way back in September I started First Impression Fridays so I could poke fun at my bad intuition on the plot and characters of the books I haven't read. Writing my first post on Beautiful Creatures was fun for me, and then... I just stopped. Well, here I am again, ready to find out why I own Split Infinity by Piers Anthony.
What do a future ambassador, an overly ambitious Francophile, a hospital-volunteering Girl Scout, the new girl from Cleveland, the junior cheer captain, and the vice president of the debate club have in common? It sounds like the ridiculously long lead-up to an astoundingly absurd punchline, right? Except it’s not. Well, unless my life is the joke, which is kind of starting to look like a possibility given how beyond soap opera it’s been since I moved to Lancaster. But anyway, here’s your answer: we’ve all had the questionable privilege of going out with Lancaster High School’s de facto king. Otherwise known as my best friend. Otherwise known as the reason I’ve already helped steal a car, a jet ski, and one hundred spray-painted water bottles when it’s not even Christmas break yet. Otherwise known as Henry. Jersey number 8.
Meet Cleves. Girlfriend number four and the narrator of The Dead Queens Club, a young adult retelling of Henry VIII and his six wives. Cleves is the only girlfriend to come out of her relationship with Henry unscathed—but most breakups are messy, right? And sometimes tragic accidents happen…twice… Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review. I grew up reading about Henry VIII and his wives (Anne Boleyn was my favorite), so when I found this retelling, I was so excited to read it. The narrative centering around Anne "of Cleves" seemed to be a down-to-earth story with a thrilling murder mystery element. However, I was a bit disappointed by parts of the execution. First, the good: I appreciated Cleves' narration. She was funny and curious, and best of all, a journalist! I love reading about high school journalism because of the character archetype: a plucky investigator who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and usually discover something about themselves along the way. Cleves did not disappoint. It was also fun to see the modern personas of the 6 wives, and reading about their historical achievements represented as modern-day teenage pursuits. Their representations were suprisingly accurate for having been translated into teenagers. I was impressed with Capin's work. The bad: So much petty drama. A strange amount, even though I suppose it represents court politics. Everything felt very minimized, even the murders of two girls. I've seen some people criticizing Cleves' treatment of other women, but I think that was something that folks who DNF'd didn't get to read about, because I actually appreciated how that was resolved. If you DNF'd, I would advise finishing, because the book's ending was my favorite part. It gets better. Overall, any problems were "me" problems. I think I read this book as a drama with a hint of comedy, when it's actually the reverse. I expected the atmosphere to be different, less cavalier about some of the plot points. 4/5 stars for a fun historical read, with an intriguing mystery element. From Danielle Paige, the New York Times best-selling author of Stealing Snow, comes a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera's first steps on land as well as her first steps as a hero or a villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.
Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade? Mera by Danielle Paige is an astonishing story that explores themes of duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers' favorite undersea royalty. Thank you to Netgalley and DC Entertainment for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review. Girls taking back their birthrights, controlling their own narratives, and saving their people? YEAH!! I loved the concept of Mera: Tidebreaker. Unfortunately, the execution left a couple things to be desired. That being said, a sequel could make the problems go away. Let's start with the good:
Then there's the bad:
I'm awarding Mera: Tidebreaker 4/5 stars on the premise that all of my issues with the story could be solved with a second installment. Pick it up!! |
The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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