Hush- ARC Review

Dylan Farrow

Out October 6, 2020

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for my ARC to review!

Goodreads: 4/5⭐️

Blog: 4.5/5 😻

“They use magic to silence the world. Who will break the hush?

Seventeen-year-old Shae has led a seemingly quiet life, joking with her best friend Fiona, and chatting with Mads, the neighborhood boy who always knows how to make her smile. All while secretly keeping her fears at bay… Of the disease that took her brother’s life. Of how her dreams seem to bleed into reality around her. Of a group of justice seekers called the Bards who claim to use the magic of Telling to keep her community safe.

When her mother is murdered, she can no longer pretend.

Not knowing who to trust, Shae journeys to unlock the truth, instead finding a new enemy keen to destroy her, a brooding boy with dark secrets, and an untold power she never thought possible.”

I cannot talk about how much I loved this enough!!! The plot hooked me from the start. The end has me anxious for book two to come out. The magic system is intriguing, with its spoken magic and drawn magic. I saw similarities between The Merciless Crow and Nevernight. Especially in the inquisitiveness of our main character. Also, THAT PLOT TWIST!

As much as I loved this, it’s not a solid 5 star read. The writing was very plain and straightforward for a fantasy. The world building and character development could have been flushed out more as well. The magic system was interesting but needed more explanation. All of this comes down to, in my opinion, to it being a debut novel. Overall it did an excellent job setting up for book 2, when I think the action is going to be even bigger and better.

Welcome to My New Books Blog

All a person needs is a cup of coffee, a good book, the souls of their enemies, and their cat. 🖤

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.

Life and Blog Update

Hey Y’all!

As you’ve noticed, I’m behind on my reviews and Middle Grade Mondays! I’m popping on to explain why.

October we spent all month moving from an apartment to a house. Then November hit and that comes with birthdays and holiday prep. Now it’s December and we are still in holiday season!

All of this plus some private life and health issues has produced a lapse in my blogging schedule. Life seems to have settled down, and I plan to catch up on my Middle Grade Mondays and post a year wrap up along with my goals for next year!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and Happy Holidays that I’m missing.

Blessed Be.

Middle Grade Monday! ARC of Believe by Julie Mathison

Goodreads: 3.5/5 ⭐️

Cat Rating: 4/5 😻

Thank you NetGalley and Starr Creek Press for sending me an ARC to review!

Book Release: 04 August 2020

“Eleven-year-old Melanie knows she’s special. She’s never been bored. She understands the secret language of old houses and makes jewels out of broken glass. Her imagination can do anything — except make friends. It’s 1980, and life as a fifth grader at Buckminster Experimental School is lonely at best, when she’s not dodging Karen, the school bully. Then, Melanie meets Sabrina, who looks like a TV star and acts like a spy, and who doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She teaches Melanie how to believe in herself, and soon Melanie starts living her dreams. She even lands the lead in Peter Pan!

If only she could share it all with Mom. Missing her mom is like trying to breathe with one lung. It’s bad. Sabrina thinks they can track her down, and Melanie wants to believe, but sometimes it’s easier to pretend. Her new life feels like a house of cards, until one day it all comes crashing down and she finds herself with no choice but to face the truth… and let go.”

I read this book in one sitting. I was absorbed and hooked from the beginning. Touching on a multitude of topics from grief to bullying, this book hits all the soft places. I think it was well written, although some concepts may be too hard to understand for some in the target audience.

Middle Grade Monday: Dogfish and Nightowl

“Avery Bloom, who’s bookish, intense, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who’s fearless, outgoing, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both twelve years old, and are both being raised by single, gay dads.

When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Their dads hope that they will find common ground and become friends–and possibly, one day, even sisters. 

But things soon go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. Now that they can’t imagine life without each other, will Bett and Avery (who sometimes call themselves Night Owl and Dogfish) figure out a way to be a family?”

As a queer woman this book spoke to my heart. I love that gay parents are a prominent part in this middle grade, making it more main stream. This was a cute, fluffy, parent trap style book. That’s where all my good points end.

The two girls, Avery and Bett come off as stereotypical white and black preteens. Avery is quiet and bookish where as Bett is loud in your face. I think the character describeof but as a loud black preteen should’ve been done better. I am not the person to speak on representation of black characters, being a white woman, however, I think that the author could have made a better choice in how he portrayed Bett.

Avery on the other hand was very timid and quiet, which I think is an overdone trope. Both characters felt under developed and the conflict seemed too easily solved for what it was.

Overall, a middle of the road book for me.

Goodreads: 3/5⭐️

Blog: 3/5 😻

Middle Grade Monday: GreenGlass House

“It’s wintertime at Greenglass House. The creaky smuggler’s inn is always quiet during this season, and twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers’ adopted son, plans to spend his holidays relaxing. But on the first icy night of vacation, out of nowhere, the guest bell rings. Then rings again. And again. Soon Milo’s home is bursting with odd, secretive guests, each one bearing a strange story that is somehow connected to the rambling old house. As objects go missing and tempers flare, Milo and Meddy, the cook’s daughter, must decipher clues and untangle the web of deepening mysteries to discover the truth about Greenglass House—and themselves.”

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!

It’s super cozy, set in a remote area with tons of snow at Christmastime. The author set the perfect atmosphere. I loved how they incorporated a role-playing game, like D&D, in it to solve the mystery.

I fell in love with Meddy’s character. She was all sass and meant business. She’s a strong female character and I love that pre-teen girls are being represented that way.

The twist wasn’t that big of a twist, but it still worked within the story setting. I would say this would double as a good Halloween and Christmas book.

Goodreads: 4.5/5 stars

Blog: 4.5/5😻

My Riot Review

GoodReads 4/5 ⭐️

Blog: 4/5 😺

“1991—Val, a teenager from a conservative family, has grown up dreaming of becoming a ballerina, but recently something has changed. She’s begun feeling pressure to conform to a specific idea of beauty, body type, and a personality that just doesn’t fit.

Val meets Kat, a smart, witty girl that doesn’t take any crap off anyone. Kat introduces Val to punk rock. Along with Rudie, another new friend, the three form an all-girl punk band they ironically name The Proper Ladies.

Soon Val and her friends find themselves caught up in a movement with other girls also starting bands—also finding their voice. Collectively, these “riot grrrls” discover that their songs ring out loud and powerful, and for Val, there’s no going back.“

I really loved this. As a punk rock person and a fan of riot grrrl music and the movement, this spoke to my spirit and soul. The message that we do not have to conform to societal standards is such an important message today, for all persons.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone, but especially those who are struggling to find their place, like Val.

Middle Grade Monday: A Touch of Whimsy!

Happy Labor Day! I hope you are enjoying your day off. It’s Middle Grade Monday!!!! This month I am participating in the Touch of Whimsy readathon. I will link the hosts below. It’s Alice in Wonderland themed! I am so, so excited because that is my favorite children’s classic!

How it works: there is a map to follow, that has prompts.

My TBR:

Pages and Co: The Book Wanderers

Greenglasshouse

A Pinch of Magic

The Night Owl

Group Book: Train to Impossible Places

I think I can do it! It’s a month long, so here’s hoping! 💜

https://youtu.be/y_rY5FhQdlA

https://youtu.be/B7aen_yXSYE

https://youtu.be/QlNgCINeXNk

https://youtu.be/l86isx5jQds

OwlCrate- August

I AM OBSESSED! 😍

September TBR & Bookopalathon

It’s September! 😱

Where does the time go?

This month is full of book clubs and a month-long readathon hosted by Becca from Becca and the books. Let’s start there for this months TBR!

Bookopalathon:

I did the standard 5 rolls, and had 2 doubles making it a grand total of 7 rolls! I haven’t picked out my big book yet. 😬

Book clubs:

The Tolkeinalong- The Hobbit

The Stormlight Archives: Way of Kings

Literally Dead Book Club: The Night Swim

I’m also planning on one more readathon and to continue along with the Game of Thrones series this month.

Crazy? Probably. 😂

Middle Grade Monday- The Jumbies

Corinne La Mer does not scare easily…at least that is what she believes. She definitely does not believe in the legend of the jumbies. That is until she sees a pair of yellow eyes in the forest which makes her question everything she believes in. The jumbies are a local legend based on a Caribbean folktale. Corinne soon becomes more and more suspicious of the legend itself, of the mysterious woman who begins coming to the market, of her own mother’s history and where Corinne actually belongs. This is an exciting novel that while a bit reaching at times, however it is based on a folktale so nothing is too out of bounds, manages to capture the essence of a creepy tale, the power of magical possibilities, and what the love of family could overcome.

This book by Tracy Baptiste is enrapturing from the beginning. I couldn’t put it down. Learning about folklore from Trinidad and Haiti was amazing. It has been missing from all the fairytale stories so far.

I really enjoyed the quickness of the read. There was nothing superfluous. It was just the story, which for middle grade, I think is important, as to not lose the reader. The bond between the characters was very believable, especially at that age.

All I can say is it was an excellent read.

Catch the Middle Grade Monthly show for this at: https://youtu.be/aid_bUSmeLk

GoodReads: 4.5/5 ⭐️

CatRating: 😺😺😺😺