Bookish Amy Leigh

Winter by Marissa Meyer My rating: 5 of 5 stars I don't feel like any review can do this book or this series justice. I am in awe of the beautiful world the author created and her take on beloved fairy tale characters that makes it come to life in a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. This series will hold a special place in my heart and will always be in my favorites. I highly recommend these books! Winter is Levana's step daughter and Snow White with a little bit of Alice mixed in. Jacin is her childhood friend and protector. Levana cannot stand how much the Lunar people love her step daughter or how beautiful she is without glamour. Winter refuses to use her Lunar gift which has made her a little crazy. All Jacin can think about is getting back to Luna so he can protect Winter, even if that means helping Cinder and her friends in the process. View all my reviews

Cress by Marissa Meyer My rating: 5 of 5 stars This was my favorite of the series so far! This series has quickly become one of my all time favorites! I love how the author brilliantly entwines each character's story into the main plot. Every character is essential! I love how she takes fairy tale characters and morphs them into something new and exciting. You never know where the story is going to go and it's exciting from start to finish! Crescent Moon is a girl who has been trapped in a satellite because of her amazing tech skills. Cinder and her team have finally made contact with Cress and decide to go on a rescue mission. Not all goes as planned when the woman who brings her supplies and checks her bloodwork shows up at the same time as Captain Thorne. Chaos ensues when a fight breaks out-and this is only the beginning! They are still trying to find a way to keep Kai from marrying the evil queen but will they make it in time?

The Art of French Kissing by Brianna R. Shrum My rating: 4 of 5 stars I didn't know going into this book that I would adore it as much as I did! This story is about following your dreams no matter what comes up to make you feel less-than, even romance. I need this beauty in hardcover please! The cover is gorgeous and I can't wait to re-read this as soon as it comes out! Carter Lane is seventeen and has been anxious ever since she sent in her application for a cooking competition where the prize is a full ride scholarship to Savannah's Culinary Institute. As soon as her acceptance letter arrives she is in an anxiety riddled frenzy. When she gets there it is like a dream until she meets Reid Yamada, her new number one nemesis. They both take turns sabotaging each other until the consequences are too much to bear. Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review. View all my re

Risen by Cole Gibsen My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was unexpected. There are no slow moments. The author wrote this like a rollercoaster ride. I did feel like the book could have been a bit longer to help give more backstory and character development. I gave this four stars because the story had me hooked and I will definitely be reading the next book when it comes out. Charlie is a seventeen year old living in seclusion with her aunt Rachel and her dog Jax. She feels stuck without social interaction and barely being able to leave their farmhouse. Her aunt makes oil scented soaps and sells them with the toxics they grow to keep them self sufficient. Everything changes one night when a subspecies of vampires called Mentis kidnap her aunt and a young Mentis named Sebastian is told to get rid of Charlie. I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley and Entangled Teen for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

Star Struck by Jamie Campbell My rating: 5 of 5 stars Sweet YA romance novella about a girl meeting the guy of her dreams. First book in a series, leaves you hanging wanting to read the next book to find out what happens View all my reviews

P.S. from Paris by Marc Levy My rating: 5 of 5 stars I just finished this book and in in awe... Wow! A must read! The twists and turns are so beautifully written. The story is captivating... I don't want to spoil anything but you're truly missing out if you don't buy and read this novel! View all my reviews

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a must read for fairy tale fans. It is enchanting and beautifully written. There are twists and turns, suspense, friendship and journeys. I can't thank the author enough for bringing new pieces and answers to the tale of Beauty and the Beast. View all my reviews

Beauty's Curse by C.S. Johnson My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is not the disney sleeping beauty tale. She isn't a frail girl who gives in without a fight. This Aurora (who goes by her middle name Rose) is a warrior princess! An unlikely band of teens goes on a harrowing journey to break the curse on their beloved princess put on her by a witch. The journey is tough with evil fairies trying to attack them as they journey through the fairy lands. Will they make it in time? For fans of clean adventure fantasy View all my reviews

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi My rating: 5 of 5 stars You will want to read this book! This fantasy world is well rounded with beautiful descriptive scenery and well written characters that make you want to close your eyes and jump straight into their world. I enjoyed everything about this ya book and can't recommend it enough! A selection of the population had magic, marked unmistakably with their silvery white hair. Something happened 11 years ago and all magic disappeared leaving the jealous who want power to try to stomp the maji and diviners out. They are treated as the lowest of low but something changes that could bring hope and magic back to this gorgeous land. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series! Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review! View all my reviews

The Loneliest Robot by Andrew Glennon My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a story about Robert Karma and Velia Rose. Two young kids who inadvertently become best friends through a robot named UMA. Robert's parents could care less about him completely consumed with greed. Their love of gaining and spending money becomes so intense they often forget about Robert or see him as an inconvenience. Robert spends most of his time at Velia Rose's house (a very gifted but mute young girl) and with her grandparents Lilly & Dennis Baccino. They take in Robert and UMA as sons and it seems nothing can stop this unexpected family from living life to the fullest. One day Robert gets a job opportunity while playing a video game. What will this job mean? This book may be written for young adults but all should read this hauntingly beautiful story. The book is written beautifully and you feel like you are part of the Baccino family as their story unfolds. A tal

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline My rating: 5 of 5 stars Holy crap! If you haven't read this book do it now! SAO mixed with Willy Wonka in a dystopian world where only 80's media & gaming culture are everyone's obsession. View all my reviews

Escape to Darkness by C.A. King My rating: 4 of 5 stars Before you know Tomoiya's story you must know Allaynie's... This is more of a prequel book to C.A. King's new series Tomoiya's story. From the start Tomoiya is on a voyage to a side of her universe she doesn't quite understand- the side of darkness. The captain of her detail sees her holding her prized possession, a diary. This diary was passed on to her from her mother and details the life of a rare princess named Allaynie. The diary ends at her wedding but the captain knows more and feels it is his duty to tell Tomoiya. She has to know now before history repeats itself. Tomoiya sits and listens as the story unfolds about what actually happened after the golden vampire princess's wedding. There is shock and horror and surprise as everything you thought you knew about vampires fades is this beautifully haunting story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich My rating: 5 of 5 stars If you enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale you will love this book! Cedar is 26 years old & four months pregnant. She lives in this dystopian world that is just beginning to change. Cedar lives with her adoptive parents who are liberal but mainly just hippies with degrees. Her mother gave her a letter from her birth-mother a year ago and now, while the world is falling apart, she decides to open it. It doesn't take long for her to decide to go meet his birth mother. She has questions. Who is her father? Are there genetic abnormalities she needs to know about? But her quick visit turns into a couple days and that's when everything begins to change. This book is written as a long letter to her child. It brings hope,disappointment, confusion, longing, frustration and at times laughter. I really appreciated the raw openness the author used in her writing. View al

Artemis by Andy Weir My rating: 4 of 5 stars Andy Weir does it again! Refreshing space story with all the spacey tech talk but not so overwhelming that it's not easy to understand. Jazz was hoping to get a fresh start when she signed up for this space mission to the moon to live and maybe even move up the proverbial ladder somehow. She comes from a lower caste and starts doing things that are highly frowned upon to get by. She thinks they are alone on this moon but are they truly? Will she get away with what she's done? I really enjoyed getting to read this book which questions what exactly do you think bad is? Will you stretch your morals? ARC from NetGalley for a fair & honest review. View all my reviews

A Keeper's Destiny by C.A. King My rating: 5 of 5 stars I absolutely love this author's writing style. She created worlds that make you feel like you know them, like you could close your eyes and be there. Fantasy at its best! Willow lives in a world where there is only one town. One village and one main road. A castle where the council lives on one end and an orphanage on the other end. Willow is about to come to her sixteenth cycle where she will learn what magical powers she has and if they will be useful to the council. She is the girl who runs the booth that provides all the fruits and veggies to the whole village. When the council allows boys from the town to come to a party hosted by the council members' children Willow is invited by one of her guy friends. The town looks at them as the couple to represent the village and Willow is treated like Cinderella with the whole town being her fairy godmother. This is where the trouble star

The Little Queen by Meia Geddes My rating: 2 of 5 stars This is a very odd novella. It starts out with beautiful wording about a princess who loses her parents and becomes the little queen. It's hard to understand or get to know the little queen and she goes on odd "adventures" meeting a book sniffer, wall sawyer, leaf gluer, seasons painter, fish talker, dream writer, Dream counter, window builder, the lotioner, plant whisperer, perfumer, sleep soother, poop encourager among others. There isn't much depth given to the main character and she tries to pass off her title to anyone before deciding she doesn't want to. Then she gets married as a very young child. I truly didn't see this as poetry or a children's book and I didn't enjoy it. Govern free copy by NetGalley and publisher for a fair & honest review. View all my reviews

The Hundredth Queen by Emily R. King My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a captivating story about Kali. As someone who has been sick most of their life this book is inspiring. I can't wait to read the second book in this series! A tale of how a sickly orphan girl named Kalinda, raised by the sisterhood in a fictional Ancient India/Sumeria esque setting, can fight and rise to be the most powerful Queen in her land. The story is told completely through the eyes of Kalinda and is written so well that you can see and feel as she does. Starting with her preparations for a "claiming" in the sisterhood all the way through her tournament where she has to show strength and literally fight to claim her throne as the hundredth Rani, a queen. She is gifted a security detail because Tarek the king believes she will be the most important of all his hundred wives, more important than his "Kindred" the first queen. Kalinda learns that much of wh

Counting Wolves by Michael F. Stewart My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was so hard to put down! I read it in two sittings only because I HAD to sleep. This story is so magical and so is this author's writing style. The story just flows so beautifully. Yes, fairy tales are a huge part of Molly's story and so is her mental illness. I don't want to spoil anything for you in this book but it is intriguing, eye opening and life changing. It will stick with you. I highly recommend this novel, you won't be disappointed! I absolutely loved this book! Copy given by publisher and NetGalley for a fair & honest review. View all my reviews

I, Eliza Hamilton by Susan Holloway Scott My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love historical fiction, especially in the early days of the USA. I enjoyed this novel very much and highly recommend it! This is the story of Alexander Hamilton's wife Eliza. A fictional (but believable) story told from her point of view. The author wrote with much charm how Eliza meets and is captivated by a young Alexander Hamilton. They have a hurried wedding due to the time period, on the cusp of the American Revolution. Eliza is Alexander's best friend and due to her infectious personality- she quickly rises in stature and social standing. Something that will benefit her greatly. She outwardly gracefully handles the duties of being "The Lady of the House" but inside she is fighting to stay strong. She has many hats to wear though as the wife of Alexander Hamilton and not all are easy or will give her the credit she is due. This book shows just how vital women

Doctor Who: Myths and Legends by Richard Dinnick My rating: 5 of 5 stars As soon as I saw this collection I was deeply curious and excited because it couldn't come at a better time. Waiting for the Christmas special is difficult and I am always wanting more Doctor Who! Based on the introduction included you immediately know this book was written on Gallifrey for other Time Lord's learning and enjoyment. I believe a better title for this book was directly mentioned here: Time Lords Myths and Legends. Our beloved Doctor does pop in and help in his own style (depending on which Doctor you get since this mixes the classic and new regenerations) but not enough for him to be in the title. This wonderful compilation of stories is based on Greek Mythology ranging from Medusa to Icarus to Thor. There are many stories interwoven with Time Lord lore and our own Greek mythology to excite your imagination and leave you wondering enough to re-read some of

Harry Potter - The Unofficial Guide to the Collectibles of Our Favorite Wizard by Eric Bradley My rating: 5 of 5 stars This isn't just a guide to collecting Harry Potter things but a work of art, telling stories behind famous pieces and fun facts strewn across pages of cultivated knowledge. This book helps you understand what "Harry Pottery" is and how best to build your collection (with active website links included) while drooling at previously sold items. Eric Bradley has given something special from his expertise to inspire artists, creators and collectors alike. Warning: For those of you who haven't read or watched Harry Potter (What are you waiting for?) there are spoilers. Copy given by publisher and NetGalley for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

The Fire Queen by Emily R. King My rating: 5 of 5 stars Please read the first in this series before reading this review to avoid unintentional spoilers! The Fire Queen picks up two months after The Hundredth Queen. Kali and a group of her friends have escaped Tarachand and are moving around the desert quickly to find Prince Ashwin. Only he can give Kalinda what she truly desires, freedom from her throne. As The Kindred rani Kalinda is tied to her throne until Prince Ashwin takes his place as the new King. When two couriers arrive unexpectedly saying they have been sent to bring Kali to the Prince her group is unsure of placing their trust in them. Kalinda feels this is her best option and rides with the female courier Opal upon the promise her group will join her a day later. When she arrived at the Janardanian Palace nothing is as it seems. This place is very different than her kingdom with jungles and creatures foreign to her. Prince Ashwin is aski

I Will Find You: Solving Killer Cases from My Life Fighting Crime by Joe Kenda My rating: 5 of 5 stars It's not often I start reading a biography and feel like I just can't put it down and when I do put it down it nags at me to pick it back up because it's so engrossing. This novel is graphic in some parts because Joe Kenda gives you insight to the realities of being a homicide detective. It's not gonna be flowers and rainbows. It's real life grit and sometimes a struggle and in many places full of sarcasm and humor. I have never met the man but after reading his book it's hard to say you don't feel like you do. He has a relentless gift for storytelling but unfortunately for him, his stories are all true. This book caries you through his life and career in the police department from meeting his wife to his rookie days all the way to his retirement and many adventures after. Yes one of those adventures is a television show

A Halloween's Curse by C.A. King My rating: 5 of 5 stars Book two of the Portal Prophecies series picks up right where the first left off. Willow and her group are still trying to understand and strengthen their powers in this much larger world that is foreign to them. They have made new allies and their group grows as they discover there is much magic on this world surrounded by people unaware of anything magic at all. William inadvertently becomes the new leader of the group by taking on so many responsibilities and keeping everyone focused. Willow matures more into her powers and many other ways. Another prophecy from the book begins to stand out to them after Willow and Mike are approached by a mysterious gypsy woman with a cryptic warning of her own. Since it involves a holiday called Halloween that isn't far away they begin to tirelessly try to decode what it means. Two teams decide to explore places with magic histories to learn more a

Voiceless by E.G. Wilson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Addy is 13 when Maunga steals her voice, her creativity, her ability to express herself- to communicate. It was a man made disease called Vox Pox Maunga selfishly used on Addy in a study class. Maunga was a bully but something like this, Addy couldn't comprehend the cruelty of it. There was no cure. Addy fights and struggles for the next three years with the reality of her new life. She was in the most extreme sense of the word- invisible. Vox Pox became an obsession along with getting back at Maunga. Addy spent all her money on a new VR therapy that had the possibility to cure all kinds of things called TheraRPG. Once she gets there everything isn't quite what it seems. The book was amazing! I didn't want to put it down and can't wait to read the second one! I kept thinking of Inception in parts of the book more visually than anything else. Book given for a fair and honest review by Ne

The Girl of All My Memes by C.S. Johnson My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a coming of age book that truly takes you back to high school. I didn't quite know what to expect when I started this book. I found myself in a whirlwind of emotions and real situations that I could relate to on multiple levels. I hope to see this book in movie form one day! This book deals with serious topics like being used, bullying, depression and anxiety, mental illness, not knowing who you are or what to do with your life, unreal expectations being placed on people at young ages. It also deals with fun stuff like first love, forgiveness, and pie. I've had a serious craving for cinnamon roll crust apple pineapple pie and I must try making it! The story starts with Tommy in the sixth grade. He has real competition with his classmate Kara. They both want to be top of their class but for very different reasons. Tommy doesn't care about anything except being the be

Colorless by Rita Stradling My rating: 4 of 5 stars 3 1/2 stars. I loved the creativity and world building of this novel. I did feel a lot was left unanswered and hope the next book in this series solves my curiosity. I also really enjoyed the author's writing style. Annabelle lives in a world where magic has been destroyed by heretics and was worshipped on the same level as the gods. Her family fell under extreme financial trouble and quickly her parents both unexpectedly die. Suddenly all color drains away from Annabelle. Not only does she become "colorless" but people have forgotten her. It's as if she never existed. Everything she touches loses its color too. To regain her color she must defeat the magicians that cursed her and murdered her parents with her friend Dylan. The biggest problems? These magical monks can turn into wolves and the wolves are after Annabelle. I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and the publis

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a great psychological thriller with so many twists and turns. It's so well written you are left wondering if the husband Richard with a wife and mistress is the bad guy or actually the victim. It's so well written that you feel like you are there and that this could have been a true story. Could not put this book down! I recommend this book if you like scary thrillers! Preview given by BookishFirst and full copy of this book was given by Netgalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is Samuel's story, his past and his present. He is now an old man but when he was 12 his mother was killed in an awful accident. He tries to deal with his grief which leads him on a quest to find the tree of life. He is questioning life and death and his quest offers as many questions as it does answers. Grief is always a tough subject and the author wrote it well. It is neat reading the experience from both times in Samuel's life. Everything takes on a new perspective when age and living a long life has come into play. Copy given by NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

The November Girl by Lydia Kang My rating: 5 of 5 stars Anda is half human and half witch. Maybe not the type of witch you're thinking of. She is the November storm that shuts down her island Isle Royale every winter. Each and every year the island evacuates in October leaving Anda completely alone on the island. Even her father leaves. Hector has a very troubled home life. He is so close to turning eighteen that he decides to run away for a few months until he is a legal adult and will never have to return. He decides to takes his refuge on Isle Royale because he knows the island will be vacant. Or so he thought. When Hector first sees Anda he doesn't believe the ethereal beauty is real. Anda is already being taken over by her storm side and becoming numb to her human nature. Yet, she is so curious about the boy who comes to the island. Andy's loneliness is heart wrenching. Hector really made my heart ache though. This book is hauntingly

The Dwellers by Oyinda Aro My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book! I got hooked after the first page! Asha and the enchanted Dwellers are being chased out of existence in 19th Century London. Luckily for them some humans are still willing to help them evade capture but this pushes them further into hiding. Asha reconnects with old friends as things get more dangerous and complex. The author really did well writing this fantasy in the YA genre where things are exciting and mysterious without being too difficult to understand. She leaves a lot of things unanswered leaving plenty of room to continue this series while leaving the reading to ponder and come up with fun theories. Can't wait to read the next book! Oh and there is a prequel as well and the link is on the author's Goodreads page if it's still available for free! View all my reviews

Wolves and Roses by Christina Bauer My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is so amazing! I finished it in one day because I couldn't put it down! Now I am really excited for the next book in this series. Christina Bauer skillfully wrote this young adult fantasy with well rounded characters and settings adding intrigue and mystery. The premise for this book is fantastic and with the way it ends there is so much she can do with this story. Magic is leaving the world. Humans live side by side with Magicoriums (shifters, witches, and fae). Magical or non magical humans are given fairy tale templates to live by if they fit a template at birth. Bryar Rose is a 17 year old who was adopted by three fairies when she was a baby. She is beautiful and has a sleeping condition which makes her freeze. It's actually a curse out on her by a powerful fairy. All of this means she should fit the Sleeping Beauty template. She has to marry her prince by her 18th birt

Haven by Mary Lindsey My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a phenomenal take on shifters. The author took her time to weave a story of mystery, romance, intrigue and deception so thoroughly it was hard to put the book down to sleep at night. This is a young adult book but I would suggest it for high school age and up due to content about gangs, sex, violence and explicit language. Aaron Ryland is a seventeen year old who has been raised on the streets. He commits crimes just to get by. His mom has substance abuse issues that keeps them in and out of shelters and sometimes just leaves them on the streets. He goes by the name Rain. His mother gave him the nickname by telling him that's all her life had been since he came along. One night he's coming home to find his mom being led out of the shelter on a gurney with a sheet over her head. A judge orders that he will go live with an aunt he never knew about in a town he'd never been to. He takes a

Expression by E.G. Wilson My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is the follow-up to E.G. Wilson's Voiceless. If you haven't read the first novel please avoid reading this review because you'll regret it! Adelaide is now twenty-two. She's been trapped in Caroline's testing program for six years now. Little does she know that her brother Theo and his wife Maunga have been setting up plans the whole time for a rescue mission to get Addy back. Theo and Maunga have put together an entire team of people with different skills and assets ready to start the rescue at the drop of a hat. Addy had given her life to research in exchange for all the other Vox Pox victims to be cured. They can't stand the thought of her lifelong servitude of experimentation and having been waiting for just the right opportunity. As soon as the rescue begins the team falls underneath all sorts of problems to overcome. Some are acceptable and others are unforgivable. W

Bloodbound by Amalie Howard My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was a beautiful historical take on vampires that can be read as a standalone easily and enjoyed thoroughly. This book starts right out of the gate with a sword fight that immediately takes you to the 17th century and draws you in. The author worded this book so well it's hard to stop reading. Lady Lena is nineteen years old in 1892 Vienna. She is the youngest of eight children and the only girl. She has come of age for suitors and nothing repeals her more than the choices her parents have given her. Thankfully she has not accepted to court either when a mysterious French duke appears at a social function. His intrigue is only the beginning of the mysteries he with unveil. Lena is not the damsel in distress type but rather proves herself time and time again to be headstrong and resilient. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a copy to read

Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman My rating: 4 of 5 stars Tess has always been the black sheep of her family. That's saying a lot when she has a step-sister who is half dragon and half human. She isn't your average ya heroine either. She is full of self loathing, anger, jealousy, resentment and just a mess! This story is her life journey. She hasn't had an easy life. She's always been inquisitive to a fault. From the early age of six she gets in trouble for kissing her cousin/uncle because she wants to understand where babies come from. Her view is misdirected as most children's are. Fast forward to her being sixteen and spending all of her strength to find her twin sister a husband. She would do anything for her twin. Unfortunately she screws that up too on her sister's wedding night by punching the groom's brother in the nose in an aristocratic society where women shouldn't do such things. Tess has some intense secr

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson My rating: 5 of 5 stars I absolutely loved everything about this novel! The author is absolutely amazing and perfectly unfolds a fairy tale universe where Fair Folk (fairies) reign not only the lands but the seasons as well. If you love folk tales or original fairy tales you won't be disappointed! Isobel is a painter and that is her main Craft but anything that is a result of work seems to be considered a human Craft. She is seventeen and her medium is portraits. As far as the Fair Folk are concerned, she is the best in the world. She takes on clients in exchange for enchantments that will help her family survive. Like enchanted hens that lay a certain number of eggs. Isobel is very wise and knows that most Fair Folk like to play tricks on humans to make enchantments backfire, so she is very specific with her wording and leaves no room for open ends that could be used against her. Her family consists

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell My rating: 5 of 5 stars I absolutely loved this book and everything it offered! The characters were well rounded and I really enjoyed experiencing the different points of view. This was a time travel novel unlike any other I have ever read. Plus there is a heist! The Maegus, who you would expect to have the upper hand, have multiple enemies and with such fascinating and well paced action it's not hard to be completely sucked in. There are characters that are supposed to be bad guys but as you get to know them it's hard to tell who is bad and you see more of the results of organized corruption changing people without them realizing it. Magic, betrayal, heists, time travel- what's not to love? I highly recommend this novel and would give it 6 stars if I could. Thank you to rivitedlit.com for providing a copy for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was amazing! A powerful historical fiction that mixes romance with piracy. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book and found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. I immediately got the sequel when I finished because I have to know what happens next. The author skillfully used her knowledge of the history of Blackbeard and the time period to construct a beautiful book about what might have happened to turn Blackbeard to a life of piracy. Edward "Teach" Drummond has just spent a year at sea and is returning home to finalize his engagement. Anne, a beautiful servant in the Drummond household has a very secretive past that could change her life in every way. Teach and Anne have an unpleasant encounter at the docks. What will happen when Teach discovers she works for his father? Thank you to rivitedlit for a copy of this book for a fair and honest revie

Charlotte Holmes and the Locked Box by Sherry Thomas My rating: 4 of 5 stars An enjoyable short story written about Charlotte Holmes, Sherlock's sister. She has begun solving cases for clients due to his poor health. She has the keen and stunning acumen that her brother does and this story is delightful and refreshing! This is a great quick read with a curious riddle. Great when you are in a reading slump or just need a break from a long book you're reading. I would highly recommend this story and it only takes a few minutes to read. View all my reviews

Oracle of Illaria by Dyan Chick My rating: 4 of 5 stars Etta is not just the rightful queen in hiding but also a highly powerful sorcerer in training of one of the rarest type. She finds her brother has betrayed her and now Ashton is fighting for his life. Etta has to find a way to be a just ruler and save the people she loves, even if it means sacrificing something dear to her. I found this book to be a great follow up to Heir of Illaria. What's character is still developing and her relationships with Celeste and Ashton are growing stronger. This book shows a more in-depth view of her finding herself and growing in her magic while saving innocents. I can't wait to continue this series with Battle of Illaria! View all my reviews

Scythe by Neal Shusterman My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book was fantastically dark and gritty. I enjoyed so much of the book but there were some elements of the characters I felt could have been better explained and long periods of time went by as if it were only a day in the character development and maturity. With that being said, the story and world building here was phenomenal! I got very attached to both Rowan and Citra early in the book and couldn't have guessed the outcome of this story if I had tried. The story takes place on earth in a very distant future. We have overcome illness and death which leads to overcrowding. Scythes were elected to take up the duty of gleaning humans to even out the population. Rowan and Citra are both high school students minding their own business when they both separately cross paths with the same scythe. This with forever change their lives and their futures. View all my reviews

Battle of Illaria by Dyan Chick My rating: 4 of 5 stars I knew about a third of the way through this book that this wouldn't be the end of this series. Dyan introduces more characters and dynamics to be played upon. I absolutely recommend this series to fantasy/ya fans! Etta is still camping with the White Ravens while trying to earn support from local towns. After visiting the oracle she knows there is still a lot to do and things she needs to learn. She is still coming to terms with her brother's betrayal and what implications that could have for her and her kingdom. The necromancer king isn't staying silent and neither is his daughter... I will definitely be continuing this series as soon as Dyan releases the next book! (Please soon!) View all my reviews

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts I and II by John Tiffany My rating: 5 of 5 stars Fantastic continuation of Harry Potter! The book starts out with the scene at the very end of the last movie and cascades into adventures in the past and present. You get to know Albus Severus Potter and discover a lot of his story at Hogwarts. Ron, Hermoine & Harry go on another adventure as they are all trying to tackle parenthood with careers. It's funny seeing them as parents but still so much the same. This book is a quick read as compared to the other HP books. I think that is mainly due to the play format. If this were any other series I may have given it three stars because I would have liked to seen Albus grow the same way we saw Harry grow, but instead I got insight into things I wanted to know and even had teary-eyed moments that I would not have had if not for this book. I think if you go into this book thinking of it more as a novella than

The Rogue Queen by Emily R. King My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book series is completely amazing! You need to read this series! I fell in love with Kalinda's spirit and her soul in the first book and ached to know more through out the rest of the series. I literally could not wait for each book to come out and when they did I read them I was engrossed start to finish. This book was difficult as Kali found herself trying to figure out if she should follow her heart or choose her duty to the throne. This was all shadowed by an impending war with the demon rajah and his blinded followers. Kalinda faces heartbreaking trials and has to focus on being true to herself. I laughed, cried and ached with the characters. I don't know if Emily is planning on writing more for this series but my heart begs her to. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review. View all my reviews

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow this book was amazing! I would highly recommend The Hundredth Queen series by Emily R. King to anyone who enjoyed this book. I love the fictional world Leigh created and the characters were fantastic! I can't wait to dive into the next book! This book follows Alina, an orphan who grew up in an orphanage provided by a compassionate duke. She spent most of her time with a fellow orphan named Mal. As they grew older Mal joined the Army and Alina understudied as a cartographer. Life seemed normal for Alina until they had to cross the Unsea. A dark expanse full of monsters know to snatch and devour anyone from the barges that crossed. On their crossing something happens to Alina that will change her life forever. View all my reviews

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! So good! This is definitely one of those books where so much happens that writing a review seems like it just won't do it justice. The world building is phenomenal. The physical book (not sure about digital since I read the hardback) included a beautiful map of the fantasy world Bardugo created but you really don't need it because her description throughout the books helps you understand immediately where places are and what kind of places they are. I adored all of the characters, from the previous book and newly introduced. The personalities Leigh gives them are relatable even in a fantasy book. We all know people with these personalities from throughout our lives and the way she builds their personalities is beautiful even in a tragic way because of how genuine they are. The dynamics and plot are so interesting that they keep you wanting to know more and never wanting to leave th

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo My rating: 5 of 5 stars That was beautiful... RTC Update: Okay I'm having a difficult time putting my thoughts together for this review. I saw many people having the same issue and mixed reviews, which really do not surprise me. You either loved or hated this trilogy. It's not for me to judge what other people do or don't like. I am in awe of this trilogy. When I finished Ruin and Rising I was an emotional wreck. I thought when I woke up today I would be okay but I can't quit thinking about how everything built up and turned out. I read some interviews about how Bardugo originally was going to take the series and I am so glad she wrote this ending. The book keeps building off the previous two and an epic journey ensues. Alina experiences so much in this book it's hard to imagine her not locked away in her room for months without talking to anyone but she never gives up. The characters are so well t

The Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo My rating: 4 of 5 stars A great little story from before the Grisha trilogy that gives insight into the Darkling's childhood and a better look at the woman who raised him. I really enjoyed this story and wish it was the beginning of another trilogy. The world Bardugo has created is hard to leave! Eryk and his mother have a rough life. They are constantly on the move and changing their names. Grisha are hunted and killed as witches and they are constantly having to stay hidden. Eryk thinks things are looking up when they stop at a village but things aren't always what they seem. View all my reviews

Fight to Dance by Simon Brading My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is meant for middle grade but I enjoyed it thoroughly and will definitely be reading the next one. The characters are so well written that you feel with them and are so beautifully described that you can see them dancing gracefully. The plot thickens and grows from anticipation and tragedy. This story surrounds twins Max and Emily Cooper. It starts at the beginning of their discovery of ballet and their shared passion for dance. They are highly competitive with each other while encouraging the best from the other sibling while they grow in brilliance. Everything comes to a sudden halt after a devastating accident leaves them feeling hopeless. Watch as their support and love for each other shines while learning to live with loss under unfavorable circumstances. View all my reviews