Category Archives: Young Adult/Teen 12-18

Review: Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

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Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

Into the Heartless Wood
Joanna Ruth Meyer
Page Street Kids
Published January 12, 2021

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About Into the Heartless Woods

The forest is a dangerous place, where siren song lures men and women to their deaths. For centuries, a witch has harvested souls to feed the heartless tree, using its power to grow her domain.

When Owen Merrick is lured into the witch’s wood, one of her tree-siren daughters, Seren, saves his life instead of ending it. Every night, he climbs over the garden wall to see her, and every night her longing to become human deepens. But a shift in the stars foretells a dangerous curse, and Seren’s quest to become human will lead them into an ancient war raging between the witch and the king who is trying to stop her.

Epic, heartbreaking, and darkly atmospheric, Into the Heartless Wood is the story of impossible love between a monstrous tree siren and a boy who lives at the edge of her wood.

My Review

I feel like the back cover copy, shown above, for this book is a great summary of the story. Now that I read it after having read the whole book, it feels like it is packed with a lot of hints at things that I didn’t see until I read the book. Which is pretty cool, actually.

When I read the first page of the book, which I did really just to gauge how much I might like it, I found I couldn’t stop reading. I think I read the first forty pages or so just sitting on the edge of my bed, without actually taking a minute to get comfortable.

The whole story hit me like that. I felt like I needed to keep drinking it in, line by line, as quickly as I could, all the way to the very last page.

I loved it. Owen’s gentle spirit. His mischievous little sister. Seren’s terrible strength and her longing to not be a monster any longer. The transformative power of love and the destructive power of betrayal. The healing power of a little kindness. I loved the hints of gender-flipped Beauty and the Beast. (Aha. See? I got you there, didn’t I?)

As I’m writing this review, I’ve only just finished reading maybe an hour ago, and I still feel like I’m buzzing with all the adrenaline from those last chapters. It’s so good. INTO THE HEARTLESS WOOD is definitely a must-read book for this year!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Most human characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used a few times.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between a boy and girl. Vague reference to sex.

Spiritual Content
Human souls can be collected and used as a source of great power. A witch uses magic to create beings who enchant humans. The trees in a magical wood are aware and dangerous.

Violent Content
Multiple scenes show the brutal murder of multiple people. Sometimes the description is pretty brief, but other times it’s more drawn out. A few scenes show torture or an enemy causing terrible injuries. A mother character is particularly brutal to one of her daughters.

Drug Content
Owen drinks liquor from a flask to numb him before a medical procedure.

Note: I received a free copy of INTO THE HEARTLESS WOOD in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: Fortune’s Fall by Katherine Barger

Book Review and Content, Christian World-View, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , ,

Fortune’s Fall
Katherine Barger
Anaiah Press
Published November 3, 2020

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Fortune’s Fall

While her classmates prepare for elite careers across America, Nyssa Ardelone trains for her secret job as the president’s dream interpreter. But when her mentor lies to the president about the prophecy in his latest dream, Nyssa must figure out why before the lie unravels. What she learns could destroy her own future.

Fearful of a rumored rebellion, the president has launched a gas attack on Nyssa’s hometown, and her mentor lied about the dream to protect the survivors from more harm. When Nyssa learns her parents were injured in the attack, she flees with a stranger sent to steal the antidote—a stranger who claims to know her.

Together, they race to deliver the cure as well as an interpretation of another prophetic dream only Nyssa can provide. But a devastating loss dulls her caution, and she learns too late that not everyone is trustworthy. To survive the president’s deadly pursuit, Nyssa must break every rule she’s ever followed, learning along the way that faith is the only thing that can save her.

My Review

I feel like Biblically-inspired fiction as a topic is always a little dicey, so while I was super fascinated with the idea of this tale, I was a little nervous that it might fall flat or be too political or the characters too perfect.

Instead, though, I found a really gripping dystopian setting with a controlling, paranoid leader right up there with President Snow from The Hunger Games. The story world has advanced technology paired with this earthy, simple feel that I thought really worked well together.

I liked the characters a lot, especially some of the minor ones, like Greer and Nyssa’s mentor and Cass. (I hope they all reappear in a sequel!)

The story kept me really intrigued and I thought the pacing was pretty good. At times I felt like things maybe happened too easily, like I wanted the process of achieving a smaller goal to be more complex, but the story moved quickly enough, that those bumps didn’t pull me out of enjoying it at all.

I think readers who enjoy dystopian books, especially MATCHED by Ally Condie, will like this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Most characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Nyssa feels some attraction to a couple of the boy characters.

Spiritual Content
Some resistance members believe in God and the Bible, something that’s been outlawed for a long time. They tell Nyssa that dreams and the ability to interpret them come from God.

Violent Content
References to torture. Prisoners are hanged for their crimes. Nyssa is there but tries not to look, so it’s not described in any detail. A fighter uses a biological weapon to kill soldiers. The same weapon was used on civilians before the story began. Soldiers treat an older man roughly, killing him. A man cuts a boy’s face.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of FORTUNE’S FALL in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: Faye and the Ether by Nicole Bailey

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

Faye and the Ether
Nicole Bailey
Published October 27, 2020

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About Faye and the Ether

For as long as I can remember, the sea has called to me, luring me to explore the secrets hidden beneath its cresting waves.

Faye is tossed into a current of uncertainty as she deliberates over her college choices. More than anything she wants to study by the sea, forever chasing the line where the ocean meets the horizon. But she finds herself dragged down by the riptide of her and her mother’s financial restraints. How can she be true to herself when anchored by her world’s limitations?

As the leader of the deadliest group in the Ether, Daron is at the top of his game. Yet there is one thing he’s failed at time and again–finding the human-raised Ether. It’s a known fact amongst his team that success on that particular mission would change their lives in unimaginable ways. Yet Daron couldn’t comprehend how true that was… until he saw Faye.

Guided by Daron, Faye enters a world she never knew existed. One filled with mythical creatures, struggling to coexist. As Faye wrestles with where she fits in this magical realm, secrets are revealed that turn the tide once more.

Inky darkness is seeping ever closer. Can Faye and Daron work together to save Ether and themselves? Or will the world be crushed under a wave of evil?

From author Nicole Bailey comes a young adult adventure filled with magic, intrigue, and the inner well of strength that flows through us all.

My Review

Especially at the beginning, this book reminded me a lot of the book OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks. (I liked the Syrena Legacy books, so it’s a good comparison.) I also liked that the story didn’t follow things I expected, both in the way the plot unfolded and in some of the story elements. For instance, I liked that Faye didn’t turn out to be quite what I expected.

Faye also turns out to be a powerful character, and she learns a lot about her power from another woman. I liked that she shared a bond and learned strength from a female character rather than from Daron.

I also like that the romance in the story doesn’t go the way I assumed since it’s a dual point-of-view story. The romance seemed to emerge really quickly, though. Like, there’s a conversation where one character basically says to another, “I need to talk to you about the fact that you’re in love with X.” And I was like, whoa, wait, what?! It’s possible that I overlooked clues because I assumed that a different romance was in the works, so that could just be me.

There were some scenes toward the end, though, where things moved really fast, and I felt like there were some gaps in the narrative that left me confused about what was going on. I felt like I was missing some understanding about the setting (At one point there was a ship approaching another ship, but not a lot of visuals there or anything to distinguish one ship from the other.) or the actions the characters were taking (In one confrontation with enemies, suddenly a character is bound, but there’s no description of that happening.).

I kind of wish there had been more to the magic system, too, but that might just be because I tend to be a fan of the kind of system where magic requires an exchange of some kind, and that’s not the system in FAYE AND THE ETHER. The magic kind of felt too convenient sometimes, I guess.

Other than those few things, though, I enjoyed the story. I particularly liked Faye’s character and her journey toward discovering her strengths and her role in the Ether. I loved the connections between mythology and the Ether, and especially loved that it focused on types of characters that I don’t see a lot. Reading a dual point-of-view story that didn’t follow a traditional romance arc was really cool, too.

I think if you enjoyed the Syrena Legacy by Anna Banks, it’s worth checking out FAYE AND THE ETHER.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
One major character is gay. Faye’s best friend Merri is mixed race. In the Ether, people are separated into groups based on what their Ether form is (there are centaurs, birds, selkies, etc.) and there’s some racial tension and prejudice between groups as well as some homophobia.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl. Kissing between two boys. In one scene, the two boys go beyond kissing and it’s hinted that they have sex.

Spiritual Content
References to the gods in the Ether.

Violent Content – Trigger warning for rape, torture, and homophobia.
References to torture and rape. One scene shows soldiers whipping a bound captive, torturing him.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of FAYE AND THE ETHER in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro

Book Review and Content, Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

The Last of August (Charlotte Holmes #2)
Brittany Cavallaro
Katherine Tegen Books
Published February 14, 2017

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About The Last of August

Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are looking for a winter-break reprieve after a fall semester that almost got them killed. But Charlotte isn’t the only Holmes with secrets, and the mood at her family’s Sussex estate is palpably tense. On top of everything else, Holmes and Watson could be becoming more than friends—but still, the darkness in Charlotte’s past is a wall between them.

A distraction arises soon enough, because Charlotte’s beloved uncle Leander goes missing from the estate—after being oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery ring. The game is afoot once again, and Charlotte is single-minded in her pursuit.

Their first stop? Berlin. Their first contact? August Moriarty (formerly Charlotte’s obsession, currently believed by most to be dead), whose powerful family has been ripping off famous paintings for the last hundred years. But as they follow the gritty underground scene in Berlin to glittering art houses in Prague, Holmes and Watson begin to realize that this is a much more complicated case than a disappearance. Much more dangerous, too.

What they learn might change everything they know about their families, themselves, and each other.

Audiobooks and a Bit of Background

I’ve been having a ton of trouble sleeping the last several months. It’s like my body crashes really deeply for 4-5 hours and then I’m wide awake, brain whirring at top speed. I hate it because it makes me want to get up and do something useful, like lying there trying to go back to sleep and being unable to is such a huge waste of time. At the same time I know if I get up and do something, I’m more likely to stay up longer and that can really ruin my daytime life with kids and such.

So my solution has been to listen to audiobooks. It’s actually worked out really well most of the time. A lot of the backlist titles I’ve reviewed lately have been the result of audiobooks I’ve listened to while navigating those troubled nighttime hours.

My Review of The Last of August

Which brings me to THE LAST OF AUGUST. It’s been a while since I read A STUDY IN CHARLOTTE, the first book in the Charlotte Holmes series. If you’re unfamiliar with this series, the basic premise is that Sherlock Holmes and James Watson’s present-day descendants meet up at a boarding school and begin solving crimes together. I really enjoyed the first book, but I’m terrible at pursuing a series all the way to the end, so it has taken me a long time to get back to this one.

I liked THE LAST OF AUGUST a lot. Holmes and Watson have that dynamic duo thing going plus loads of romantic tension, and on top of that, a whole family of villains seems to be intent on putting an end to Charlotte’s family.

Some of the twists and turns caught me completely by surprise. I sort of expected that– since it’s sort of part of the Holmes charm to have the big reveal at the end where all the pieces snap into place. I felt like Jamie played a more active role in this book than in the first one (though it’s been a while, so I may be wrong), and I liked that he put some pieces together himself and took charge of a few things, even if they didn’t always go quite as he hoped.

Jamie and Charlotte together are heartbreakingly sweet. He can’t help loving her, and she is so cerebral and analytical and feels so broken beyond repair, but loves him in her own way, too. It’s one of those relationships you keep rooting for because they make each other better, and you just want them to keep making each other better until they’re somehow whole.

I’m hardly an avid mystery reader, but I think if you like Flavia de Luce books, this might be a great series to try.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Charlotte is from London. Jamie is white American.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Before leaving school, Charlotte was raped. The incident is never shown, but it’s clear that she’s struggling to process the trauma. Sometimes she can’t handle being touched. Jamie is patient with her and respects her boundaries.

A boy and girl kiss in more than one scene. In another scene, a girl undresses in front of a boy. A vague recap lets readers know they did not have sex but had other sexual contact.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. One character is poisoned. More than one character is kidnapped.

Drug Content
Charlotte is a recovering addict. She’s tempted at a party where guests are using cocaine. Teens drink alcohol at a club and auction. (It’s legal at 18 where they are.)

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support the costs of running this blog.

Review: You Have a Match by Emma Lord

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You Have a Match
Emma Lord
Wednesday Books
Published January 12, 2021

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About You Have a Match

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

My Review

It would have been super easy to read this book all in one sitting. I made myself pause about 75 pages from the end because it was WAYYY late at night and I have a toddler who does not see a book hangover as a reasonable excuse for not being up and chipper first thing in the morning. So basically, I finished reading while she ate breakfast the next morning. Ha.

I loved this book so much, though. I’m a HUGE fan of sister books, and I loved the connection (and all its messy, complicated glory) between Abby and Savannah. One of the things that stands out to me as amazing are the scenes in which lots of people are talking. I think it’s really hard to do those well. Lots of times when I read them, they’re confusing or don’t sound organic, but Emma Lord totally nailed those. They sounded exactly like the chaotic, hilarious conversations that happen when you get a bunch of people who know each other well all talking and telling stories. I loved those scenes so much.

Also, I thought the balance between the focus on Abby’s relationship with Savannah and her relationship with Leo was perfect. I love that Abby ended up being faced with needing to speak up and not be passive and that that was echoed in all these relationships and situations in her life. I loved how transformative summer camp was for her, too.

Honestly, I’m hard-pressed to find anything I didn’t love about You Have a Match. It made me laugh. It also made me cry in that deep, I-see-you kind of feeling that you get when you read about grief and it feels so familiar.

Anyway, all that to say, if you’re a fan of Emma Mills’ THIS ADVENTURE ENDS or a lover of summer camp stories, please check this one out.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Representation
Abby’s friend Leo and his sister Filipino-American and adopted. Abby’s sister is in a relationship with another girl.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Extreme profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between two girls and kissing between a boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
A couple people fall and get injured.

Drug Content
None.

Note: I received a free copy of YOU HAVE A MATCH in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog.

Review: Alone by Megan E. Freeman

Book Review and Content, Dystopian or Post-Apocalyptic, Poetry, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , ,

Alone
Megan E. Freeman
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
Published January 12, 2021

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

About Alone

When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone—left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned.

With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten.

As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie’s most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie’s stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?

My Review

I tend to really enjoy novels in verse, but also feel a little bit inadequate reading them? Does this happen to anyone else? Just me?

Even with that, I really liked ALONE. It’s a bit too dark to say I enjoyed it– lots of moments left me uncomfortable, and I will admit that I even peeked ahead to the end because I just needed to know that I could handle what would happen. (It had been an unusually tough week.)

I liked the connection that Maddie had to her family and the ways she tried to preserve those connections even while she was alone. It was so sweet that she had the dog with her, too. I really liked him and that they took care of each other.

There were a lot of suspenseful moments and some interesting political and social commentary often lurking between the lines. Those are all things I love in a book, so they only pulled me in more deeply into the story.

I often find stories with a solitary narrator to kind of drag on without other characters and dialog to break up the narrative, so I felt like telling this particular story in verse kept it feeling fast-paced and suspenseful.

If you enjoy more contemporary-feeling dystopian stories or novels in verse, definitely add ALONE to your reading list.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Representation
Major characters are white.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used a few times.

Romance/Sexual Content
Maddie sees a group of men and wonders whether they would rescue her or attack her.

Spiritual Content
Maddie tries to pray and at one point writes an angry letter to God.

Violent Content
Maddie sees a man kill a kitten. Maddie learns to shoot a handgun for protection. A tornado rips through Maddie’s town. Lightning sparks a fire that destroys a neighborhood.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support running this blog. I received a free copy of ALONE in exchange for my honest review.