Review: The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron

The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron

The Vanquishers
Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published September 20, 2022

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About The Vanquishers

In the world of the Vanquishers, vampires were history . . . until now.

Malika “Boog” Wilson and her best friends have grown up idolizing The Vanquishers, a group of heroic vampire hunters who wiped out the last horde of the undead decades ago. Nowadays, most people don’t take even the most basic vampire precautions–the days of garlic wreaths and early curfews long gone–but Boog’s parents still follow the old rules, much to her embarrassment.

When a friend goes missing, Boog isn’t sure what to think. Could it be the school … Continue reading

2022 Summer Reading Recap

For the last couple of years, I’ve been trying to post seasonal lists of the books I can’t wait to read. I love doing that, but I also want to post some kind of recap at the end of the season where I can talk about which books turned out to be my favorites that sort of thing. I’ve been struggling to find a format that feels satisfying to write up and read about, so here’s my first attempt: my 2022 Summer Reading Recap.

First, if you missed my most-anticipated summer release list, check it out to see what books started on my list. I also posted this Top Ten Tuesday list of backlist titles I hoped to read this summer, so I’ll include those in this check-in.

How many books did I read from my summer reading lists?

My most-anticipated … Continue reading

Review: Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland

Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland

Rust in the Root
Justina Ireland
Balzer + Bray
Published September 20, 2022

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About Rust in the Root

The author of the visionary New York Times bestseller Dread Nation returns with another spellbinding historical fantasy set at the crossroads of race and power in America.

It is 1937, and Laura Ann Langston lives in an America divided—between those who work the mystical arts and those who do not. Ever since the Great Rust, a catastrophic event that blighted the arcane force called the Dynamism and threw America into disarray, the country has been rebuilding for a better future. And everyone knows the future is industry and … Continue reading

Review: The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

The Killing Code
Ellie Marney
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published September 20, 2022

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About The Killing Code

A historical mystery about a girl who risks everything to track down a vicious serial killer, for fans of THE ENIGMA GAME and A GOOD GIRL’S GUIDE TO MURDER.

Virginia, 1943: World War II is raging in Europe and on the Pacific front when Kit Sutherland is recruited to help the war effort as a codebreaker at Arlington Hall, a former girls’ college now serving as the site of a secret US Signals Intelligence facility in Virginia. But Kit is soon involved in another kind of fight: Government girls are being brutally murdered in … Continue reading

20 Most-Anticipated YA Books Coming Fall 2022

20 Most-Anticipated YA Books Coming Fall 2022

20 Most-Anticipated YA Books Coming Fall 2022

Now that September is half-over, I finally sat down and looked at my list of most-anticipated YA books coming fall 2022. I’m really excited about so many of these titles. There are a few romcoms, and I’m loving that. There are also a LOT of spooky or spooky-ish books on this list, which is unusual for me. I’m not usually a big scary books girl. It doesn’t take much to freak me out– Disney movies used to give me nightmares as a child. Ha. At any rate, I’ve included books that are coming out from September 1 to November 30, so a few are books I’ve managed … Continue reading

Review: Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer

Defend the Dawn by Brigid Kemmerer

Defend the Dawn (Deft the Night #2)
Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury USA Children’s
Published September 20, 2022

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About Defend the Dawn

To save their kingdom, they must embark on a dangerous journey…

The kingdom of Kandala narrowly avoided catastrophe, but the embers of revolution still simmer. While King Harristan seeks a new way to lead, Tessa and Prince Corrick attempt to foster unity between rebels and royals.

But the consuls who control the Moonflower will not back down, and Corrick realizes he must find a new source for the lifesaving Elixir.

When an emissary from the neighboring kingdom of Ostriary arrives with an intriguing offer, Tessa … Continue reading