Tag Archives: Magic

Review: The Floating World by Axie Oh

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The Floating World by Axie Oh

The Floating World (The Floating World #1)
Axie Oh
Feiwel & Friends
Published April 29, 2025

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About The Floating World

From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.

Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.

Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.

Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn’t realize she’s the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined…

My Review

I’m not going to lie; this book had me at Final Fantasy. I may have been waiting my whole life for a book that gave Final Fantasy VII vibes so strongly, and in all the best ways. I may have hummed the Sephiroth theme out loud more than once while reading.

The story mainly alternates between Ren and Sunho’s perspectives. I loved both of them as characters. Sunho has memory gaps that add to the intrigue surrounding him. Ren remembers her past, but she actively avoids thinking about it. A third point of view appears now and then, and his scenes both raise new questions and tie things together.

The story world feels like something straight out of Final Fantasy. It has a clearly defined class system with a shadowy power structure. I loved piecing together what was happening in the mythril mines and figuring out the memories Sunho had lost.

I think this is the first part of a duology. The second part comes out in October and is called The Demon and the Light. I will definitely be reading that!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used rarely.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
One character has the ability to use magic. The story explores a myth about a goddess who lost her wings. Strange creatures referred to as demons attack and kill people.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Battle scenes. A girl witnesses a murder.

Drug Content
Someone injects others with an experimental substance, sometimes without their consent.

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

Review: Love at Second Sight by F. T. Lukens

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Love at Second Sight
F. T. Lukens
Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published April 29, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Love at Second Sight

When a teen has an unexpected vision about a future murder, he must juggle newfound interest from the supernatural community with trying to prevent the murder from happening in this new romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author F.T. Lukens.

Tired of being known as the artsy oddball, fifteen-year-old Cam Reynolds hopes to fly under the radar when he changes high schools as a sophomore. It shouldn’t be too hard, considering he’s a human going to school with kids who have super-cool paranormal powers, like his best friend and witch, Al, and longtime werewolf crush, Miguel.

Then Cam has a psychic glimpse of the future in front of most of the student body, seeing a gruesomely murdered teen girl from the point of view of the killer. When Cam comes to, he knows two things: someone he goes to school with is a future murderer and his life is about to change. No longer a mere human but a clairvoyant, one of the rarest of supernatural beings, Cam finds himself at the center of attention for the first time.

As the most powerful supernatural factions in the city court Cam and his gift, he’ll have to work with his friends, both old and new, to figure out who he can trust. Because the clock is ticking, and Cam and his friends must identify the girl in the vision, find her potential killer, and prevent the murder from happening. Or the next murder Cam sees might be his own.

My Review

This is the third novel by F. T. Lukens I’ve read. I went into this book with them as a favorite author, and that distinction remains. This is probably not the kind of story that I would normally pick up– paranormal isn’t my usual go-to, but for an author I really enjoy (also looking at you, Kalynn Bayron), I’ll give vampires or werewolves a chance.

So one of the really fascinating things in this book is the cultural feelings surrounding people with supernatural abilities in the story world. For example, Cam’s parents are super against any involvement with or participation in the supernatural. They’ve long been against Cam hanging out with his best friend because they’re a witch.

Incidentally, Cam’s parents don’t bat an eye at him being gay or his best friend being nonbinary, so the story world is very queernormative. Instead, some characters fixate on whether someone is a human with no supernatural abilities versus someone with abilities.

Whether someone has an ability isn’t a choice. Cam’s gift manifests in a moment of distress and remains undeniable throughout the rest of the book. Yet his parents act as though erasing this part of his identity would be better for him and for them. It’s a pretty powerful metaphor, and it’s used well.

The characters, especially Cam, are engaging and easy to root for. I think Lukens has always written standalone novels, but I found myself really hoping this one would be the start of a series. I would absolutely return to this story world for more hijinks and investigations with Cam’s crew at the helm.

If you like a good murder mystery, especially one with a clever social commentary woven in, you won’t want to miss Love at Second Sight.

Content Notes for Love at Second Sight

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have supernatural/paranormal abilities. Some characters are werewolves, sprites, witches, or fae. Cam sees visions of the future. Another character sees and can interact with ghosts.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Cam sees visions of a girl who has been attacked and is close to dying. Boys get into a fight in a hallway at school. References to a car accident and near car accident.

Some characters react hatefully toward people with paranormal gifts or identities.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

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Vanya and the Wild Hunt
Sangu Mandanna
Roaring Brook Press
Published March 11, 2025

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About Vanya and the Wild Hunt

Amari and the Night Brothers meets Nevermoor in this enchanting middle grade fantasy, inspired by Indian mythology and British folklore, about a neurodivergent heroine, a mysterious school, and a world of magical creatures.

Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen has always felt like she doesn’t fit in. She’s British-Indian in a mostly white town in England, her parents won’t talk about their pasts, and she has ADHD.

Oh, and she talks to books. More importantly, the books talk back.

When her family is attacked by a monster she believed only existed in fairytales, Vanya discovers that her parents have secrets, and that there are a lot more monsters out there. Overnight, she’s whisked off to the enchanted library and school of Auramere, where she joins the ranks of archwitches and archivists.

Life at Auramere is unexpected, exciting and wonderful. But even here, there’s no escaping monsters. The mysterious, powerful Wild Hunt is on the prowl, and Vanya will need all her creativity and courage to unmask its leader and stop them before they destroy the only place she’s ever truly belonged.

From the critically-acclaimed author of the Kiki Kallira series and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches comes an action-packed and magical middle grade fantasy, perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan.

My Review

The week that Vanya and the Wild Hunt was released, I got to attend a Zoom event with Sangu Mandanna and Stephanie Burgis, which was a lot of fun. At that point, I hadn’t yet read the book, but hearing about the magical world and some of the inspiration behind Vanya’s character was so intriguing. I immediately added this book to the top of my reading list, and I’m so glad I did.

This has a lot of great elements that will appeal to middle grade readers. Vanya attends a magical school and learns about magical creatures. Books talk to her. She is keenly aware of the differences between herself and her peers in how she thinks and behaves, but she finds her people.

I had thought when I picked up the book that it was a standalone, but the way that this one ends definitely leaves room for a follow-up story. I think fans of Skandar and the Unicorn Thief will love getting to discover this new fantasy world.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Contains elements inspired by Indian mythology and British folklore. Powerful monsters called Old Ones threaten the lives and safety of those who can experience magic. Some magical books talk to Vanya and to each other.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Someone close to Vanya is critically injured. Vanya witnesses a brief battle scene and people running from a sinkhole-like event.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton

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The Notorious Virtues (The Notorious Virtues #1)
Alwyn Hamilton
Viking Books for Young Readers
Published April 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Notorious Virtues

A glamorous media darling, a surprise heiress, and the magical competition of a lifetime.

At sixteen, Honora “Nora” Holtzfall is the daughter of the most powerful heiress in all of Walstad. Her family controls all the money–and all the magic–in the entire country. But despite being the center of attention, Nora has always felt like an outsider. When her mother is found dead in an alley, the family throne and fortune are suddenly up for grabs, and Nora will be pitted against her cousins in the Veritaz, the ultimate magical competition for power that determines the one family heir.

But there’s a surprise contestant this time: Lotte, the illegitimate daughter of Nora’s aunt. When Lotte’s absent mother retrieves her from the rural convent she’d abandoned her to, Lotte goes from being an orphan to surrounded by family. Unfortunately, most of them want her dead.

And soon, Nora discovers that her mother’s death wasn’t random–it was murder. And the only person she can trust to uncover the truth of what happened is a rakish young reporter who despises everything Nora and her family stand for.

With everyone against her, Lotte’s last hope is hunting for the identity of her father. But the dangerous competition–and her feelings for Theo, one of the Holtzfalls’ sworn protectors–turns her world upside down.

My Review

The story world in this book feels a little bit like “The Gilded Wolves” series. It’s fancy, and the magic feels high-tech. There’s a lot of classism happening in the story. There’s not exactly a heist, but there is a contest and a powerful magical object up for grabs.

The story follows the point of view of several characters. First, there’s Nora, who was the default Holtzfall family heir until her mother (the actual heir) was murdered. That murder set off a new magical contest among Nora and her cousins to see who the rightful heir would be.

The narrative also follows Lotte, a girl raised in a small town convent with the ability to read minds. Her ability becomes a pretty powerful asset in the attempt to solve a notorious murder and stop a vigilante group from dismantling the Holtzfall legacy.

We also meet August, a young journalist who desperately needs a big story in order to break into the business and provide for his mother, and Theo, a young knight sworn to serve the Holtzfall family.

Primarily, those voices tell the story, but there are a few scenes from other points of view spliced in here and there. I enjoyed all three main points of view, though. Nora is very analytical and figures things out quickly. Lotte is more of an intuitive person. August and Nora have great banter back and forth.

At first, I was nervous about reading this 500+ page book, but the complexity of the plot really demanded that many pages. The story is pretty tightly wound, packing in a lot of drama and intrigue in those pages. The ending left me desperate for more of the story.

I think readers who enjoy books like Six of Crows or Gilded Wolves will want to check out this book. I think it’ll also appeal to readers who enjoyed Lies We Conjure by Sarah Henning will love the family intrigue and magic in The Notorious Virtues.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
One character was raised in a convent and told that she steals people’s thoughts because she’s a sinner. One family holds a magical contest based on demonstrating virtues to determine the family heir. Some characters have magical abilities or use devices that contain magic.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Mechanical creatures kill and injure people in a couple of scenes. Brief battle scenes include fatalities. References to torture. One family is bound by an oath to serve another family. If they try to disobey direct orders, they’ll die.

Drug Content
Characters drink alcohol.

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

Review: The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill

Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , ,

The Ogress and the Orphans
Kelly Barnhill
Algonquin Young Readers
Published March 8, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Ogress and the Orphans

A fantasy about the power of generosity and love, and how a community suffers when they disappear.

Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. Fires, floods, and other calamities have caused the people to lose their library, their school, their park, and even their neighborliness. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. (At least, no one has seen a dragon in his presence.) Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are.

Then one day a child goes missing from the Orphan House. At the Mayor’s suggestion, all eyes turn to the Ogress. The Orphans know this can’t be: the Ogress, along with a flock of excellent crows, secretly delivers gifts to the people of Stone-in-the-Glen.

But how can the Orphans tell the story of the Ogress’s goodness to people who refuse to listen? And how can they make their deluded neighbors see the real villain in their midst?

My Review

I was not prepared for the timeliness of this book. I’m not even sure I read the back cover copy. I’ve heard countless amazing things about the book from other reviewers and friends, so I picked it up on the strength of those recommendations. Plus, I loved The Girl Who Drank the Moon, also by Barnhill, so I had high expectations.

Within the first few pages, I was hooked. The story centers around a small town that’s not doing so well. It used to be lovely, and the children in the home for orphans try to remember that loveliness and figure out why it disappeared. The other villagers seem convinced that the ogress who lives just outside town must be the reason. But the older children remember her moving in after the town lost its shine.

Periodically, a narrator speaks directly to the reader as an eyewitness to past events. I loved this, but I can see some readers finding it annoying. If it was simply an excuse to break the fourth wall and fill readers in on information the other characters don’t have, it would be kind of gimmicky. However, the author reveals the narrator’s identity late in the book, and it so perfectly fits in with the story world she’s created and the story’s overall message. That moment when we learn who the narrator is landed beautifully with me. I felt like all the pieces of the tale had snapped into place.

Another thing that the author does so well is balancing darkness and light in this book. The town is failing. Neighbors don’t trust one another. The children don’t have enough to eat. At the same time, whimsical elements offer hope and create a sense of wonder and magic, even in the bleakness. One child hears the wooden beams of the house, made from old oak trees, tell the stories of the town and its inhabitants. The ogress bakes treats and leaves them on the villagers’ doorsteps. The crows speak to one another in a language the children learn from a book in their reading room.

Conclusion

This beautiful story examines the value of community and the kinds of events that erode or destroy our connections to one another. But it doesn’t stop there. Barnhill also shows how a courageous few speaking up against injustice and taking steps to show kindness and protect the vulnerable can change the course of others. Each person has a role in rebuilding connections and creating a more just community.

This book is as whimsical as it is timely. The storytelling speaks truth in love and reminds us who our best selves are. I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s absolutely worth a read. This one is going on my summer read-aloud list for sure.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
There are some fantasy-based characters, like dragons, ogres, etc. Dragons have a spiritual practice that evolved over time in which they live as an animal for a period of time as an exercise in developing empathy or broadening their experience.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Demonizing of an outsider. References to and brief descriptions of a building fire.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. All opinions are my own.

Review: All the Stars Align by Gretchen Schreiber

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

All the Stars Align
Gretchen Schreiber
Wednesday Books
Published April 1, 2025

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About All the Stars Align

All the Stars Align is the magical love story that is Taylor Swift’s Enchanted meets Cyrano, from the author of Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal.

All the women in Piper’s family know their true love at first sight, complete with butterflies, heart eyes, and a gut instinct. The kind of fated love that lasts forever. Piper grew up with her ancestors’ epic love stories repeated like fairy tales, and yearns for the day she’ll start her own. Already singled out in her family due to her physical disability, Piper collects a second strike against her when her parents announce their divorce, which convinces her family that she’s doomed.

When she finally finds her true love at a party, she’s more determined than ever to attain her love story and earn a spot in her family. But after completely botching their first meeting, she realizes that she’ll need help from her best friend Leo, who is sort of a love expert. The catch—he and Piper haven’t talked in six months, since he needed a “break” from their friendship.

To win over the love of her life and a place in her family, Piper must convince Leo to teach her his ways. And it’s all going as planned…until Leo confesses his own love for Piper. Now, she must decide which fate to follow.

My Review

This book started a little slowly for me. It’s pretty clear from the beginning that Leo has feelings for Piper, and she’s too deliberately oblivious to see it. Just as he’s about to confess how he feels, she meets the person she’s been waiting for: a boy named Forest, whose presence makes her feel a tug in her heart.

The biggest thing that elevates what would be a simple love story is the subplot about Piper’s parents, who, despite the family Blessing identifying them as true loves, have recently divorced. At first, Piper is committed to her aunts’ campaign to reunite her parents. After all, it’s clear the two still love each other.

As Piper explores her feelings for Leo and Forest, she begins to question whether letting Fate choose her romantic destiny is the right choice. Is it what she truly wants, or is it a safe way to ensure her place in her larger family?

Piper has some physical disabilities, including scoliosis. Her feelings about being a disabled child and possible love interest also come into play as she explores her family relationships and romance.

Diana, Piper’s best friend, is easily my favorite character. I liked the way that she navigated the mess between Piper and Leo and adored that she had her own unexpected love story in the mix as well.

If you liked The Charmed List by Julie Abe, then definitely check out The Stars Align.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used periodically.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some people believe in the goddess Fate, Piper’s family among them. Members of Piper’s family have been gifted a Blessing that allows them to know their true love when they meet them.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
Teens drink alcohol at a party.

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