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Review: Hollow Magic by Mars Lauderbaugh

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Hollow Magic by Mars Lauderbaugh

Hollow Magic
Mars Lauderbaugh
Feiwel & Friends
Published August 11, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Hollow Magic

Seventeen-year-old Rosefinch has been traveling along the weather-beaten coast for two years on a quest to find a witch strong enough to help her control her magic. Her magic is volatile, hard to wield, and Rosefinch is tired of the pain of magical backlash. When she’s directed to the sea-side village of Harp, she discovers the ancient castle of a long-lost Witch Queen with the inhabitants long gone; the only remaining soul is a knight encased in solid ice guarding the door.

When she attempts to lift the curse, she frees Thierry, a human with no memory of who they are, wrapped in cursed magic so strong that they cannot leave the castle. Thierry is soft spoken, strong, and in possession of a fey sword that should be impossible for them to have. But they have secrets of their own, as do other members of the Harp family still hidden within the walls.

Harp castle was left in ruins for a reason, and Rosefinch must find a way to cure the curse or lose Thierry—and the chance to learn the truth about the Witch Queen—forever.

My Review

I’m really enjoying the fantasy graphic novels that I’ve read this year. Hollow Magic is another great example of a story that creates really interesting fantasy landscapes for its characters. The illustrations are really immersive.

I loved the mystery of the curse that Rosefinch tries to break to free Thierry. Following that thread led to many situations and revealed connections I hadn’t expected. I devoured the second half of the book. I really wanted to find out what happened.

The story reminds me a little bit of graphic novels by K. O’Neill. The style is a little bit different (and doesn’t have as many cute fantasy animals), but something about the pacing and the way the characters interacted reminded me of A Song for You and I by K. O’Neill.

I can definitely see fans of O’Neill or maybe Hari Conner enjoying this one. If you like stories about the Fae and a quest to break a magical curse, put this one on your reading list!

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can perform magic. The story includes some lore about moonbeams becoming fae and other creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. References to curses.

Drug Content
Rosefinch drinks a powerful potion and eats herbs to enhance her magic.

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: Immortal Game by Allison Saft

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Immortal Game
Allison Saft
Wednesday Books
Published August 4, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Immortal Game

In #1 New York Times bestseller Allison Saft’s enthralling new romantic fantasy, a chess grandmaster will go to any length to save the person she loves the most.

Six years ago, Shea Fury’s sister was whisked away by the High King of the Otherworld, the ruler of the treacherous land of fae. Although Shea has spent the years since dreaming of rescuing her sister from captivity, the Iron Veil that separates the human world from that of the fae has made it only a wish. That is, until an invitation to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime chess tournament in the Otherworld arrives on Shea’s doorstep. The winner of the tournament may ask the High King to grant one wish, and Shea is finally within reach of hers.

But entering the tournament and winning it are two different matters. Dark magic lurks around every corner in the Otherworld, and Shea’s cutthroat opponents are willing to bend the rules to make their own wishes come true. To make it to the end—and to find her sister—she is forced to strike an alliance with her longtime rival, the sharply beautiful fae princess, Ciara of Bri Leith. One wrong move, though, and Shea could lose more than just the competition: She’d lose her sister, her dignity, and maybe even her life.

In Immortal Game, Allison Saft has written a high-stakes sapphic love story brimming with competitive tension set against a lush, Irish folklore-inspired fantasy world.

My Review

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that had so much chess theory or chess playing in its pages. Though I know the rudimentary basics, I’m not deeply familiar with the game of chess. I still followed the story without any difficulty, but I have a feeling I missed some of the jokes or interesting moments due to my lack of familiarity with some of the finer points of the game.

I really enjoyed the whole Fae-chess-tournament part of the book. The magical setting kept things off-balance. Shea’s focus on the game and her need to find her sister kept the stakes high. If you know me at all, you already know I have a special place in my heart for sister books.

Though Shea is super focused on rescuing her sister, the story doesn’t deeply revolve around their relationship. Instead, it shows how Shea’s understanding of her sister evolves from her view of her sister while Shea was a child to now reflecting on her choices as an adult.

The romance might seem a little unbelievable at first. After all, Shea has a reputation as having a single-minded focus, and she has been working toward the competition for years. It seems a wild time for her to get distracted. That said, I was very willing to suspend my disbelief about that as Shea falls unexpectedly (to her) in love.

I’ve read Saft’s other young adult novels, and this one definitely held up to my expectations based on her previous work. The pairing of chess and Irish folklore was a lot of fun here.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Some F-bombs. Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters are Fae and have some ability to do magic or curse others.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Shea witnesses the gruesome deaths of several other characters.

Drug Content
Characters drink socially. They are of legal age to 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: Listen to the Girls by Chrystal D. Giles

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Listen to the Girls
Chrystal D. Giles
Random House Books for Young Readers
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Listen to the Girls

When Calla finds out her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct, she decides to take action in this powerful story about growing up and speaking up, about listening to others and learning to listen to yourself. Because the more Calla listens . . . the more she realizes that maybe she has something to say too.

“Important and empowering—this story is a testament to the power of girls supporting one another.”—Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author

What if the truth really is as powerful as it feels?

Calla has always had smart-girl energy. She’s Josiah the track star’s practical younger sister. Charlee and Jacoby’s problem-solving best friend. Attorney Dionne Howard’s model daughter. So it’s nice when someone seems to see her for her, outside of all that. But what if that person is a grown-up who maybe isn’t as trustworthy as Calla thought? Calla’s mom likes to say “Always do what you know is right.” But what if you don’t know what the right thing is?

These are the questions Calla faces on the last day of seventh grade, when she finds out that her favorite teacher has been accused of inappropriate conduct at his old school. Calla doesn’t know what really happened. She does know that people are saying mean things about the girls who have spoken out—and that can’t be right . . . can it? Inspired by her favorite newsblogger, EboniNews (whose motto is Amplify. Connect. Truth. ACT.), Calla has an idea. Can she find a way to ACT?

My Review

Though this topic can be uncomfortable to explore, it’s an unfortunately relevant one. Calla has a lot of questions and mixed feelings as she learns more about the allegations against her teacher. She works through those questions in an organic narrative that stays gentle and age-appropriate. It’s easy to imagine other readers having some of the same questions that Calla has had, both about individual experiences and rumors about a trusted adult.

I like that the story makes space for Calla to work through her thoughts in her own time. Others share their thoughts about the girls who spoke up about their teacher as well as their feelings about the teacher. Calla listens. She forms her own judgments. I love how that’s modeled in the text. I also love how Calla finds trusted adults to talk to when she’s ready.

The author pulls a lot of elements together here that will resonate with older elementary-aged readers who will be familiar with the way that rumors can spread like wildfire online, and how social media can be used both to tear others down and to forge community. Using your voice to speak the truth and support others speaking hard truths matters, and Giles illustrates that beautifully in the book.

This book reminded me a little bit of Chirp by Kate Messner, which came out in 2020, or The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski, which came out in 2021.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to grooming behavior.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to grooming behavior.

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.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: Tides of Fortune by Lauryn Hamilton Murray

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

Tides of Fortune (Storm Weaver #2)
Lauryn Hamilton Murray
Roaring Brook Press
Published July 21, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Tides of Fortune

“Bears all the hallmarks of addictive YA fantasy. . . This is going to be huge.” —Laura Steven, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Our Infinite Fates, on Heir of Storms

Return to the spellbinding world of Heir of Storms in the explosive second installment of the Storm Weaver trilogy, perfect for fans of Red Queen, Throne of Glass, and The Rose Bargain.

Having survived three treacherous trials to win her crown, Blaze is now Queen of the Aquatori. But before she can take the throne, she must set out to find the Eye of the Soul, one of the realm’s most powerful weapons, before another claims its power for themself.

Her journey will take her deep into the forests of Ostacre and into a temporary alliance with the infuriating but undeniably compelling Fox. She can’t help but feel drawn to him. . . but can she trust him? Fortune favors the brave, but will it protect the Storm Weaver on her most dangerous mission yet?

Narrated by not just Blaze, but her brother, Flint, and the newly-discovered Shadow Magi, Elva, the epic journey that began in Heir of Storms continues in the sweeping adventure of Tides of Fortune.

My Review

I think this series is just not for me. I can see how a lot of elements are on trend and will appeal to other readers. It’s definitely got a strong romantasy vibe, and the fact that this follows three different characters, offering readers three different romances, means there’s very likely something for everyone.

It also has some elements that I’m discovering are personal pet peeves. I really struggle with books where part of the romance hinges on her reverence for him because he knows her better than she knows herself. Here, one way this plays out is that she wants to follow her quest to a certain endpoint. He has inside knowledge that this is a bad idea. Rather than confronting her with his inside knowledge, he drugs her and simply takes her where he wants to go. His explanation is that it would have been too hard to convince her to drop her plan in favor of his. While she’s frustrated with his tendency to keep secret knowledge to himself over and over, she never really confronts the way that he doesn’t treat her like a partner in their quest but rather someone he can overpower when he wants to.

Another of the couples in the story is a prince and someone his kingdom has enslaved. He privately offered this woman her freedom, and she has “chosen” to stay and operate as a servant. The whole private freedom thing seemed odd to me. Like, if she did try to leave, how would she be protected? Wouldn’t anyone else see her as an escaped servant? I get that the offer of freedom was supposed to make the romance something other than a master and enslaved person romance; I just had a hard time seeing that it materially changed anything for the enslaved character.

There’s room in literature for all kinds of romantic relationships, but I think I’ve just reached a point where I can’t enjoy or root for a romance in which the characters don’t at least confront these kinds of toxic behavior patterns rather than romanticizing them.

All that said, the plotlines surrounding the magic and the brewing war between the prince and his uncle continue building here. We learn more about Blaze’s past and why she is such a pivotal character in the upcoming war. I can see how the story would appeal to readers interested in stories with big, sweeping fantasy elements and political intrigue. For me, I think some of the story’s other elements will deter me from continuing the series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 16 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. References to sex.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can perform magic.

Violent Content
Some characters have been enslaved by a colonialist culture. References to torture. Someone drugs a woman because she doesn’t want to go where he wants to take her. Situations of peril. Brief battle scenes. Some instances of trauma responses related to past battle experiences.

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.

MMGM Review: The Shark Prince by Malia Maunakea

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The Shark Prince
Malia Maunakea
Penguin Workshop
Published May 5, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Shark Prince

From the award-winning author of the Lei and the Legends duology comes a sharp new fantasy about a Hawaiian boy who can transform into what people fear most: a shark.

Why go to school if you’re destined to die?

In a small Hawaiian village, Nohea is the latest son in a long line of male ancestors with a horrible secret: he’s half-human, half-shark. After his father—also cursed as a shark—kills someone who is surfing and subsequently disappears, Nohea is left isolated with only his mom as company. He knows he’ll suffer the same fate one day, so he can’t go to school or make any friends.

Worse yet, when he eventually succumbs to his shark-like cravings, he’ll be put to death and his family will be kicked out of their home on the Hawaiian homelands. But when Nohea sees a flyer for a surf competition three valleys over, he realizes the prize money might be enough to move his family to a new home when he’s gone. The catch? The competition is for school teams only.

So taking the biggest risk yet, Nohea joins the local public seventh-grade class, where he makes new friends, contends with a school bully, and gets so angry, he discovers a new row of supersharp teeth in his mouth! But this is only the beginning of Nohea’s problems.

Because soon, Nohea realizes that, one by one, his surfing friends are disappearing. Is Nohea killing his classmates without knowing it? Or is something even more dangerous afoot?

My Review

As a kid raised in the era that heavily emphasized sharks as beautiful, intelligent creatures rather than violent man-eating monsters, this book started out a little rough for me. Nohea lives in fear of the inevitable moment that he’ll become a monster, turn into a shark, and most likely kill people. He spends the first portion of this book with that mindset about his ability.

Eventually, he meets others who invite him to challenge that perception and think of his heritage as a gift rather than a curse. I love the way that this unfolds and the emergence of the character who turns out to be his mentor. I also love that Nohea meets others who aren’t afraid or judgmental about who he is.

Another great element of the book is the surfing. I’m not a surfer, so I can’t weigh in on any of the technical descriptions (though it sounds like the author researched this well). The surfing descriptions were dynamic and easy to follow. I loved the scenes showing both Nohea surfing to relax and his competition experiences. It was nice to see a fantasy novel feature sports, too.

This novel bridges contemporary and fantasy fiction, but it also bridges middle grade and young adult age groups. Nohea is thirteen in the story, and the content of the book is appropriate for middle grade readers. The themes and tension and the length of the book will make it appealing to readers at the older end of the age group and even some readers who’ve aged into young adult reading.

All in all, this book has a lot of great elements to offer readers, from its fantasy components inspired by Hawaiian mythology to its surfing scenes.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Nohea is a descendant of the Shark King, a god. He has been told that if he eats meat or becomes too angry about something, he will “shark out”… turn into a shark and eat whoever is in his way.

Violent Content
References to someone turning into a shark and killing someone. (Not shown on scene.)

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.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as a part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly

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

The Lure of Wolves and Whispers
Amanda Connolly
Sarah Barley Books
Published July 7, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

A darkly addictive romantasy debut about a girl who sacrifices everything to buy the dangerous magic that could save her sister—the first in a trilogy perfect for fans of Powerless and Throne of Glass.

On the mist-shrouded Isle of Eireann, buying magic comes with a price.

But when her beloved older sister is gravely injured, Maeve risks everything to buy the forbidden magic that might save her. In exchange, Maeve trades her life to a ruthless and dangerously alluring rebel leader. Bound to do his bidding, Maeve finds herself thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen and stand beside a prince rumored to be more brutal than his tyrannical father.

With the isle on the brink of war, trust and survival come at a terrible cost—one that will tear Maeve’s world, and her heart, in two.

What would you sacrifice to survive?

My Review

There are a lot of elements about this book that appeal to me. The wrestling with how to take down an unjust government, and how to figure out whom to trust. Maeve struggles against the idea that she’s simply a pawn in the hands of the rebellion. What agency does she have? How can she serve her own ends while protecting herself and her sister?

The romance between a rebel leader and Maeve, an unwilling spy, reminds me of the kinds of romances we’ve seen in Divergent by Veronica Roth or Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray.

Several scenes contain extended gratuitous violence. Guards maim and murder simply because they can. Prisoners and accused magic users are tortured and executed. I’m probably toward the more sensitive side of the scale as a reader, so the long descriptions and repeated reminders of the cruelty of those in power were a lot for me to take.

As I read, I found myself asking, is this book marketed as young adult fiction because of genre trends and not because it’s actually young adult fiction? The magical contest and scrappy rebel romance remind me of The Red Queen or Throne of Glass, so I can see why this book could do well on the YA shelf.

Besides those themes, though, the story seemed very adult to me. Maeve didn’t read as much like a teenager as she did like a repressed young woman escaping an oppressive home life. I could see this appealing to fans of Fourth Wing with the emphasis on political maneuvering and the hate-to-love romance.

I certainly think there are teens who would read this book and enjoy it. It just hits a particular nerve for me to continue seeing books that seem like adult fiction pushed onto young adult fiction shelves. (This happens more often when the books are written by women.)

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 18 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used fairly frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. An extended scene shows explicit sex.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic. It’s woven into the lore and religious practice, though magic has been outlawed now.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Gratuitous violence and torture. Battle scenes show graphic injuries and fatalities.

Drug Content
One contest involves drinking poison.

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.