Tag Archives: Witches

Review: Witchlings by Claribel Ortega

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Witchlings by Claribel Ortega

Witchlings (Witchlings #1)
Claribel Ortega
Scholastic Press
Published April 5, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Witchlings

A magical adventure for fans of AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS and NEVERMOOR, about three witchlings who must work together to do the impossible if they have any hope of earning their full powers.

Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill, Witchlings who participate in the Black Moon Ceremony are placed into covens and come into their powers as full-fledged witches.

And twelve-year-old Seven Salazar can’t wait to be placed in the most powerful coven with her best friend! But on the night of the ceremony, in front of the entire town, Seven isn’t placed in one of the five covens. She’s a Spare!

Spare covens have fewer witches, are less powerful, and are looked down on by everyone. Even worse, when Seven and the other two Spares perform the magic circle to seal their coven and cement themselves as sisters, it doesn’t work! They’re stuck as Witchlings—and will never be able to perform powerful magic.

Seven invokes her only option: the impossible task. The three Spares will be assigned an impossible task: If they work together and succeed at it, their coven will be sealed and they’ll gain their full powers. If they fail… Well, the last coven to make the attempt ended up being turned into toads. Forever.

But maybe friendship can be the most powerful magic of all…

With action-packed adventure, a coven of quirky witchlings, Claribel A. Ortega’s signature humor and girl-power vibes, this middle grade Latine witch story is truly a modern classic.

My Review

It’s funny to me that this book is compared to AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS– the comparison makes perfect sense, it’s just that I read them both at the same time. I definitely see the connection, though they aren’t the same story at all.

WITCHLINGS has been on my reading list for a while. In fact, I have a hard copy of GHOST SQUAD that I still haven’t read yet. I’ve heard so many great things about Claribel Ortega’s books that I have really wanted to catch up. When I saw that Rockstar Book Tours had open spots on their tour for THE GOLDEN FROG GAMES (Witchlings #2), I jumped at the chance to participate… which meant I needed to read this book first!

I loved so many things about this book. It’s got a perfect ramp-up of stakes. It’s got a really fun and intriguing story world. I loved the way that familiar words were just a bit different. For instance, instead of Bingo, characters say, Flingo. There are a lot of things about toads, including a really imaginative and silly toad race. In the midst of all that, Seven and her friends are on a quest to subdue a dangerous monster called a Nightbeast. I felt like the story added new information and increased tension at exactly the right places.

I’m super excited to read the second book in the series. I think fans of AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS by B. B. Alston and SHADOW MAGIC by Joshua Khan will like this series.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Seven is Latine.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Most characters are witches, with magical power. There are magical beasts as well.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Some brief battle scenes.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu, and Joamette Gil

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Mooncakes
Suzanne Walker, Wendy Xu, and Joamette Gil
Oni Press
Published October 22, 2019

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Mooncakes

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

My Review

I reviewed TIDESONG by Wendy Xu and noticed that a lot of other reviewers commented on how much they’d loved MOONCAKES, so I decided to check it out. I feel like I’m always saying I’m not really a big reader of graphic novels, and I’m not, but I’ve read several this year that I’ve really enjoyed. MOONCAKES is definitely one of those!

At the start of the story, we meet Nova, who helps her grandmothers in their magical bookshop. When Nova’s friend Tam returns to town in trouble, Nova immediately decides to help them. As the two reconnect, some romance blossoms. Some secrets get spilled. Plot twists happen. I found I couldn’t stop reading.

Between the beautiful illustrations and the charming dialogue, I got completely sucked into this story. I loved Nova’s grandmothers. They’re so practical and chill about everything. And I loved watching Nova and Tam’s relationship develop. It’s absolutely sweet.

MOONCAKES is definitely written for an older audience than TIDESONG, but I loved it all the same. I think readers who love witchy stories about found family will want to check this one out (if you haven’t already!).

Content Notes for Mooncakes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Tam is nonbinary. Nova is maybe pansexual? Two women, Nova’s grandmothers, are in a relationship.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between a girl and a nonbinary person.

Spiritual Content
Nova and her grandmothers are witches. Tam is a werewolf. They fight other spiritual creatures.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Cartoonish battle violence.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: The Astonishing Chronicles of Oscar from Elsewhere by Jaclyn Moriarty

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The Astonishing Chronicles of Oscar From Elsewhere
Jaclyn Moriarty
Allen & Unwin
Published November 1, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Astonishing Chronicles of Oscar from Elsewhere

Let me get this straight. I’m on a trip with the following people:
1) Bronte, a girl who makes magical ‘Spellbinding’ rings,
2) Alejandro, a former pirate/current prince who can shoot arrows and make fire from stones,
3) Imogen, who can read broken maps and is a kickboxing master,
4) Esther, who saved her entire world from some kind of ancient monster,
5) Astrid, a smart ten year old who can read minds, and
6) Gruffudd, a surprisingly speedy (and always hungry) Elf.

And who am I? Just a kid who skips school to ride a skateboard.

The Astonishing Chronicles of Oscar from Elsewhere is the account of Monday through Friday of last week. That’s when Oscar found himself on a quest to locate nine separate pieces of a key, held by nine separate people, in order to unlock a gluggy silver spell that had trapped the Elven city of Dun-sorey-lo-vay-lo-hey. The quest was an urgent one. Friday at noon, the spell would become permanent, the Elves would be crushed to death and Oscar would be trapped in this magical world forever. (The account, it should be noted, has been written at the request of a small public school’s Deputy Principal. She wants to know exactly what Oscar considered more important than coming to school last week.)

From the award-winning Jaclyn Moriarty comes an enchanting tale of cryptic challenges, breathtaking danger and 360 kick flips.

My Review

Years ago I read A CORNER OF WHITE by Jaclyn Moriarty, and I remember really liking her writing style and the way that her characters have a lot going on inside them. It was also a portal book, so I figured another portal book by Moriarty would be a good idea.

And it was. Just like her other book, I found this one to have a great cast of characters. I enjoyed the banter and layered emotions between them. Though it’s the fourth book in the series, I didn’t have any trouble following what was happening. There are some references to events that happened before this book began, some of them from previous books in the series, but they were explained well enough for me to follow. This adventure features characters from earlier books in the series, but it’s a pretty self-contained adventure.

The only thing I wish had been a little different is that the characters had many conversations or arguments. They were always quippy and fun, so the scenes weren’t boring. I guess after a while, it didn’t feel fresh anymore? Despite that, I still enjoyed the conversations between the characters.

I think readers who enjoy portal books, especially books about magical quests, will find a lot to love in this book. The storytelling is pretty gentle, but there’s a lot of humor and fun.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Oscar is Australian. The other characters are from made up places. At least one is described as having bronze skin.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic. Some use it to cause harm, and others use it for protection.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. One battle scene.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog. I received a free copy of THE ASTONISHING CHRONICLES OF OSCAR FROM ELSEWHERE in exchange for my honest review.

15 Perfect Books for Spooky Season

Lists, Middle Grade 8-12, News and Fun, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

I don’t usually post anything specifically about Spooky Season. Halloween wasn’t an important holiday in my house. Though I was raised in a conservative Christian home, I think the real reason we weren’t big Halloween celebrators is that my dad is generally against holidays which revolve around candy. Ha! So I never really got into the spirit of the holiday, I guess. My mom sews and loves costumes, so we always had costumes and created reasons to dress up around our house. Maybe that’s another reason I didn’t look forward to the holiday specifically for an excuse to dress up?

In any case, I also happen to be a pretty tense reader, so I don’t usually chase down a lot of spooky-ish reads. Somehow this year I’ve ended up with a reading list full of books that I’d call at least mildly spooky. These are spooky but not terrifying.

Here are my best suggestions for a book to curl up with under your blanket while you sip your pumpkin spice beverage as you celebrate this spooky season.

5 Perfect MG Books for Spooky Season

I’ve listed these books in order from least to most spooky. That way, if you’re like me, you’ll have a better chance of finding a book at your personal spooky comfort level.

Trex by Christyne Morrell

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: An anxious girl with spy skills, a boy with a mysterious brain implant, and a person watching them both. Lots of fun to read!

Release Date: August 30, 2022 | My Review

Naomi Teitelbaum Ends the World by Samara Shanker

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Jewish folklore. Best friends. A real-live golem on the loose with instructions to save the world. What could possibly go wrong? This was a super fun read.

Release Date: September 6, 2022 | Author Q&A | My Review

The Vanquishers by Kalynn Bayron

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Inspired by BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and THE WATCHMEN. Vampires were supposed to be vanquished decades ago… but it looks like they’re back. Looks fantastic.

Release Date: September 20, 2022

Ravenfall by Kalyn Josephson

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: From Goodreads: One magical inn, two kids with supernatural powers, and an ancient Celtic creature trying to destroy their world by Halloween night…

One of my favorite books this year!

Release Date: August 30, 2022 | Author Q&A | My Review

The Plentiful Darkness by Heather Kassner

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: I read this book earlier in the year, and can’t stop thinking about it. It’s got some spooky magic, unforgettable characters, and possibly the best exploration of grief I’ve ever seen in a novel.

Release Date: August 3, 2021

10 Perfect YA Books for Spooky Season

Just like the middle grade section, these spooky reads are arranged in order from what I found to be least to most spooky.

Before Takeoff by Adi Alsaid

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: This one pretty much had me at “THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR meets JUMANJI.” More weird than truly spooky, but a great fall read.

Release Date: June 7, 2022 | My Review

Three Kisses, One Midnight Roshani Chokshi, Sandhya Menon and Evelyn Skye

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Three friends will use art, science, and the magic of a powerful legend to seek the perfect romance. I haven’t read anything by Evelyn Skye, but I love the books by Sandhya Menon and Roshani Chokshi that I’ve read, so this one looks like a sure win to me.

Release Date: August 30, 2022 | My Review

The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: 1943 Virginia. After a string of murders, four codebreaker girls team up to find the killer so they can stop him before he strikes again. I couldn’t stop reading. F/F romance.

Release Date: September 20, 2022 | My Review

We Made It All Up by Margot Harrison

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A town full of secrets. A love-story fan-fic written by two unlikely friends. A murder: the boy they’ve written about. Twisty and suspenseful. Perfect for fans of WE WERE LIARS.

Release Date: July 12, 2022 | My Review

The Ghosts of Rose Hill by R. M. Romero

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A Latine Jewish violinist banished to Prague. The ghostly boy she falls in love with. The dark force that feeds on him. A beautiful, haunting novel-in-verse.

Release Date: May 10, 2022 | My Review

Shades of Rust and Ruin by A. G. Howard

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: Twin sisters. A family curse. An incredible boy who should be off-limits. Inspired by “Goblin Market” by Christina Rosetti. I am hooked on this one.

Release Date: September 6, 2022 | My Review

Direwood by Catherine Yu

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A small town plagued by missing teens. A nest of vampires and bloodsucking butterflies. One girl determined to destroy them and find her sister. I liked the unique spin on vampires in this one.

Release Date: September 20, 2022 | My Review

Dark Room Etiquette by Robin Roe

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A kidnapped boy. A role his abductor has created for him. Can he escape before he loses himself? This one could be on the edge of what I can handle, but I loved A LIST OF CAGES, so I really want to try it.

Release Date: October 11, 2022

The Honeys by Ryan LaSala

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A twin’s sister dies under horrific circumstances, and he will do whatever it takes to find out why. I’m not usually brave enough to read horror, but this is RYAN LASALA. I feel like I have to give it a try after the way I adored REVERIE.

Release Date: August 2, 2022

It Looks Like Us by Allison Ames

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

What you need to know: A high school team visiting an Antarctic research station. An unknown, shapeshifting infection pursuing them one by one. Scary books aren’t my usual go-to, but I couldn’t put this one down. Ace main character.

Release Date: September 13, 2022 | My Review

Are you planning to read anything creepy, crawly, or scary this spooky season?

Do you celebrate Halloween? What are your favorite books for spooky season? Let me know in the comments.

Review: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

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

Spells for Lost Things
Jenna Evans Welch
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published September 27, 2022

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Spells for Lost Things

From the New York Times bestselling author of LOVE & GELATO comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.

Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

My Review

One of the things that I find interesting about this book is the fact that both characters have issues with their moms. Willow’s mom is emotionally absent. She’s there, but she’s so remote that Willow feels distant from her. Add to that the fact that she has this whole secret past life including a family Willow has never even heard of, much less met, and it only makes sense that she’d feel estranged.

Then there’s Mason, whose mom has been missing for the last few years while he’s been shuffled around in foster care. He clings to rituals they used to share about looking for signs and exploring new places together, but he knows she’s a mess. It’s part of why he feels like he needs to find her. To help her get her life straight. After all, that’s what you do for the people you love, right?

So mom issues on both sides. Which is an interesting choice because Mason is seventeen. It seems unusual (though not impossible) that a boy that age would focus on his mom in that way. I thought that made him an unusual and empathetic character.

Willow’s great aunts were a lot of fun. I liked that they leaned into the witchy-ness of Salem and the family lore. I also loved the things that came up as Willow and Mason began to look more into their family history and to try to understand what happened and learn about Willow’s potential family curse.

The historical setting and letters from Willow’s aunt about the past all added some nice layers to the story. I think those were my favorite parts, actually. I loved getting to piece all that together and the way things shifted the more we learned about the past.

SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS is the second book by Jenna Evans Welch that I’ve read. I enjoyed it for sure– I’ve been reading such dark (spooky!) books lately that it was really nice to take a break and read a fluffy romance. I think I liked LOVE & OLIVES a teeny bit better than this one. That might be because of the Greek setting and the amazing bookstore in the book. It’s hard to beat that!

I think fans of Jennifer E. Smith or Kasie West will like this sweet romance.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Representation
Mason is in the foster care system.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Mild profanity used infrequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing between boy and girl.

Spiritual Content
The bulk of the story is set in Salem, Massachusetts. There’s some discussion about its history, specifically the Salem Witch Trials. The town has also leaned into its witchy history and there are lots of businesses that references witchy things. Willow’s great aunts also describe themselves as witches and celebrate rituals at the full moon. There are rumors that the women in Willow’s family are under a curse which Willow decides to investigate.

Violent Content
None.

Drug Content
None.

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

Review: Tidesong by Wendy Xu

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Tidesong
Weny Xu
Quiltree Books
Published November 16, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Tidesong

Sophie is a young witch whose mother and grandmother pressure her to attend the Royal Magic Academy–the best magic school in the realm–even though her magic is shaky at best. To train for her entrance exams, Sophie is sent to relatives she’s never met.

Cousin Sage and Great-Aunt Lan seem more interested in giving Sophie chores than in teaching her magic. Frustrated, Sophie attempts magic on her own, but the spell goes wrong, and she accidentally entangles her magic with the magic of a young water dragon named Lir.

Lir is trapped on land and can’t remember where he came from. Even so, he’s everything Sophie isn’t–beloved by Sophie’s family and skilled at magic. With his help, Sophie might just ace her entrance exams, but that means standing in the way of Lir’s attempts to regain his memories. Sophie knows what she’s doing is wrong, but without Lir’s help, can she prove herself?

My Review

I don’t read graphic novels very often, but I have really enjoyed the few I’ve read– and this one is no exception! I didn’t realize until I began reading TIDESONG how much I missed this style of storytelling. Once I finished reading it, I looked up MOONCAKES by Wendy Xu, and I’ve heard so many great things about it that I want to order myself a copy of that, too. I also had to look and see if Ethan Aldridge had anything new coming out, and yes! He does! So I can tell next year is going to include some amazing graphic novel stories, and I’m excited.

But back to TIDESONG. I loved the vibrant depictions of characters in this book. It’s always fascinating to me the way that illustrations and a few words in the hangs of a brilliant storyteller can bring a story so fully to life. I felt like I knew the characters and could hear them in my head. I loved Sophie so much.

The story hit the perfect level of complexity, too. Like, a lot happens, and there are some unexpected moments that pull things together in different ways. It never felt overwhelming and there weren’t any moments that dragged. The pacing was perfect.

I’m definitely interested in adding this one to my family library. I’ve seen several reviews listing TIDESONG as perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli. I think it’s also a great fit for fans of Ethan Aldridge’s The Changeling King duology.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Written by a Chinese-American author and artist.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to do magic and are called Water Witches. Sea Dragons also have power and some are able to transform into a human form.

Violent Content
One of Sophie’s guardians uses a lot of strict rules and sometimes cruel words. Sophie also has a deeply negative voice in her head that says critical and hurtful things to her.

Drug Content
None.

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