Book Review: When Will Ayumu Make His Move? Volume 1, by Soichiro Yamamoto

When Will Ayumu Make His Move? Volume 1, by Soichiro Yamamoto is a manga style graphic novel. Yaotome's the president of the shogi club at her high school, and she's pretty sure that Ayumu, an underclassman and the only other member of the club, has a huge crush on her. They get together to play shogi every day after school, but no matter what she does, she can't seem to get him to confess his feelings! What she doesn't know is that Ayumu has made a pact with himself to reveal his love only after he's beaten Yaotome at shogi for the first time. 

When Will Ayumu Make His Move? is a cute 'will they won't they' story. Yaotome and Ayumu are fun to watch as they talk and flirt, but never really admit out loud that they like each other. The nerves, embarrassment, and awkwardness is well displayed in the artwork and the text. I could feel the frustration along with Yaotome, but still was annoyed that she never took the initiative and said that she liked him or asked him out first. I liked getting to learn a bit about he game shogi, which I have seen before but still do not get- but I am horrible with chess too so that is not a surprise. I would love to see this series continue, and have the cast of characters and locations grow a bit. The heart of the story will always be this couple, but other friends and activities could add some depth and drama to the story instead of just recycling the same basic conversation. I still liked the story, and want to know how they finally get together, but I feel like there could be some more twists in future installments for added interest.

Early Book Review: Eli And The Mystery Of The Hallowshine Dragon by Eve Cabanel, Ekaterina Ilchenko

Eli And The Mystery Of The Hallowshine Dragon, written by Eve Cabanel and illustrated by Ekaterina Ilchenko, is currently scheduled for release on October 23 2021. A moon elf’s journey to undo a dragon’s curse illuminates the power of friendship. Two courageous friends adventure through lands of unicorns, fairies, and magical rainbows to confront a terrifying beast with a surprising wish. In a beautiful enchanted forest lives a moon elf named Eli and her friend Luna. When Luna’s baby bunny is turned into hard rock candy by magical sugar crystals, the friends begin a journey to do the impossible to reverse the curse: confront the terrifying and legendary Hallowshine dragon for a drop of its healing saliva. In their race against time to find the dragon, Eli and Luna meet magical creatures and travel through various dreamy lands including the Abyss of Time, a marvelous unicorn’s kingdom, a whimsical fairy’s home, and a waterfall with enchanted golden shoes. A magical lesson is learned about how love, friendship, and acceptance can heal all if you have courage and believe in yourself.

Eli And The Mystery Of The Hallowshine Dragon is a fantasy picturebook. First, I need to say that my favorite thing about this book is the artwork. The illustrations are beautifully done, and worth a look all on their own. I looked through the book more than once simply to admire the artwork. I will be keeping an eye out for more from the artist. I was less impressed with the story. The plot and characters were cute, but I felt like the text and story line was a little inconsistent or scattered. There were a couple times that I had 'wait, what' moments or felt like something had been repeated. I think there was great potential here, and the framework for something amazing is here, but it just did not come together for me. Perhaps one more editorial pass would have pulled everything together and made it work more for me.  

Book Review: The Price of Silence (Winterfell Academy) by Elle Mae

The Price of Silence is the first book in the Winterfell Academy series by Elle Mae. I am Rosie Miller and at the age of ten, I was cursed. Because of my parents' debt, I was forced into silence and now every word, every laugh, was a weapon used against me. By nineteen I had come to understand that I would have no choice but to follow in my parents' footsteps. Get a soul-sucking job reserved for low-levels like me, keep my head down, and die alone. That was until I got a letter one day welcoming me to the most prestigious demon academy in the entire country. I knew that when I opened that letter, it was too good to be true. There was no way after thousands of years of separation between high-levels and low-levels that I would ever be given such a golden opportunity. Meeting them only proved my suspicions to be correct. A bloodthirsty gangster. A child of a high-ranking demon official with a penance for blackmail. And last but not least a witch who seems to be called by the power my curse exudes. Becoming tangled with them will probably be the most reckless thing that I have ever done in my life, but will it be worth finally breaking my curse after nine years? 

The Price of Silence is a reverse harem paranormal romance adventure. Fair warning, if you do not like that idea, then this book is not for you. This book contains graphic descriptions of violence, sexual situations, and dubious consent elements. Again, if none of that is your cup of tea then I recommend finding a different series to read.

The Price of Silence is a book that ran hot and cold for me. I liked all the individual elements, but am not sure I liked them together. Rosie is dealing with a lot, a curse that has made her life hell for years and getting sent to a elite college out of the blue surrounded by the rich and powerful is just the starting point. I liked her character development and the way the the school and group dynamics are handled. The added level of sexual tension and action was an interesting addition, and while well done and unique on a few levels I think it was unnecessary but entertaining. The levels of deceit, secrets, and mystery surrounding the curse and everyone's plans was complex, and at times a little frustrating. I saw some of it coming a mile away, and never really got resolution for other bits. Then the author leaves readers on a cliffhanger. I am intrigued by some of the connections and world building, and like the work on characters and their connections. However, I felt like the author was trying to do too many things all at once.  

The Price of Silence is a book with many great aspects and potential.

Early Book Review: Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby

Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby is a children's book currently scheduled for release on September 7 2021.  Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky. With one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy who wants nothing more than to be friends. The mismatched friendship grows over the course of three short adventures as Chicken and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Chicken how to look on the bright side.

Cranky Chicken is a fun and enjoyable read. This easy reader is great for emerging independent readers and beginning readers exploring book with help. The art is well done, adding to the story while also just being fun and engaging to look at on its own. Chicken is used to being alone and doing things his own grumpy way, while Speedy is optimistic and cheerful. They are a classic odd couple that learn about friendship together, and a bit about the world around them. The story is sweet and fun, and I think it will be a favorite for quite a few readers.

Early Book Review: Death & Sparkles by Rob Justus

Death & Sparkles by Rob Justus is a middle grade novel currently scheduled for release on September 7 2021. Being Death isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sure, you’re all-powerful, but collecting souls involves a ton of paperwork, and it’s impossible to have friends when everything you touch instantly dies. Being Sparkles the Last Unicorn isn’t as fun as you’d imagine, either. Maybe it seems like the whole world wants to be your bestie, but really people just want you to pose with them for selfies, or use you to help them sell stuff. Everything changes when Death and Sparkles meet, and realize they might just be one another’s first chance at a real friend. But before they can even enjoy the bromance, the whole world starts freaking out about this unlikely pair. Will fame or BFFdom prevail? 

Death & Sparkles is well matched in text, story, and artwork. I liked the way it shows the personalities and perspectives of Death, Sparkles, and the lizard brothers. Their adventures were sometimes very sad, showing how power or fame is not all it is cracked up to be, and sometimes very funny and unexpected. I liked that it was divided into clear chapters, offering the different perspectives and aspects of the larger story. I liked the commentary on greed and fame just as much as the bonding and laughs as Sparkles and Death got to know each other. I really enjoyed this read and look forward to more from the author.

Death & Sparkles is a fun and engaging read that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

Early Book Review: Saved by the Spell (House of Magic) by Susanna Shore

Saved by the Spell is the second book in the House of Magic series by Susanna Shore and is currently scheduled for release on August 15 2021. I do recommend reading the series in order, but the author does a good job of giving newcomers a good understanding of past events and relationships. 

Magic and I hadn’t exactly had a good start, but thanks to a spell that made me repulsive to men, I was seriously considering becoming a witch hunter. A chance encounter with a charming stranger makes Phoebe dream of a happily-ever-after, until she learns that there’s a spell on her that makes her repulsive to men. Luckily her boss, Archibald Kane, and her new landladies are experts on magic. Only this one seems to confound them all. Who has spelled her and why? Is it a challenge on Kane’s leadership of the mages? Or is there a more sinister game afoot? Phoebe doesn’t mind the space men give her in the Tube, but her cousin’s engagement party is coming up. How is she to celebrate, if she makes half the guests nauseated? And how is she to charm the man of her dreams when she suspects he’s part of the problem? It might take the Archmage to break the spell—if only they could find him. A spell may be needed to save them both.

Saved by the Spell is a nice follow up to the first book in the series. I was glad to see more character development and growth, and the relationships between the group become deeper and more interesting. I liked the story premise, and think there were a lot of great ideas. However, I admit that I found myself wanting to throttle Phoebe on several occasions because I though many things were obvious early on. Clear clues and signs were ignored at several key moments, or information that was relevant simply not mentioned so many times that I was very frustrated. I did enjoy the ride, and thought the wrap up was very well done. I liked the read, but despite my enjoyment of the characters I think I am going to have to leave the series here. The mystery aspects seem to cause me more frustration than joy, but I have read so much of this sub genre that it just might be my anticipation of the solution rather than any fault in the story that is just making it not click for me.  

Saved by the Spell is a good story with interesting characters.

Book Review: ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse by Stephanie Cooke, Mari Costa

ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse is a middle grade graphic novel written by Stephanie Cooke  and illustrated by Mari Costa. It’s fall break in the supernatural town of North Haven, and young witch Abby’s plans include pitching in at her mom’s magical coffee shop, practicing her potion making, and playing board games with her best friends—a pumpkinhead, a wolf-girl, and a ghost. But when Abby finds her younger sister being picked on by some speed demons, she lets out a burst of magic so strong, it opens a portal to a realm of chaos bunnies. And while these bunnies may look cute, they’re about to bring the a-hop-ocalypse (and get Abby in a cauldronful of trouble) unless she figures out a way to reverse the powerful magic she unwittingly released. What’s a witch to do?

ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse is a wonderful graphic novel about figuring out what is most important in your life ad using that as your strength. I thought the town and magical world building was nicely done, giving enough to have the story make sense but not dumping too much extra information. I liked the diversity, magical and otherwise, and think it felt like part of the story rather than something on a checklist which I have seen too much of lately. I thought the story and character development was well written and engaging. The art was well done- and I liked the color, depicted emotion and movement, and bold design. I do with the faces had had a bit more detail, in some cases it was very well defined but in others less so. Of course, this could be because I read a galley rather than a final version. Regardless I really enjoyed the book and think many readers from many age groups will as well. 

ParaNorthern and the Chaos Bunny A-hop-calypse is a charming coming of age graphic novel full of magic and friendship.

Early Book Review: Grumpius by Jennifer Gold, Jessica Gadra

Grumpius is a picturebook written by Jennifer Gold and illustrated by Jessica Gadra. It is currently scheduled for release on August 15 2021. Grumpius doesn't like anyone--except Winnie Brown. Winnie has a very beautiful garden that many people want to visit. Winnie and Grumpius are a perfect pair, but when Winnie becomes busy and distracted by visitors, she forgets all about Grumpius. Winnie doesn't notice until it's too late, and Grumpius has gone. Distraught, Winnie calls for her grumpy orange cat, who returns home when Winnie makes a compromise about her time spent with Grumpius. 

Grumpius is a story that can be enjoyed on many levels. On one hand it is a simple story about a woman that is adopted by a stray cat and makes mistakes on the way of finding a happy balance with him and her activities. It can also be enjoyed as a story of compromise and balance, or of time management, and of giving your pet (or friends, family, etc) the amount of care they need to thrive. I thought the story was well told in all aspects, with text and illustrations that complimented each other and lends itself to both shared storytime and reading independently. 

Book Review: Hexing the Ex (House of Magic) by Susanna Shore

Hexing the Ex is the first book in the House of Magic series by Susanna Shore. I didn’t expect to be evicted the first thing I returned from my holiday, but thanks to my roommate Nick, that’s what I was facing. It’s not exactly easy to find a new place to live in London, so when Phoebe Thorpe spots a room-to-let sign at the window of a magic shop, she doesn’t hesitate. The room is perfect, even if chores are part of the rent. There is only one thing odd about her new landladies. They seem to believe magic exists. Phoebe doesn’t believe in magic, but unfortunately magic believes in her. A mysterious statuette is sent to her boss, Archibald Kane, and she accidentally triggers a curse meant for him. Naturally, the first person she curses is her ex-boyfriend. But why would anyone want to curse her boss, a perfectly ordinary antiques dealer? Or is he? Phoebe sets out to break the curse with the help of her new housemates. But it isn’t easy trying to solve a mystery she doesn’t even believe is real. Then again, that hellhound chasing her seemed pretty solid.

Hexing the Ex is a good series starter that hits a good balance of world and character building with action and fun. I liked Phoebe and enjoyed getting to know her and the group of characters that are or become part of her life.Her self awareness and willingness to adapt to new revelations made everything interesting and fun.  I thought the reveal of the magical world was well done and the mystery storyline had some really good twists in it, finishing off with something very different than I expected. The amounts of humor and action were very well balanced, with the characters not taking themselves to seriously. I found the curse and other magic elements to be well handled, using both traditional and fresh interpretation to the story and world building. I really enjoyed the read and plan on reading more from this author- including future installments of this series and their back list. 

Hexing the Ex is a fun and enteraining read. I hope to continue with this series. 

Book Review: The Ghoul Next Door by Cullen Bunn, Cat Farris

The Ghoul Next Door, with text by Cullen Bunn and illustrations by Cat Farris, is a middle grade graphic novel. Eleven-year-old Grey lives in the legend-haunted New England town of Ander’s Landing, and he can’t help but feel like a pair of eyes is watching his every move. He discovers odd, gruesome bits and pieces from the graveyard that are left for him as gifts like art carved from bones or jewelry made from (hopefully not human) remains. Soon Grey is caught up in something bigger than he could ever have imagined.He finds himself drawn into a strange mystery involving a race of reclusive subterranean creatures—ghouls, the eaters of the dead! Turns out, his secret admirer is a ghoul named Lavinia. An unlikely friendship forms between them. The only problem is, their friendship breaks traditions—and the punishment is a fate worse than death.

The Ghoul Next Door is an entertaining graphic novel. The art style was nice, and I liked the lines but was not a big fan of the water color style for the coloring. The details were nicely done, and I thought the faces and highlights on hair and eyes for depth and dimension were very well done. I personally prefer a bolder, more solid style over the watercolor, but that is a matter of personal preference and not anything to do with the skill of the artwork involved, which I could still appreciate. I thought the story was well written, school and family moments were well done and I thought they felt realistic and true to character. There was a nice dose of creep, adventure, and mystery through the entire book. I liked it, and I think there are many middle grade and older readers that will really enjoy it. I had a little trouble getting invested in the story- but I think that was more because of the state of the world and some technical difficulties rather than anything lacking in the story.

Book Review: Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses by Kristen O'Neal is a young adult novel. Priya worked hard to pursue her premed dreams at Stanford, but a diagnosis of chronic Lyme disease during her sophomore year sends her back to her loving but overbearing family in New Jersey—and leaves her wondering if she’ll ever be able to return to the way things were. Thankfully she has her online pen pal, Brigid, and the rest of the members of “oof ouch my bones,” a virtual support group that meets on Discord to crack jokes and vent about their own chronic illnesses. When Brigid suddenly goes offline, Priya does something out of character: she steals the family car and drives to Pennsylvania to check on Brigid. Priya isn’t sure what to expect, but it isn’t the horrifying creature that's shut in the basement. With Brigid nowhere to be found, Priya begins to puzzle together an impossible but obvious truth: the creature might be a werewolf—and the werewolf might be Brigid. As Brigid's unique condition worsens, their friendship will be deepened and challenged in unexpected ways, forcing them to reckon with their own ideas of what it means to be normal.

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses is a book that started slow for me, but quickly hooked me into caring about all the members of the chronic illness support group. That was what kept me reading, and I am very glad I did. I like the honest and well researched way the illness and the character's experiences with them- and other people's reactions to them- were described. It was all very real and honest, which I appreciated. So often we do not see some of the hardest aspects of being chronically ill, the emotional and mental components. I loved the character and relationship development, and find myself wondering how the future goes for the characters. I have a feeling these characters will stick with me for quite a while. Everything felt real, and honestly if there are werewolves this is pretty much what I think they might be. 

Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses is a read that will draw readers in, foster understanding, and leave readers wanting more. 

Book Review: Definitely Not Dating (Love Lottery) by Christi Barth

Definitely Not Dating by Christi Barth is the second book in the Love Lottery series. I have not read the first book in the series, but the prologue gives a good run down of how the new inn owners got where they are, so newcomers to the series and author will not feel lost or left behind. 

Everleigh Girard always dates the wrong men at the worst times. The last debacle cost her a job and an apartment. But thanks to a crazy lottery win, she and her friends have a fresh start restoring a historic inn. Determined to make it a success, Everleigh swears off the dangers of dating entirely. Except, the town’s police chief is distractingly hot. So how much trouble could friends with benefits really cause? Police chief Matt Halliday always puts protecting his town first. He’s blindsided when his house mysteriously burns down, and grateful his friends rent him a room at their inn while they finish renovations. It’s a great deal. Mostly. It’s hard to resist the very beautiful Everleigh. Love is permanently off the table for him—but lust is definitely on. After their first red-hot kiss, keeping it casual is impossible. Can Everleigh teach Matt to trust again—especially when he’s keeping a secret that may put him and his new friends at risk?

Definitely Not Dating is a romance that balances humor, heat, and heart very well. Ever is dealing with confidence issues and rarely trusts her own judgement- something that many of us can relate to on some level. She needs to prove to herself that she can do the right things, make the right choices, and help the inn succeed. Matt is still focused on not getting hurt again, while trying to figure out who burned down his house. The best relationships form when no one is looking, and sometimes when you are actively trying to deny the exist. That is definitely the case here.  I loved that Matt and Ever were open and honest (mostly) with each other from the very start- and the level of sass and fun that was a part of almost every interaction really made me smile as I read the story. I love when characters are real, flawed and dealing with real life issues that readers can relate to, or can at least see as possible. The feeling of found family and supportive friends is also something I love to see in romance novels- the main couple have other people and responsibilities in their lives, and this book did a good job of showing a nice balance with that, and how romantic relationships can find a happy balance with friend groups and even the most demanding jobs as long as communication and caring are at the heart of it all.  

Definitely Not Dating is a contemporary romance with plenty of character growth, heat, and feels. 

Book Review: Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., Vol. 1, by Jirou Oimoto, Koin

Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., Vol. 1, by Jirou Oimoto and Koin is a young adult novel that was first published as a webnovel and has been translated and is now being oublished in a print format. Though she doesn’t play many MMOs, Maple has either a natural talent or impossibly good luck, because by pouring every last stat point she has into Vitality, she’s created a character who can’t be hurt! Whether it’s physical attacks or magic or status effects, nothing poses a real threat. In no time at all, news spreads across the server about the adorable terror who can’t be defeated. While Maple may just be having fun, her broken build is sure to attract lots of unexpected attention.

Bofuri is an entertaining story that fans of online gaming and anime or manga like Sword Art Online will particularly enjoy. I liked the personality of Maple, and how the other gamers view her. I was expecting a bit more gamer animosity- only because that is what I see more of in the real world. I liked the way playing an MMO was framed- and it brought me back to my college days of computer lab hours playing text based versions of games (MUDS) just like this. I had never seen the webnovel version of this story, so it was all new to me. I thought it was fun, and I really enjoyed it. I did think there was going to be more illustrations- based on the cover and subject matter- but that was my preconceived notion rather than unfulfilled promises. I think that middle grade and middle school readers would enjoy the read just as much, if not more, than young adult readers. I would happily continue reading, and I wonder how the next event will go for the players. 

Book Review: Mercurial by Naomi Hughes

Mercurial by Naomi Hughes is a young adult novel. Everyone in the Alloyed Empire fears the Destroyer. The metal in her blood gives her incendiary powers, and the coldness in her heart makes her the empress’s perfect weapon…until a rebel attack leaves her with no magic and no memories. Tal is a royal bodyguard who has long since regretted his idealistic hopes of changing the Destroyer. Now that she’s powerless, he plans to finally end her reign of terror—if he can stop himself from falling for the wicked, funny, utterly unfamiliar girl she’s become. Nyx was furious when her brother, Tal, abandoned her to protect a tyrant. Now, she hones herself as a rebel assassin until she can kill the Destroyer and rescue Tal. But the closer she gets, the more she realizes the entire empire hinges on the decisions the three of them will make.

Mercurial is an adventure story told from multiple points of view, with a great deal going on. I found myself quickly engaged in the feelings and motivations of the characters. Readers get to see the hows and whys behind choices and actions that they might never otherwise understand- and get a better understanding of the idea that we are all the heroes of our own story even though we might play the villain in someone else's. The exploration of doing the right thing, faith, love, and sacrifice is woven into every page. There were moments that it was almost too much, because so much was riding on every emotion and decision, but it all balanced itself well in the end. The characters were each complex, with good and bad aspects to their personality and doubts about themselves and the world around them. I think that the world building was also very well done, and I am rather hoping to return to this empire and find out what happens with our main characters next. 

Mercurial might be labeled as young adult, but like many YA novels, I think it will also appeal to older audiences as well. 

Book Review: Calculated Risks (InCryptid) by Seanan McGuire

Calculated Risks is the tenth book in the InCryptid series by Seanan McGuire. It is the second book in Sarah's point of view. I highly recommend reading this series in order (not just because I love it, but because it will help with the nuances of character personality and motivation). If you do not want to start from the very beginning, at least start with the beginning of Sarah's story arch. 

Just when Sarah Zellaby, adopted Price cousin and telepathic ambush predator, thought that things couldn't get worse, she's had to go and prove herself wrong. After being kidnapped and manipulated by her birth family, she has undergone a transformation called an instar, reaching back to her Apocritic origins to metamorphize. While externally the same, she is internally much more powerful, and much more difficult to control. Even by herself. After years of denial, the fact that she will always be a cuckoo has become impossible to deny. Now stranded in another dimension with a handful of allies who seem to have no idea who she is--including her cousin Annie and her maybe-boyfriend Artie, both of whom have forgotten their relationship--and a bunch of cuckoos with good reason to want her dead, Sarah must figure out not only how to contend with her situation, but with the new realities of her future. What is she now? Who is she now? Is that person someone she can live with? And when all is said and done, will she be able to get the people she loves, whether or not they've forgotten her, safely home?

Calculated Risks is a continuation of a great story on so many levels. Sarah has fought so hard to come back to herself- only to get kidnapped and bring about dimensional travel and mayhem. Trying to figure out how it all happened, and how to fix it, she has to deal with the mental gaps the whole thing has caused in her family and the innocent bystanders that have gotten caught up in the whole thing. I think that as usual, the depth of character and world building here is fantastic, even the secondary and even less important characters have complexity to them, and feel real even if readers do not get all the details about them. I felt for the college kids trapped on campus, the strangers they meet, and the depth of history and emotion forgotten by Sarah's core support system. Fans of the author and series will need to read this, anyone foolish enough to start here will be utterly lost and confused (but hopefully inspired to go back and start at the beginning). My only disappointment is the same that I feel at the end of each of these books- that this part of the story is over and I have to wait for the next installment.  

Calculated Risks is exactly what I needed from this series, it left me satisfied but craving more. 

Audiobook Review: The Bright and Breaking Sea (Kit Brightling) by Chloe Neill, Narrated by Danielle Cohen

The Bright and Breaking Sea is the first book in the Kit Brightling series, written by Chloe Neill and narrated by Danielle Cohen.Kit Brightling, rescued as a foundling and raised in a home for talented girls, has worked hard to rise through the ranks of the Isles' Crown Command and become one of the few female captains in Queen Charlotte's fleet. Her ship is small, but she's fast—in part because of Kit's magical affinity to the sea. But the waters become perilous when the queen sends Kit on a special mission with a partner she never asked for. Rian Grant, Viscount Queenscliffe, may be a veteran of the Continental war, but Kit doesn't know him or his motives—and she's dealt with one too many members of the Beau Monde. But Kit has her orders, and the queen has commanded they journey to a dangerous pirate quay and rescue a spy who's been gathering intelligence on the exiled emperor of Gallia. Kit can lead her ship and clever crew on her own, but with the fate of queen and country at stake, Kit and Rian must learn to trust each other, or else the Isles will fall.

The Bright and Breaking Sea is a well written start to a series I look forward to continuing. Kit is a foundling that has worked hard and become a ship captain and trusted asset to the Queen. Her touch of magic and strong moral compass keep her on task and working hard but she is often underestimated for the very things that make her so successful. Grant is tired of war, and fighting, but would rather be thought of as Coronal than Viscount. When they are thrown together on a tough mission they discover that they might have more in common than they think. I found the information about the history, aspect of magic, and the major players to be well delivered through the entire story. While there are things I certainly want to know more about, I think that is more because of how interesting what we do know is, and my on internal curiosity, rather than missing pieces in the story. While their developing friendship, and the building of characters and setting, are a major part of this book the understanding of the dynamics of magic and the growing danger in the world around them is just as important. This book is more than the sum of its parts, and while there is a great deal going on it all fits together and builds to the promising start of what could be an epic series. Additionally, the inflections from Cohen as narrator really matched the story and helped me get lost in the world. 

The Bright and Breaking Sea is a wonderful start to a fantasy series with significant world and character building, as well as surprises, intrigue, and heart. 

 Rise Up is the third (and final) book in the Last Pick series by Jason Walz. It is currently scheduled for release on October 6 2020. I do recommend reading this series in order. Wyatt is now the reluctant leader of the "last picked"—the disabled, the elderly, and those deemed too young to be useful for hard labor by their alien captors. But how can he and his ragtag allies take down an entire alien federation? Meanwhile, Wyatt's twin sister Sam and her girlfriend Mia are creating chaos all over the galaxy in an attempt to rescue Sam's parents. But even if the family is reunited, can they stay alive long enough to see the end of the alien regime?

Rise Up is a good continuation, and conclusion, to this story. Wyatt and Sam have their own crisis to resolve, and finally come together for the grand showdown. All the remaining major players are involved, and there is a great deal of hope and sacrifice on almost every page. There was a good deal of action and suspense, with some dark moments that left me worried that I would not enjoy the ending. The art style and skill in story telling was on par with the two previous installments, and the conclusion was satisfying with just about everything wrapped up. I am not sure if I was not ready for the story to wrap up that quickly, but I felt like there was so much that the story wanted to tell cramped in the last book. It worked, and it told the story well, but it felt like there was so much to keep track of at the end, who was where and what their role n the showdown was. I am sad to see this story end, and am very glad that I took the time to read it through to the end.

Rise Up is a solid conclusion to the series. Well resolved story with plenty of action, angst, and hope.

Book Review: Girl on Fire (School for Extraterrestrial Girls) by Jeremy Whitley

 Girl on Fire is the first volume of the School for Extraterrestrial Girls graphic novel series by Jeremy Whitley. Tara Smith’s parents are super strict with all their rules and routines, and Tara is a dutiful daughter. Rule #1: No friends her own age. Rule #2: keep her bracelet on, or else. But when she breaks her routine and then loses her bracelet she is in trouble. Outed as an extraterrestrial after wielding fire and losing her humanoid form, Tara is captured by the government. She’s given two options: get shipped far away where she won’t be a danger to anyone or stay on Earth and join a school for other extraterrestrial girls like her. Things at the school aren’t easy, especially for the girl whose only friends were textbooks. But Tara’s goal to learn how to control her powers is soon sidelined by the discovery that the people she’s called Mom and Dad all these years aren’t her parents. With her not-parents still out there, Tara must rely on others for the first time to figure out who she really is before she’s kidnapped a second time.

Girl on Fire is a teen, high school drama with flair. Tara discovers that her childhood has been a lie and everything she thought she knew about herself, her parents, and the world is not true. She has to adjust to that, on top of being a lizard like alien that creates fire. That is a lot to deal with, not add in boarding school with other aliens and trying to make friends while being anxious, awkward, and still not comfortable with herself. I found myself worried for her, relating to her, and cringing as she reacted in ways I cannot promise I would not mirror in her circumstances. The artwork does a good job of capturing the emotion and wonder of Tara facing all these changes. The different aliens, the facial expressions, and the action were very well portrayed and added a great deal to the whole. Despite the strangeness of the setting, the feelings, friendships, and fears of the individuals in the school were relatable and I think the book will speak to a wide range of readers on different levels. I enjoyed the read, and look forward to seeing what happens next. 

Girl on Fire is a wonderful graphic novel for middle school through adult readers. I think there is a little something for everyone here and I am eager to see where the next volume of the story takes us. 

Early Book Review: Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, written and illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago, is a picturebook currently scheduled for release on July 14 2020.  Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. He loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can’t see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves? 

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost is a sweet picturebook with beautiful illustrations. I really enjoyed the art style and think the illustrations did a great job of adding to the story and including humor. As someone that has always been on the shy side, I could relate to Gustavo's troubles in talking to others- and even when we are not really invisible to them like he is sometimes we can feel that way. I really enjoyed Gustavo's journey, and how detailed and vivid the images are and how ideas like loneliness and kindness are handled. I think this would be a great read aloud, a story to share both around the Day of the Dead and in the beginning of a school year or start of a storytime program season to help young readers. It could be a great discussion starter and ice break- and is just a lovely read. 

Early Book Review: The Gryphon's Lair (Royal Guide to Monster Slaying) by Kelley Armstrong

The Gryphon's Lair is the second book in the Royal Guide to Monster Slaying series by Kelley Armstrong. It is currently scheduled for release on June 2 2020. I do recommend reading the series in order, mostly to understand the characters and how they relate to each other. However, a determined reader could catch up fairly easily and still enjoy the read.

Rowan is now the Royal Monster Hunter, and her twin brother, Rhydd, is destined to be king. But her mother's cousin Heward is still determined that his children be the ones to inherit the titles, and will stop at nothing to show that Rowan and Rhydd are too immature to properly lead. After the gryphon that Rowan captured in Book One gives birth but then dies, Rowan is left with a baby gryphon she knows she cannot keep. And it grows faster than anyone can imagine. In order to save face after an accident involving the troublesome gryphon, Rowan, with the help of her friends Dain and Alianor, along with an entourage of monstrous companions, must make a journey to the mountains to release the gryphon back into the wild. What starts off as a simple enough task soon becomes a dangerous quest, as the group encounters numerous rare and deadly monsters along the way, including wyverns and ceffyl-dwrs. 

The Gryphon's Lair is a book that is as much about Rowan and her friends coming together, and understanding each other and themselves, as it is the adventure of what to do with a young gryphon. I really liked the importance respect and compassion is given in this series. Rowan is trying to be a good member of the royal family, doing what is best for the kingdom while also thinking about understanding the monstrous creatures in the world rather than just killing them all. I laughed at some of he antic the crew she has assembled, cringed when those antics turned dangerous. There was action, heart to heart talks, amazing creatures, and a few heart wrenching moments. When I finished this story I was left with two thoughts. First, my daughter needs to read this series, as it is right up her alley, and second was that I hope there are more books set in this world coming because I am eager for more.

The Gryphon's Lair is a middle grade fantasy novel that has a near perfect balance of action and character growth.