Review: The Glass Girl

The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bella has a lot of responsibilities.  Her parents are divorced, she seems to be raising her younger sister, and working too.  Bella is also the go-between with her parents and she can’t turn to her grandmother anymore … because she is dead.  She has started self-medicating with alcohol but doesn’t believe she has a problem … until she goes to a party on Thanksgiving and wakes up in the hospital.  Now she must face the consequences of her drinking and go to rehab.

The Glass Girl is a realistic fiction story that takes an issue that plagues humans of every age and puts it into a story that is easily relatable and easy to read.  Glasgow was able to build the story in such a way that readers will know where it is going next and still stick around for the ride.  The Glass Girl is a heart-wrenching story that would be a good fit for teens and adults alike.

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Review: Ruin Road

Ruin Road by Lamar Giles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cade is playing football at a great high school, but his home is in the wrong neighborhood.  No matter where he goes, people steer clear of him … he is a large, black, teenage boy.  One night after his game is canceled, he ducks into a pawn shop and feels drawn to buy a ring.  A statement told in jest is taken as a wish and Cade’s life is turned upside down.  Will Cade be able to get out of his wish?  What price is too high?

Ruin Road is a stand-alone blend of fantasy and thriller as readers try and discover where the story is going next and what side stories are related to the main tale.  Giles has created relatable characters that pull at threads that link to issues in the news today and the story explores dark twists to many of our thoughts.  A fast-paced read for all thriller fans.

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Review: The Heart of the World

The Heart of the World by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Selly and Leander have been through a lot and the result is love.  He is now the Messenger for the goddess Barrica and Leander is the only thing keeping him from being taken over by the dark magic.  Unfortunately, Barrica wasn’t the only goddess who woke up and this new god is trying to start a war.  Will these two be able to stop the evil in the world, both immortal and human?  Will their new bond survive what they must go through next?

The Heart of the World is the second book in The Isles of Gods fantasy series.  The beginning of the book has a refresher of the first book so those who have a space of time between novels will be reminded.  This might be too much if you are reading the books close together, though.  Kaufman has taken the world-building from the first book and expanded on these dynamic characters.  A good fantasy read for those who enjoyed the first part.

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Review: Lucy Undying

Lucy Undying by Kiersten White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lucy is known as one of Dracula’s first victims.  For over 100 years, she has been trying to keep one step ahead of him and his control.  It is now 2024 and she discovers Iris, a woman with her own family secrets.  They are quickly drawn to each other, but neither knows what the other is grappling with.  Will Lucy and Iris find happiness?  Will Dracula catch up to her after all this time? 

Lucy Undying is a stand-alone supernatural story that pulls many elements of the original Dracula tale into the twenty-first century.  I have always loved the original Dracula story and the many variations throughout the years, and I was looking forward to this new addition.  Although I enjoyed the story overall, many places had me rolling my eyes as the story felt contrived and predictable.  Lucy Undying was a good story, but not one that must be rushed to the top of a TBR list.

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