Review: What Light

What Light by Jay Asher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sierra has always lived in Oregon and spent from Thanksgiving to Christmas in California selling Christmas trees from her family’s tree farm. Her father discourages her dating “the help” by making any boy showing interest in her clean and/or stock the outhouses. This has worked the last few seasons, but when Caleb stops in to buy a tree early in the season, Sierra quickly falls for him and starts to reconsider her no romance in California rule. Are the rumors about Caleb true? Will Sierra and her family be able to overlook the suspicions surrounding him?

What Light is a stand-alone fiction tale that is easily started and quickly finished. Although this book would be considered a romance, the love story is only in the early stages of dating and is easily appropriate for readers of all ages. Asher has created a variety of characters readers can relate to; these friends of Sierra nudge and support her as it is needed. What Light is a great escape read that should be added to all romance reader’s TBR pile.


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Review: RoseBlood

RoseBlood by A.G. Howard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Rune Germain’s family is insisting that she leave her home and attend a special school for the arts, RoseBlood. The school is housed in an old opera building and its history says it had something to do with The Phantom of the Opera. Rune has a wonderful voice, but she also has extreme stage freight. When a violinist named Thorn secretly trains her in her dreams, she discovers a greater voice and hidden truths about herself. Will this budding romance be her completion or her destruction? How much of RoseBlood’s history is fact?

RoseBlood is a modern day retelling of Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera and readers can enjoy this story even if they have never read the book or seen the musical. The story quickly develops and readers are pulled into this unusual performance academy. There are a few places where the events drag on, but overall it is an enjoyable read. Howard has created a cast of characters that may have readers looking for the original tale.


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Review: Heartless

Heartless by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catherine has just discovered that the King of Hearts is planning to ask her to be his queen, but she has her heart set on opening a bakery and creating the most wondrous delicacies. Her mother will stop at nothing to put her only child on the throne, yet when the royal marriage proposal is about to happen, Catherine orchestrates a distraction and unwittingly begins a courtship with Jest, the new court fool. Can Catherine fulfill her dream of delighting Wonderland with pastries? Will she be able to give her heart to the man she chooses?

Heartless is a new tale that takes place in Wonderland, yet readers who love the original story will discover new truths and hidden depth of many well-known characters. Meyer built on a world that already has a great foundation and has weaved a new adventure for readers of all ages. Although Heartless is currently listed as a stand-alone novel, it is easy to see an opportunity for additional books in this newly revised world. Heartless does for Wonderland what Wicked did for Oz. Readers will have a deeper understanding of the Queen of Hearts and why she is so heartless.


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Review: Spindle

Spindle by E.K. Johnston
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Many years have passed since the Storyteller Queen survived the demon inside her husband and saved the country she loved. Unfortunately, the prison she created with her stories is falling apart and a demon is manipulating the world around her. After a princess is born in one of the nearby kingdoms, the demon places a curse on the child that will either take the princess’s soul or completely cripple the people in her nation. A group of exiled spinners are pulled into an adventure where the best outcome is the princess’s freedom, but it could also cost them their lives.

Spindle is the second book in A Thousand Nights series. Since the distance of time between the first and second novel is so vast, this could be considered a companion story that does not need the first book completed. Readers will definitely see the correlation between Little Rose and Sleeping Beauty. This masterful retelling of the beloved tale will remind readers of childhood stories, but bring in a more complex adventure for the young adult reader. Spindle is a great book that will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.


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Review: Flashfall

Flashfall by Jenny Moyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Orion has been mining Cirium just like her family before her. This element is needed to protect humanity from radiation and if she collects enough Cirium, she can earn her way out of the tunnels and into the protected city. But after a new group of people come to Outpost Five, Orion is placed in a difficult situation with no foreseeable good outcome. Can Orion overcome obstacles that are constantly changing?

Flashfall is the first book in a new series by the same name. Moyer doesn’t spend too much time at the beginning world building, yet this story has many complex components that enhance it. The adventure is constantly changing and readers will be turning the pages quickly to see what is beyond the next twist. Flashfall is a great adventure that will leave readers looking for the next book in the series.


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Review: Victoria

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It hasn’t even been a month since her eighteenth birthday, but Alexandrina Victoria is now the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Her mother has done everything in her power to shelter and control Drina, but now that she is Queen, she will not bow to anyone. One thing she insists on is her royal name. She will be Queen Victoria. Young Victoria must overcome the obstacles of a limited education while also sidestepping everyone who wants to help pick her husband. Will she be like Queen Elizabeth I and never marry or will she find love?

Victoria is an historical fiction book with the potential for additional volumes. Goodwin has taken information found in Victoria’s own diaries and has weaved her writing style into a plausible story. Goodwin is also the author of the PBS/Masterpiece TV series that will begin airing in January 2017. If the show is anything like the book, I will be hooked from the start. Although this is a short period in Queen Victoria’s reign, it is full of drama and will have readers turning pages throughout.



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Review: The Amateurs

The Amateurs by Sara Shepard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Seneca has been addicted to the website Case Not Closed ever since she learned about the disappearance of Helena Kelly five years earlier. When Seneca sees a post on Case Not Closed asking for help, she travels to Connecticut to work with Maddy, her best friend she met on this website. It doesn’t take long for everything to begin to fall apart, though. Maddy isn’t who she expected, Aerin, Helena’s sister, didn’t ask for help and Seneca’s secret may also come into the light. These amateur sleuths join up with Brett from the website and try to uncover more about Helena’s disappearance. Is the killer still around? Are these young people shaking a rattler’s nest?

The Amateurs is the first book in a new series by the same name. The clues slowly come into the forefront and readers will continuously try and stay ahead of the investigation with the characters. Shepard has included a few twists and turns so that the search does not have a straight forward ending. As a young adult novel, this book is easy to fall into and pleasing to continue. The end result is surprising, yet not shocking once readers think about some of the clues left behind. A fun read that I will be looking forward for the next installment.


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