Review: Book of Night

Book of Night by Holly Black
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charlie is a con artist.  This wasn’t a choice she consciously made; it was thrust upon her through a series of events outside her control.  She lives her life as a bartender and tries to stay away from the not-so-secret world of shadow trading.  That is until someone from her past returns and Charlie’s life begins to crumble around her.  Charlie needs to unravel the secrets she has been ignoring, but who can she trust?  Will Charlie lose a part of herself along the way?

Book of Night is a stand-alone fantasy series that was interesting yet familiar.  Black has created a brand new world of shadows and the people who can control them, yet the concept was not hard to understand and the events flowed smoothly.  This is Black’s first adult fantasy book and thankfully it was not full of sex and violence.  That isn’t saying there wasn’t anything risqué, but I can easily recommend this to my high school students and not worry about the content.  Book of Night is a must-read for all fantasy fans.

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Review: Family of Liars

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

We Were Liars was a suspense-filled book that kept me wondering how the mystery would be solved.  Family of Liars was disappointing when compared to the original.  It is a new summer and a new set of circumstances, but the mystery isn’t there.  Readers discover what happened relatively early on and the mystery is the why behind the episode.  The author’s note does warn that this is a prequel and spoilers will be given to the original story, but overall this story was not as good as We Were Liars.  I wanted to have a five-star adventure, but sadly it was only a three-star read.

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Review: The Key to Fury

The Key to Fury by Kristin Cast
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For fifty years, the Key Corporation has kept the pandemic from returning.  Elodie and Aiden have learned that there is more to the Key Corporation than what the public knows and they are on the run and hope to find New Dawn.  The Eos resistance movement says they are working towards a better world, but are they just another group of people who hunger for power?  Who can these two young people trust?  What other truths will they learn along the way?

The Key to Fury is the second book in The Key series.  I want to start by saying that I enjoyed the first book, but was disappointed with this story.  The overall feel was formulaic and I wanted something unexpected.  Readers do learn more about these characters and the world they live in, so there is a chance that the next volume will redeem the series.  I will give the series another chance if Cast decides to extend it.

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Review: Year on Fire

Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Paige is devastated when she learns her boyfriend kissed another person.  When she finds out it was her best friend Immie, her world seems to implode.  That is until Rohan arrives at their school.  Paige calls dibs and Immie wants to let her have him, but something about Ro just pulls her towards him.  After a fire in the girls’ bathroom of their school, everyone believes it must have been arson.  Who would want to set a fire in their school?  Will the longtime friendship survive the turmoil after the kiss? 

Year of Fire is a stand-alone realistic fiction story that explores friendship, young love, and learning to accept yourself and others.  I really wanted to love this book, but overall the story was just two-dimensional.  I felt that way throughout the story and when the arsonist is revealed, it just seemed anticlimactic.  Year on Fire is a quick read for those who want something easy at the beach or for the weekend, but I don’t think it should be moved to the top of anyone’s TBR list.

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Review: Mirrors and Mysteries

Mirrors and Mysteries by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Grayson is glad she no longer has to serve Lady R.  Her new position has her teaching shifter orphans at Thornfield.  Not only does she get to mold young minds, her boss is Dex, the sexy alpha.  Because of fairy tale life templates, things must go sideways.  Enter Jocasta, a witch that demands Dex and Grayson learn the truth about Rapunzels.  Will they be able to uncover the answer or will Grayson have to return to Lady R’s dominion.  As Grayson and Dex work closely together, will they come to terms with their feelings?

Mirrors and Mysteries is the ninth book in the Fairy Tales of the Magicorum series.  Goodreads says that this is the last book in the Dex and Grayson story, but it is not!  Bauer tells us in the author’s note at the beginning that she needed another book to explore everything with these characters and as readers make it to the end of the story they will be content with anticipation that there is more to come.  I enjoyed learning more background on these characters even as information about others was sprinkled throughout.  A fun, quick read that will have readers looking for more.

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Review: Omens Bite

Omens Bite by P.C. Cast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mercy and Hunter’s mother has been murdered and the role of protector of the Gates is now theirs.  These Gates lead to different underworlds where mythological and nightmarish creatures live.  Unfortunately, the sisters are no longer a team.  Can Mercy save the Gates on her own?  Will Hunter be able to fight the allure of a dark goddess? 

Omens Bite is the second book in the Sisters of Salem series.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a twin (I don’t); I believe everyone can relate to the issues Hunter and Mercy are dealing with after their mother’s death.  The mythology that is woven into the story is not overbearing and it was an enjoyable escape to learn some things about Egypt and its past.  Cast left this story incomplete, so readers will want to add the next book to their TBR list so that they will look for it in the near future.  Omens Bite was a fun and easy read that took me away for a while.

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Review: In a Garden Burning Gold

In a Garden Burning Gold by Rory Power
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rhea knows her duty.  She must choose a consort who will ensure a prosperous season and then she must kill them.  This is how it must be … or is it?  An independence movement is taking root in their country and the power her father once had is diminishing.  They have power over the seasons, tides, and the stars, but do they have the power to keep their country intact? 

In a Garden Burning Gold is the first book in the Argyrosi series.  This is a fantasy series that includes a lot of world-building, but it is this same complex world that makes the storyline so captivating.  Rhea must face family deception head-on as she becomes her own person instead of the power wielded by her father.  Power has created a story that has the potential to be an epic adventure as the characters learn their strengths and overcome the many obstacles set before them.  In a Garden Burning Gold is the first book and readers will finish wanting to know what happens next.

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