#advanced reader's copy

[ljf613]

So I got an ARC of The Winners and it comes for my throat on the very first page:

I am IN PAIN!!!

[libertyreads]

Book Review #105 of 2021--

All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody and Christine Lynn Herman. Rating: 4 stars.

Read from October 22nd to 24th.

Before we get into the bulk of the review, I want to say a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers at Tor Teen for allowing me to read this one early in exchange for an honest review. All of Us Villains is the start of a new duology written by co-authors Amanda Foody (the Shadow Game series) and Christine Lynn Herman (the Devouring Gray duology). In this book, the blood moon rises, the blood veil falls, and the tournament begins. Every generation seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death. The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick. All of Us Villains is set to release on November 9th and is available for preorder now.

There is so much to love about this YA Fantasy novel. I love the premise as a whole (I’m the queen of dystopian literature, how could I not?). I also love that in this world you have common magick and high magick that can be wielded by so many people, but at the same time you have common technology (like pinball machines) and yet this doesn’t feel like an Urban Fantasy. This feels like a High Fantasy novel that just happens to have regular old human technology in it as well. I also really enjoyed the fact that these authors went there. I’ve talked before about authors whose works never feel like they have any stakes to them because I knew they were never going to get dark or put any of the characters in any real danger. But these authors do a great job of giving the reader the stakes and letting them feel that fear for their favorite characters. However, I think there are two key things that these authors have done really well. First, I think these characters are as realistic as you can get. They have their own desires and fears, but are flawed and contradictory as well. I especially love seeing the different between how other people see these characters and the stories they tell themselves about who they are. Second, I haven’t seen a magic system like this in a long time. Also, it is explained really well how all the magic works. It’s necessary in order for the reader to get to the meatier parts of the story. But it also isn’t info dumped or dumbed down so much that you feel like it’s being spoon-fed to you.

I think there are a couple of reasons this book didn’t make it into the five star range for me. The first one is pretty obvious and it’s that this book is quite obviously influenced by a handful of other series which wouldn’t be so bad if I couldn’t pin point the exact scenes they’re taking their influence from. I don’t mind that the authors used other novels as inspiration for certain plot points or characterizations. I just wish it was a little less obvious. Also, I have to say that I didn’t love that ending. I know it has left us on a cliffhanger for a reason (to get you to pick up the next book in the duology), but it felt abrupt. I wish we had gotten a scene or two in the lead up to the ending so that it could still end on that cliffhanger but it wouldn’t feel so forced.

Overall, I had a really good time reading this one. I probably would have read it in one or two sittings if it hadn’t been for real life getting in the way. This is a perfect read for anyone looking for a darker/grittier Fantasy novel. Or people like me who will read any dystopian novel any time a new one comes out. I can’t wait to pick up book two whenever it comes out next year.

[hermionegrangerislifegoals]

The Push - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A long book detailing events in the past, present, and future, with multiple narrators, all centered around an incident that happened at an innocent barbecue one sunny Saturday.

This book was truly amazing. An incredible look into 13 very different people and their lives with babies thrown in the mix. (no babies were harmed in the making of this story). The ironic bit I realized about this book was actually the title and the missing scenes of actual childbirth. Many babies were born, and yet, this story is literally about someone getting pushed. A book on babies and parenting is titled The Push; the very verb famous for childbirth, without any gruesome scenes detailing the event!

I loved the character arcs, the mysteries, the satisfying endings for most of the characters, and the way that the story unfolded; taking its time. The length of the story is important in order for the reader to get a true taste of the different lives. Each character is intricate, detailed, human, and important for the crux of the resolution. The vast differences with each woman and her childbirth story was really important and representative. Not just of women in reality, but also representative of the importance that covering up miscarriages or stillbirths, or depression, is not healthy and nor is talking about it shameful. Yes women have been having children in all of history and they never had counseling, or medications, or epidurals, or vaccines, or birthing plans. But more women have been lost to childbirth and mothering and domestic disputes than all the wars in history combined. These were important details that I found were truly what made the book. It's not just about the mysterious death, it's about the lives of these newly-made parents and their coping strategies on taking care of babies that some expected, while others were surprised by.

I loved reading this book and learning about the characters. While some were tedious to get to know, others were much easier to sympathize with.

I highly recommend this domestic drama/murder mystery because of the depth in the story, and because the journey to the end is not as important as the journey to self-discovery that the characters go through. I loved reading the mysteries as well and guessing the answers. I guessed many correctly (it did not take the fun out of reading!), and others really surprised me.

This book is intriguing in its plot all the way through, and like I said, the endings for all the characters are not wrapped up in a neat bow, but are satisfying in that the characters learn about themselves and grow as people together and individually.

*Thank you to the publishers; Amazon Publishing UK, the author; Claire McGowan, and Netgalley for my free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review!

[amphitritemists]

[libertyreads]

Currently reading Rogue: Untouched by Alisa Kwitney. Part of the Marvel Heroines series.

[libertyreads]

The Faithless Hawk Book Review

The Faithless Hawk by Margaret Owen. Rating: 4.5 Stars.

Read from June 23 to June 24.

Warning: This review may contain spoilers for this book as well as the first one (The Merciful Crow).

First, I want to say a HUGE thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers at Henry Holt and Co. for granting my Wish for one of my most anticipated books of the year. I was given this e-Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review. The Faithless Hawk will be released on July 28th and is available for pre-order now.

I cannot explain to you how excited I was to get this ARC. The first book was one of my favorite books last year and I’ve been looking forward to the sequel since. I’m pretty sure my neighbor heard my squeal of excitement when I got the e-mail saying I got an ARC. I had to rearrange my reading plans so I could get to this immediately. And it paid off. This book kicks off almost immediately after the events of the previous book. There’s so much action and political intrigue, but this time we get to see Fie out of her element.

There was also a mystery element to this book that I wasn’t anticipating. I thought that really added a driving factor to my reading pace. I think if you’re a big Fantasy reader then you might have some idea as to what the answer could be, but it’s done well and, at least for me, you never quite guess correctly. And there’s an added angst element that I was dying for by the end of the book. I love me some angst and this served it to me on a gorgeous platter. I didn’t know I needed it, but I really did. I think it was also done in a really unique way that made it even more painful. (Wow, that makes me sound real twisted.)

During this one, I got a lot of late Throne of Glass series vibes because Fie is such a strong woman who wants so much more for her family and her caste. She also feels like the weight is really on her shoulders and the only things she can work with to make it happen is her powers and her pet. In a way, it’s like seeing Aelin come into her own because Fie discovers some truths about herself and uses those truths to her political advantage.

As always, I love the characters in this duology. I think the author does a great job of keeping the audience engaged with the characters we’ve come to love already. We also get some new characters, both four legged and otherwise, that I came to really like. I would say the one point of contention for me with this novel is that I want it to be longer. No one is surprised by that complaint from me. But I feel like it could have added just a little more depth to what’s a really great story. I needed to be able to bond to some side characters a little more before all the action started.

Otherwise, it’s a really good finale. I can’t believe it’s the last I get to see of Fie and Tavin, and Wretch, and Barf. I think this duology is a solid read for the times we’re currently in, but also for people who like darker YA Fantasy. 

[libertyreads]

Book Review #23 of 2025--

The Thrashers by Julie Soto. Rating: 3.75 stars.

Read from April 4th to 5th.

Before I get into the review, a quick thank you to both NetGalley and the publishers over at Wednesday books for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Thrashers follows an elite group of friends who are everything everyone wants to be. Either you're in. Or you're out. Jodi Dillon was never meant to be one of them, but Zack's her childhood best friend so she's in. Then Emily Mills, who desperately wanted to be a Thrasher, dies and the whispers about the Thrashers begin. As do eerie messages and stranger occurrences that escalate until it becomes clear--Emily isn't done with them yet. The Thrashers comes out on May 6th and is available for preorder now.

I want to start by saying that I was so unhinged about the first two-thirds of this book. I was so emotionally attached to these flawed, messy characters that I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this book. It was easily sitting in a 4.25 to 4.5 star range for over 85% of the book (yes, that is a specific point in the novel) and I was so completely unwell about two of these characters. Julian Hollister is my morally grey baby and I love him. Jodi Dillon is the strong, courageous, righteous young woman we all aspire to be. Also? This is how you do a contemporary enemies to lovers. (It can be argued that we never go from enemies to lovers, but I know what I felt in my heart.) I've always struggled with that because it's a trope I loved to see in Fantasy novels but never got to see it go far enough in contemporary novels. I want the enemies to TRULY be enemies. I want to see the lovers truly be lovers. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded and the way the plot points all came together at the end. Well, almost.

The actual ending of this novel is the only major flaw for me. When I realized that [SPOILER AHEAD] Emily was truly haunting them I lost a lot of the respect what the characters had gone through. [SPOILER OVER] I felt like the ending cheapened the stress and anxiety that all of the characters were feeling as the investigation and case were hanging over their heads. And, also, how dare you make me fall in love with a character and then give them that ending. It's rude, and kind of hateful, if I'm being honest.

Overall, I had such a good time. I read the whole book in basically 24 hours and I so rarely find books that just consume me like that. I feel so bad for not giving this one a higher rating given how much I enjoyed it, but I just cannot get over the ending. I DO think this is great for fans of Mystery/Thriller novels (not just YA, either). And I also think this is great for people who like a little "What if" with their ending.

[joys-bookshelf]

Rating: 4

Re-Read Factor: No

Genre: children’s book, graphic novel

"Sorry . . ."

We so often hear that actions speak louder than words, but words carry their weight too. A simple apology can carry a long way, and this book was able to illustrate exactly that for its intended audience with a single word.

As for the illustrations, they were beyond par and incredibly scenic. I am unsure, however, which sub-audience the book is intended for as the monochrome might deter younger children's attentions.