The Well-Read Wyvern

Book reviews and news

[wellreadwyvern]

📚CURRENT READS📚 ❓Which titles are your Last, Now, Next reads? These last few months, I’ve overcommitted myself to buddy reads and book tours. Which, unfortunately, required me to set aside books I had started in order to fulfill my commitments. So my Last, Now, Next titles are all books I’ve started and am eager to finish. I started The Bear and the Nightingale in January, planning to participate in Katherine Arden’s read-along. Picked it back up this week and will discuss with the Fated Fantasy Bookclub on Sunday. I started Hello Beautiful for a group read that I sponsored for ARC Enablers Book Buddies. Oops. Many thanks to @electric_bookaloo for stepping in to moderate the chat. Next I expect to quickly devour Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai. If you’ve seen any of my recent stories, you know how incredibly excited I am about this book! Now back to reading! #thebearandthenightingale #katherinearden #hellobeautiful #annnapolitano #bittermedicine #miatsai #lastnownext #currentreads #currentlyreading #somanybookssolittletime #booksbooksbooks #ffbc #fatedfantasybookclub #readersofinstagram #bookdragon #booknerd #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIpZVEBY5F/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🎉NEW RELEASE TUESDAY🎉 The best day of the week is here! Let’s celebrate some book birthdays! WANDERING SOULS by CECILE PIN @henryholtbooks After the last American troops leave Vietnam, three siblings journey to Hong Kong with the promise that their parents and younger siblings will soon follow. But when tragedy strikes, the three children are left orphaned, and sixteen-year-old Anh becomes the caretaker for her two younger brothers overnight. COMMITMENT by MONA SIMPSON @aaknopf A novel about a single mother’s collapse and the fate of her family after she enters a California state hospital in the 1970s. THE WITCH AND THE VAMPIRE by FRANCESCA FLORES @wednesdaybooks A queer Rapunzel retelling where a witch and a vampire who trust no one but themselves must journey together through a cursed forest with danger at every turn. BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN by DANIEL ALEMAN @littlebrownyoungreaders Full review available on my grid! LONE WOMEN by VICTOR LAVALLE @randomhouse Blue skies, empty land—and enough wide-open space to hide a horrifying secret. A woman with a past, a mysterious trunk, a town on the edge of nowhere, and a bracing new vision of the American West. LUCHA OF THE NIGHT FOREST by TEHLOR KAY MEJIA @randomhousekids See my full review! THE SINISTER BOOKSELLERS OF BATH by GARTH NIX @harpercollinsch Sequel to The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, where once again a team of booksellers must fight to keep dangerous magic under cover before the stuff of legends destroys our world. Thank you to @netgalley and all mentioned publishers for providing eARCs of these titles. #wanderingsouls #cecilepin #commitment #monasimpson #thewitchandthevampire #francescaflores #brighterthanthesun #danielaleman #lonewomen #victorlavalle #luchaofthenightforest #tehlorkaymejia #thesinisterbooksellersofbath #garthnix #newrelease #newreleasetuesday #newbooktuesday #newbook #booksbooksbooks #ilovetoread #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CqENz_ShJw4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

☀️BOOK TOUR REVIEW☀️ 🐉RATING:🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 Happy book birthday to Daniel Aleman! His sophomore book, Brighter Than the Sun, releases today and I’m happy to join in the celebration with my stop on the book tour. Brighter Than the Sun is a YA contemporary novel set both in Tijuana, Mexico and over the U.S. border in San Diego. Soledad - she prefers Sol - is the only member of her family with a U.S. passport. Every day she wakes at 5:00 am and commutes across the border from Tijuana to attend school in the suburb of Chula Vista. The daily commute is tiring and the border checks are stressful, but Sol values her evenings and weekends with her family. That all changes when Sol takes on a job in San Diego to feed her family. Sol and her family struggle to navigate a very dire financial situation, but their story is not all bleak. Aleman balances Sol’s struggles with new opportunities and hope. I think 13 and 14-year-olds are the target audience for this book. The story is told in such a gentle way, that despite some underage drinking and teen romance, it could even be shared with middle grade students. Soledad is a well-developed multi-dimensional character. She works hard, but also takes advantage of her new social opportunities. She resents being the sole provider for her family, yet wants to do more for them. She acts as a maternal stand-in for her younger brother, but also aches to be mothered herself. She is often quiet, but uses her voice when it matters most. Immigration and border laws are hot topics. Books like Brighter Than the Sun, which depict Mexican characters with respect and empathy instead of the threatening caricatures used in political debate, provide a positive resource for educating students about Mexican immigration. Thanks to @littlebrownyoungreaders and @tbrbeyondtours for gifting me a finished copy of this book. For more stops on the tour, follow #tbrbeyondtours or visit https://tbrandbeyondtours.com. #brighterthanthesun #danielaleman #immigration #foodscarcity #bookreview #bookrecommendation #ireadya #yacontemporary #bookstagram #booksmatter #weneeddiversebooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CqD0rovBUl4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🌲BOOK TOUR REVIEW🌲 🐉RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 Welcome to my tour stop for Lucha of the Night Forest by Tehlor Kay Mejia! ➡️Scroll for publisher’s summary. Lucha of the Night Forest begins in the Scar, a desolate drug-ravaged community run by the merciless Los Ricos. At age 16, Lucha knows the biggest dangers to survival are trust and hope. Her father is dead and her Olvida addicted mother is missing, leaving Lucha and 13-year-old Lis to fend for themselves. From the start, this story is dark and heartbreaking. Mejia doesn’t pull any punches and Lucha’s desperation is palpable. The reader, too, finds their own hopes for Lucha repeatedly dashed as she and Lis fall victim to Los Ricos. At rock bottom, Lucha makes a deal with El Sediento, a nightmare incarnate from the mysterious Bosque de la Noche. His power will allow Lucha and Lis to escape, and together they will destroy Olvida and Los Ricos. The author’s skill in world building is clear from the first page. As Lucha moves through Robado, the city and its inhabitants were as clear in my mind as a motion picture. By weaving mood and mythology through this detailed imagery, Mejia truly brings this world to life. The constant sense of unease and danger were acutely felt in the pit of my stomach. As much as I love stories with magic and fantastical creatures, this book’s strength is in the truths it tells about human nature. Mejia explores the lure of power and how it corrupts, along with the choices we make when we’ve run out of options. Themes of freedom, loneliness, forgiveness, free will, and responsibility are integrated throughout. Lucha of the Night Forest is a YA fantasy, a coming-of-age story, a sapphic romance, and a critique of those who wield power. Readers who travel with Lucha won’t be disappointed and might even find hope at the end. Lucha of the Night Forest is available 3/21/23. Thank you to @tbrbeyondtours, Make Me a World, and @randomhousekids for providing me with an advanced digital copy. Follow #tbrbeyondtours to visit more stops on this tour. #luchaofthenightforest #tehlorkaymejia #yafantasy #sapphicromance #ireadya #yabooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CqBC37vBSYK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

☘️FRIDAY FLATLAY☘️ Sharing some green, so I don’t get pinched! ☘️Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor @litjoycrate ☘️The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas @macmillanusa ☘️Greenwich Park by Katherine Faulkner @gallerybooks ☘️The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell @headlinebooks ☘️The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi @wednesdaybooks ☘️Trust by Hernan Diaz @riverheadbooks ❓Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? I used to do funny stuff when the kids were little. Leprechauns would sneak into the house that week and do silly stuff. The girls would sometimes build leprechaun traps. Having little ones means celebrating all the holidays, large and small. #fridayflatlay #stpatricksday #wearingofthegreen #daughterofsmokeandbone #lainitaylor #thesunbearertrials #aidenthomas #greenwichpark #katherinefaulkner #themarriageportrait #maggieofarrell #thegildedwolves #roshanichokshi #trust #hernandiaz #bookcovers #readersofinstagram #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5SEMTB-5y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

📚BOOK MAIL📚 ❓What’s your current read? How gorgeous are the colors on these books?? I was thrilled to win A Song of Salvation from Inkyard Press after being declined on NetGalley. And Zhara is my latest from Goodreads Giveaways! Here’s a bit from the publisher’s summaries: 🪐A SONG OF SALVATION by ALECHIA DOW (7/11/23) @inkyardpress As an intergalactic war culminates on Earth, the fate of the universe comes down to three people: Zaira, the god of creation reborn; Wesley, the smuggler; and Rubin, the wanted space podcaster. 🌺GUARDIANS OF DAWN: ZHARA by S. JAE-JONES (8/29/23) @wednesdaybooks Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abominations and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before. In order to restore harmony to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between Order and Chaos be lost forever. #asongofsalvation #alechiadow #guardiansofdawnzhara #sjaejones #yabooks #ireadya #yafantasy #magicalfantasy #yascifi #spaceopera #2023bookreleases #goodreadsgiveaway #bookpreview #bookmail #booklover #readersofinstagram #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2SPH0h8Nh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🎉NEW RELEASE TUESDAY🎉 Here’s a sampling of today’s new releases from my NetGalley shelf: BITTER MEDICINE by MIA TSAI @taschen My most anticipated March release! I WILL FIND YOU AGAIN by SARAH LYU @simonandschuster Look for my review of this YA contemporary mystery on Friday! HELLO BEAUTIFUL by ANN NAPOLITANO @randomhouse One of this month’s most eagerly awaited titles by the author of Dear Edward. KUNSTLERS IN PARADISE by Cathleen Schine @henryholtbooks Described as “a comedy of generational manners,” a 20-something New Yorker visits his eccentric 93-year-old grandmother and is forced into an extended stay when LA goes into lockdown. A LIKELY STORY by LEIGH MCMULLAN ABRAMSON @atriabooks “The only child of an iconic American novelist discovers a shocking tangle of family secrets…” A MANUAL FOR HOW TO LOVE US by ERIN SLAUGHTER @harpercollins An “interlinked collection of stories exploring the primal nature of women’s grief.” THE SCHOOLHOUSE by SOPHIE WARD @vintageanchorbooks In this “thriller about truth, silence, and the weight of the past,” a missing girl forces Isobel to face her own trauma at an experimental school in the ‘70s. NOTHING BUT THE RAIN by NAOMI SALMAN @tordotcompub A novella in which “a sleepy little town discovers its memories have become part of the water cycle.” A TEMPEST AT SEA by SHERRY THOMAS @berkleypub Book 7 of the Lady Sherlock series! I often recommend these delightful historical mysteries to friends. RED LONDON by ALMA KATSU @putnambooks A “race-against-the-clock” spy novel (Red Widow sequel). Thank you to the listed publishers for providing eARCs for review. #bittermedicine #miatsai #iwillfindyouagain #sarahlyu #hellobeautiful #annnapolitano #kunstlersinparadise #cathleenschine #alikelystory #leighmcmullanabramson #amanualforhowtoloveus #erinslaughter #theschoolhouse #sophieward #nothingbuttherain #naomisalman #atempestatsea #sherrythomas #redlondon #almakatsu #newreleasetuesday #newbooktuesday #pubday #newbooks #booksbooksbooks #netgalleyreads #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CpyLfUlhmXD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🐉RATING:🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 ❓Do you enjoy odd or quirky books? I love a quirky little book. If you are like me - and you enjoy stories that make you ask, “What did I just read?!” - then pick up a copy of Kelly Barnhill’s The Crane Husband. Writing a review for this book is a challenge. I know I liked it. I’m not sure I understood it. A widowed mother of two brings home a new lover - a crane she calls Father. Who is this creature with leering eyes? Why is the mother so devoted to him that she neglects herself and her children? What are they doing inside the locked art studio? The story reads like a nightmarish fable of generational trauma. Included are themes of motherhood, abandonment, transformation, and the magic of art. A fable, by definition, ends with a lesson. But if The Crane Husband has a lesson, I haven’t figured it out yet. I’m continuing to ponder how all the themes and imagery weave together. Are they parts of a whole? Or do they just swirl around each other in a dance? And that’s enough rambling. If anyone wants to join me in this metaphorical rabbit hole, let’s chat. Thank you to @tordotcompub and @netgalley for providing this ARC. #thecranehusband #kellybarnhill #quirkybooks #novella #whatdidijustread #craneisamanisacrane #featherseverywhere #bookreview #bookrecommendations #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpfs2VUhkve/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🎉TODAY’S NEW RELEASES🎉 Sharing a small sample of the titles releasing today. ❓Any of these on your TBR? THE MIMICKING OF KNOWN SUCCESSES by MALKA OLDER A cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter. @torbooks @forgereads @macmillanusa WHAT HAPPENED TO RUTHY RAMIREZ by CLAIRE JIMENEZ A raw debut novel of a Puerto Rican family in Staten Island who discovers their long‑missing sister is potentially alive and cast on a reality TV show. @grandcentralpub WEYWARD by EMILIA HART What can happen when the natural world collides with a legacy of witchcraft? A spellbinding story weaving together the lives of three women across five centuries. @stmartinspress THE MOTH KEEPER by K. O’NEILL Being the Moth Keeper is a great honor and a great responsibility. But is it worth the cost? @randomhousekids THE GOLDEN SPOON by JESSA MAXWELL A locked-room mystery where someone turns up dead on the set of TV’s hottest baking competition. @atriabooks Thank you to the publishers mentioned above and @netgalley for providing these titles for review. #themimickingofknownsuccesses #malkaolder #whathappenedtoruthyramirez #clairejimenez #weyward #emiliahart #themothkeeper #koneill #thegoldenspoon #jessamaxwell #newbooktuesday #newreleasetuesday #bookbirthday #booksummaries #newtitles #netgalley #tbr #toberead #booksbooksbooks #readersofinstagram #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpfl2SSBVsr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🐉RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 🎉Happy book birthday to Hannah Whitten and The Foxglove King! The Foxglove King is full of mythology and court intrigue. Caught in the middle are the three main characters - Lore, Gabriel, and Bastian. Lore grew up working for her mothers as a poison runner and spy. Gabriel is a member of the Presque Mort, an elite cadre of monks protecting the kingdom. Bastian is the Sun Prince, a charming rogue set to inherit the throne. None of them can fully trust the others as they work together to uncover the King’s plans and stay alive. While not a fan of love triangles, I did like the three main characters and all their smoldering desire. I enjoyed how they were caught up in the power plays of church and state. They knew they were being used as pawns, but fought against their manipulation. All this maneuvering is set against a dark world with catacombs, necromancy, mysterious deaths, and a burried goddess leaking deadly “Mortem.” This is the first book in a new series, but the plot lines wrap-up enough at the end to give the reader some satisfaction. I am curious about how the relationships will play out in the next book. I expect there will be more secret maneuvering and a greater focus on the theme of destiny vs. free will. I also hope the world building expands. The threat of war is ever present in The Foxglove King, so perhaps we will learn more about the neighboring kingdom, its rulers and mythology. I’m definitely on board to continue reading this series, and eager to see how the story plays out. This eARC was provided by @orbitbooks_us and @netgalley for review. #thefoxgloveking #hannahwhitten #fantasybooks #fantasyseries #lovetriangle #bookreview #bookrecommendations #netgalleyreads #netgalleyreview #arcreview #bookdragon #readersofinstagram #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CpfDmc5hqDS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

💖FEBRUARY READS💖 🏆FAVORITE BOOK🏆 ✨I’m so glad that I finally read R.F. Kuang’s Babel. The story is a gut-wrenching treatise on colonization, shown through the lens of language and institutionalized racism. It’s also a story about friendship, belonging, loyalty, and loss. It’s about perception and reality - how it’s far too easy to ignore the truth and justify the evils that keep us comfortable. 🌟RECOMMENDED READS🌟 ✨Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury and Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah are both new YA horror/thriller releases. I enjoyed both stories, but if you choose one, pick up Delicious Monsters. Sambury does an excellent job weaving together multiple storylines, and her pacing creates the perfect suspenseful atmosphere. Fans of gothic horror will like this one! ✨My review for The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten will be available later this week. It’s a solid start to a new fantasy series, and I’m curious to see how the story develops in book two. ✨I’ve been struggling to write a full review for Amelie Wen Zhao’s Song of Silver, Flame Like Night. Perhaps my expectations were too high? I enjoyed the book and look forward to the rest of the series. I honestly can’t figure out what fell flat for me. I did need to pause at times and read other titles. Maybe because of my on and off reading schedule, I lost the emotional thread. ✨Check out my review for The Crane Husband tomorrow. Kelly Barnhill’s new novella won’t appeal to everyone, but I liked this odd story and am still pondering bits of it. ✨My February audiobook was Promise Boys by Nick Brooks. This YA mystery deserves more attention. My full review will be available Thursday or Friday. 😕NOT FOR ME😕 📝So many readers are raving about The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz. I found it entertaining at a time when I struggled to concentrate. That’s the only reason I gave three stars instead of two. Bartz repeatedly sensationalizes F/F sexuality to the point where some scenes felt straight off the 1970s pulp fiction racks. 🎁With the exception of Babel, all titles were provided by the publishers through NetGalley. #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpdy6zShj2K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🥳BOOK MAIL🥳 Gifted books! I was the lucky winner of The Fields from the publisher’s IG giveaway. And I’m hosting tour stops in March for two upcoming YA novels - I Will Find You Again and Brighter Than the Sun. I’ll have full reviews for both YA titles next month! THE FIELDS by ERIN YOUNG A young woman is found dead in an Iowa cornfield. When Sergeant Riley Fisher arrives on the scene, the crime becomes personal. She discovers the victim was a childhood friend, connected to a dark past she thought she’d left behind. The investigation grows complicated as more victims are found. Riley soon discovers that something deeply disturbing is out there, and it reaches far beyond her Midwest town. (Now available in paperback) Thank you @flatiron_books for my copy! I WILL FIND YOU AGAIN by SARAH LYU Meet Chase Ohara and Lia Vestiano: the driven overachiever and the impulsive wanderer, the future CEO and the free spirit. Chase has always pushed herself to be the best. Only Lia, her best friend of ten years - and her first girlfriend - could get her to take a break. When Lia disappears, Chase is determined to find the truth - but the closer she gets, the more her world begins to unravel. Thank you @simonbooks and @tbrbeyondtours for my finished copy. (on sale 3/4/23) BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN by DANIEL ALEMAN Every morning, sixteen-year-old Sol wakes up at the break of dawn in Tijuana, Mexico and makes the trip across the border to go to school in the US. Sol’s complicated school and work schedules in the US lead her to move in with her best friend and leave her family behind. With her life divided, Sol must come to terms with her loneliness, the pressure she feels to succeed, and the feeling her future dreams are unattainable. Thank you to @littlebrownyoungreaders and @tbrbeyondtours for my finished copy. (on sale 3/21/23) #thefields #erinyoung #crimethriller #iwillfindyouagain #sarahlyu #yamystery #yathriller #asianrepresentation #queerrepresentation #brighterthanthesun #danielaleman #yacontemporary #immigrationstories #mexicanrepresentation #tbrbeyondtours #bookmail #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CpAsbBohJ7J/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🐉RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 🎉NEW RELEASE🎉 Watchful sunflowers, missing mothers, and a land that craves blood. Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah is just the right balance of creepy suspense and page-turning action. The story centers on the friendship of four teenage girls who live like sisters. They have been caring for each other and their home, alone, for two years since their mothers disappeared. The girls know that there is something dangerously wrong with the town of Bishop, KS. As their suspicions grow, and they investigate the many deaths and disappearances of the women in town, Bishop’s dark mysteries slowly come to light. The fierce loyalty of these four abandoned girls gives this book its heart. When we are first introduced to Delilah, Bo, Jude, and Whitney, they are living very separate lives under one roof. But when one of them is injured, their secrets are shared, and they bond together as they had been before their mothers vanished. I had some difficulty sorting out all the characters and past events at the start of the book. I felt like I needed a chart matching the girls to their mothers and a detailed timeline of the past two years. But once I settled in, the different personalities and experiences of each character became clear. Yet taking a few notes when reading the first chapters might be helpful. Once the truth about Bishop is revealed, the action moves at a fast pace to the end. Readers of YA horror and suspense won’t be disappointed by this supernatural tale with its strong and determined characters. tw: rape Thank you to @stmartinspress @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for providing this ARC for review. #wheredarknessblooms #andreahannah #yahorror #yasuspense #yamystery #ireadya #newreleasebooks #newreleasetuesday #bookbirthday #bookreview #bookrecommendations #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreader #arcreader #readersofinstagram #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Co8HvVEhhJV/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🧣JANUARY READS🧣 Never too late? The first half of February was a little rough, so I’m slow to post my January Wrap-Up. I enjoyed every book I read last month, but some stood out more than the rest. 🏆FAVORITE BOOKS🏆 🌟The Night Travelers by Armando Lucas Correa is a beautifully written multi-generational historic novel. 🌟Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House is a magical, dark academia fantasy full of mystery. The secret societies, ghosts, and multiple twists made this one of my top reads. ✨RECOMMENDED READS✨ ⭐️Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen looks back at life in Northern Ireland during “the troubles.” ⭐️Wade in the Water by Nyani Nkrumah deftly turns the white savior trope on its head. ⭐️House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland is full of creepy gothic atmosphere. ⭐️Maame by Jessica George follows a young woman who breaks free of her family’s constant needs and begins to build a life of her own. ⭐️The Family Outing by Jessi Hempel is an intimate memoir about family secrets and overcoming trauma on the path to self-actualization. #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #topreads #bookclubreads #netgalleyreads #letstalkbooks #readersofinstagram #booknerd #readmorebooks #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Co4uVTyhtN0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

🐉RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 ⭐️BOOK TOUR⭐️ ❓Do you enjoy stories with haunted houses? I love when a book lives up to the promise of its cover! Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury is both creepy and suspenseful. Told with a dual timeline, Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury is a YA contemporary horror with a teenage girl who can see ghosts, a mother with a mysterious past, and a house with a big appetite. (Scroll image for the full synopsis.) Sambury skillfully weaves together two stories, patiently delivering bits of information to build the suspense. The author’s eerie setting descriptions bring the book to life, maintaining an unsettling gothic atmosphere. I especially loved how the natural beauty of the mansion’s property puts Daisy on edge. Is she uncomfortable in the “bush” because she’s a city girl, or is there really something to fear? There is much to love about this book beyond the paranormal. The two plotlines sensitively connect the lives of Daisy and Brittney through similar life experiences. Both have raised themselves, yet struggle to be truly independent. They have also experienced trauma that makes them unable to trust anyone to help or care for them. (Be sure to check out the author’s trigger warnings on her website.) Strong character development provides emotional depth which anchors the story. Both Daisy and Brittney are young women that you want to succeed. It’s clear that a lot of care went into creating the secondary characters too. The endearing King, mysterious Ivy, and ambitious Jayden all have their own secrets and goals. Finally, this isn’t just a paranormal horror story, but one that draws from real life headlines. Or rather a lack of headlines. It’s a commentary on the media and how victimized and missing Black girls are so often ignored and forgotten. You can pick up your own copy of Delicious Monsters on February 28th! Thank you to @simonteen and @turnthepagetours for providing this eARC for review. #deliciousmonsters #lisellesambury #turnthepagetours #ttpt #ireadya #yahorror #yasuspense #bookreview #bookrecommendations #booktours #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Co2mZY5h8Tf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

📚BOOK MAIL📚 ❓Do you read graphic novels or comics? This gorgeous graphic novel arrived earlier this week. I’m excited to read it and pass it to my teens to get their reactions. “Anya is finally a Moth Keeper, the protector of the lunar moths that allow the Night-Lily flower to bloom once a year. Her village needs the flower to continue thriving and Anya is excited to prove her worth and show her thanks to her friends with her actions, but what happens when being a Moth Keeper isn’t exactly what Anya thought it would be? The nights are cold in the desert and the lunar moths live far from the village. Anya finds herself isolated and lonely. Despite Anya’s dedication, she wonders what it would be like to live in the sun. Her thoughts turn into an obsession, and when Anya takes a chance to stay up during the day to feel the sun’s warmth, her village and the lunar moths are left to deal with the consequences.” The Moth Keeper goes on sale 3/7/23. I’ll be sharing my review that week as part of the book tour! Thank you to @randomhousekids and @tbrbeyondtours for gifting me a finished copy. #themothkeeper #koneill #tbrbeyondtours #middlegradebooks #fantasybooks #graphicnovel #middlegradegraphicnovel #bookmail #booktours #fantasyreader #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CovYo-rBd_l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[wellreadwyvern]

📚BOOK MAIL📚 ❓Do you like vampire stories? Thrilled to receive this ARC yesterday from @flatiron_books ! The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland releases March 7th. “Collette LeSange is a lonely artist who heads an elite fine arts school for children in Upstate New York. Her youthful beauty masks the dark truth of her life: she has endured centuries of turmoil and heartache in the wake of her grandfather’s long-ago decision to make her immortal like himself. Now, in 1984, Collette finds her life upended by the arrival of a gifted child from a troubled home, the return of a stalking presence from her past, and her own mysteriously growing hunger.” This book sounds amazing! #thegodofendings #jaquelineholland #flatironbooks #fantasyreader #vampirebooks #march2023 #newbooks #arcreader #bookmail #readersofinstagram #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CosJryPhIe6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=