REVIEW: Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller (Mask of Shadows #2)

Publisher's Summary:
As Opal, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and most importantly the ability to hunt the lords who killed their family. But Sal has to figure out who the culprits are before putting them down. Which means trying to ignore the fact that Elise is being kept a virtual prisoner, and that the queen may have ulterior motives.

And the tales coming out of north are baffling. Talk of dark spirits, missing children, and magic abound. As Sal heads north toward their ruined homeland and the lords who destroyed everything, they learn secrets and truths that can't be ignored.

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Finally reaching the goal of one of the Queen's assassins, Sal is free to pursue vengeance and retribution.  But at what cost? Can Sal withstand the price weighing on her soul?  This was a satisfying conclusion to the duology.

Sal is an intriguing character and Miller has done a nice job exploring a gender fluid protagonist as well as world building. 

There are a fair amount of twists, turns and surprise revelations. A recommended read for those who've enjoyed books by Robin LaFevers and Sarah J. Maas.

I received an ARC in exchange for a review from Netgalley and Sourcefire Books.

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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Don't Miss Book 1 of the series: Masks of Shadows!

Publisher's Summary:

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class—and the nobles who destroyed their home.

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand—the Queen’s personal assassins, named after the rings she wears—Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

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Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass  and His Fair Assassin, Mask of Shadows follows gender fluid thief, Sallot Leon on a quest to become Opal, one of the Queen's personal assassins.  Sal must complete feats of cunning and deceit to win the title and use its power toward enacting revenge.

I enjoyed the book and the series as a whole; however, I wish the audiobook had done the story justice.  

Final rating: 3 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Runebinder by Alex R Kahler

*Thank you to Netgalley & Harlequin Teen for an ARC in exchange for a review*

When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind's downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place.

But they are losing...

Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he's become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind.

If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world.

Runebinder is an exciting trip into a post apocolyptic fantasy world steeped in magic, cruel villains and one young man's journey to learn more about himself and his role within this tumultuous new world. Teen readers will find this fast paced with intriguing characters and an identifiable LGBTQ male protagonist. 

Excellent world-building. If I had to find one fault, it would be in some of the transitions. On one hand, the disconnect could mirror the jarring world presented; however, I wanted a bit more fluidity during certain parts.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Hoofprints in Snow by A. M. Burns

Life has been difficult for Maia’s family since her brother, Ramon, had an accident that left him in a wheelchair and her parents lost their jobs. Money is scarce. With no other choice, Maia must surrender her beloved horse, Selena, to a rescue center.  

There she meets Emma, who offers to let her volunteer on the ranch so she can spend time with Selena and the other horses. The girls become close and also devise a plan to help Ramon by suggesting using the horses as a means for physical therapy. Emma and Maia’s friendship turns to attraction; however, these new feelings go against Maia’s family expectations and everything she’s been raised to believe. She struggles with not only her feelings but worries how her family will react.

Emotions and other challenges threaten to derail their relationship before it starts. The narrative becomes a bit cliche with the addition of the homophobic and spiteful suitor, Billy. The character representation of the vengeful, alpha male seeking trouble for unrequited attraction was too stereotypical and had to stomach.

My main criticisms for the book have to do with pacing and plot development.  Thematically, there is great potential but there is A LOT going on:

• Ramon's accident and disability
• Family financial crisis
• Animal abuse
• Relationships
• Family beliefs and obligations
• Friendship
• LGBTQ issues
• Establishing identity

Overall, the pacing felt rushed and the writing a bit choppy with its transitions while trying to tackle all these facets. I would have preferred to see this as a potential series focusing on different characters over time and letting their stories develop. 

Final rating: 2 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On is an ode to Harry Potter.  The main character Simon Snow is the Chosen One much like HP but can't seem to do anything right, failing spells right and left as well as setting things on fire. During his last year a school, his girlfriend has dumped him, there's an evil doppelganger wearing Simon's face, and his nemesis Baz isn't even around to pick a fight.

What can I say? Carry On is the novelization of the Simon and Baz fanfic featured in Rowell's Fangirl. These parts were my least favorite aspect of the aforementioned novel since I preferred the narrative regarding Cather and her development despite the fact that a huge part of her identity was wrapped up as the author of this fan fiction and general fandom.

Regardless for my love of pretty much anything Rowell does, this just wasn't my cup of tea and I found it unnecessary. That being said, for readers who are huge fans of the author or who want a Harry Potter-esque type story that pushes more relationship boundaries then this is for you. There's plenty of magic and fantastic elements plus humor and romance.

Rowell continues to display stellar writing with good plot and interesting, description characters.

Personal rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Story/Character/Writing rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @rainbowrowell





#fangirl #carryon #rainbowrowell #fanfiction #harrypotter #YAlit #teen #books

REVIEW: Luna by Julie Anne Peters

Reagan harbors a secret--that her older brother, Liam, can't stand the person he is during the day.  At night, using Reagan's clothes and makeup, he transforms into Luna, the beautiful girl he can only be behind closed doors in the sanctity of their shared basement.  Tired of hiding her true self, Luna prepares to share her identity with the world but Reagan is fearful of family and friends reactions. Luna is a compelling story about a transgender teen's struggle for self-identity and acceptance.

What makes Luna special is in part its subject matter but also the way in which it is told.  If it had been told from Liam's POV as he embraces his identity as Luna, the story would still be powerful; however, the addition of Reagan as narrator, sharing Luna's journey but also her own adds another level to the prose. The novel is inspiring for multiple readers not only for its themes concerning the transgender community but also for exploring gender roles, friend and family relationships, budding romance and parental expectations.

Luna is certainly deserving of its praise and award nominations and recognition. This is one of those reads that I couldn't put down.  I was captivated by all the characters and easily angered by pretty much all the adults throughout the novel. I admire the authentic voice of the writing and think this should be added to any school or public library collection that it might inspire or provide support for readers experiencing similar situations.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Follow the author on Twitter: @julieannepeters




#selfidentity #Luna #transgender #JulieAnnePeters #YAlit #teen #bookreview

REVIEW: The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

**I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a review. **

I'd heard so much buzz about this book so I was super excited to give it a go.  Imagine a world not all that different from ours.  Climate change is an issue as is constant war among nations and the real fear of regions running out of food and water.  Now, throw in a rogue AI--chalked full of attitude and hell bent on getting humans to stop and pay attention, even if that means blowing up cities and reinstituting archane practices to keep them in line.

Fast forward 400 years...

The world has changed remarkably; however, there is tenuous peace between nations...for the most part because of an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages.  The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.

Greta is an exemplary queen in training.  She excels in her studies and understands her duty should she survive the next 18 months--get married, have a child, be the next queen and send her future children away to keep the peace.  Her obedience is challenged following the death of one of her cohorts and the arrival of Elian--the grandson of the general who is Greta's mother's--Queen Anne--biggest rival.  Greta opens her eyes to the harsh realities of her world and has to make some very difficult choices based on significant events throughout the story.

I really enjoyed The Scorpion Rules.  There's a flare of dystopian but the genre has evolved.  Parts of the story remind me of the Hunger Games, Divergent and the Red Queen all rolled into a beautifully crafted and exciting new literary present. The narrative feels familiar and yet new and futuristic.  The addition of the AI twists and turns makes for an intriguing read.  I'm definitely interested in what is in store for the next installment.  Events during the latter part of the book bring new questions about the nature of the brain, the soul and what it might mean for character development and interaction.  The tone is hopeful with a little kernel acknowledging that a power shift is afoot. 

This is a great read to recommend for ages 14 and up.  I'd probably say age 15 since I think it will take some maturity to really grasp the full depth of the plot.  Another selling point is the appeal for LGBTQ teens. Greta is exploring her sexuality, partly with Elian but also with her roomate, Xie. This modern adaptation of the traditional love triangle trope is long overdue and adds The Scorpion Rules to the list of trending YA titles accessible for a multitude of teen readers.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars



#scorpionrules #erinbow #netgalley #YAlit #LGBTQ #review #dystopian