Kat B., 12The Fox Maidens is an amazing graphic novel set hundreds of years ago, but real-world issues are still acknowledged in this heart-wrenching book by Robin Ha. It quickly took a turn from a fairly realistic story about a girl who wants to fight to an epic action-packed novel filled with love, anger, and hope. My only criticism of this book is that it packed a ton of action into the end of the book, and it seemed rushed. If all of the action at the end hadn’t been squeezed into one chapter, the book would’ve been a 5 star read. All in all, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone who likes mythology, feminism, and action. I really enjoyed this book and hope that others do as well. REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2023). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Goodreads [Cover Images, Genre/Themes, and Read-alikes]. (2023). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ Kat B. (2023, November). Teen Review. Libby (Overdrive) Catalog. (2023). Retrieved from: https://libbyapp.com/library/cin NoveList Plus [Referenced for Read-alikes]. (2023). Retrieved from: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10778912&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Robin Ha [Author's Official Website]. (2022). Retrieved from: https://robinha81.wixsite.com/robinha
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Anna M., 17 Last of the Talons by Sophie Kim is a tale about conviction and injustice. The author thrusts the readers into a magical world made up of Korean mythology as the story follows a young woman of the name Shin Lina who unwillingly becomes a thief and assassin for a crime lord in her city of Sunpo. Her younger sister’s life lies in the hands of the crime lord who threatens to have her killed to ensure Shin Lina’s loyalty. One day she is forced to steal an irreplaceable tapestry made by the Dokkaebi, mythical beings much like gods, and ends up being taken by one and led into the world of the Dokkaebi. In order to be released by the emperor of the Dokkaebi and achieve freedom she has to win a hopeless wager. Set against impossible odds Shin Lina rises to the challenge to save her sister and herself from a past that still haunts her. Immediately as the first scene begins the readers are thrown into an action filled plot with a female lead that is imposing and witty. I was drawn to how Shin Lina has true depth to her character and is constantly riddled with conflicting thoughts and motives behind every move. She felt real despite being in a fantasy world. The story goes beyond just being another YA fantasy/romance novel ultimately forming a plot you would not have predicted from the start. Throughout the story there are twists and turns that keep the reader engaged the entire time with no stop to the action and tension building up. It was a fantastic read that kept me thoroughly engaged and eager to know what happens next as it progressed. I recommend this novel to people who enjoy the YA fantasy genre and are looking for a fresh new world to dip their toes in and a strong female lead. The ending is a promise for another book in the series and personally I can’t wait to pick it up and unravel new mysteries. ReFERENCES
Anna M. (2022, July). Teen Review. CIN Catalog. (2022). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Goodreads [Cover Images, Genre/Themes, and Read-alikes]. (2022). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ Overdrive Catalog. (2022). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/ Sophie Kim Writes [Author's Official Website]. (2022). Retrieved from: https://www.sophiekimwrites.com/
Loren F., 184/5 Stars Synopsis: In Ilvernath, seven major families battle for dominance over powerful high magick, with each one more brutal and cunning than the next. Every twenty years, during the Blood Moon, each family sets forth a champion to compete in a tournament to the death. But this time around -- the champions of this year's tournament are done playing by the same old rules. As they build alliances and face painful betrayals; the truth behind the cursed Blood Veil and its tournament begins to unravel...and it is twisted and darker than you could imagine. The Hunger Games + dark magic + incredible storytelling? Sign me up! This book had it all, a truly unique magic system, extremely well-written characters with depth and fascinating backstories, and a fast-paced writing style that kept me engaged the whole way through. Each chapter was told from the different POV of each main character (all while staying in the third person narrative) which really allowed us to see into the minds and hearts of each character and learn more about their struggles, fears, and desires. I also really enjoyed how the authors' writing styles seemed to blend together seamlessly, all while telling a compelling and creative story. Merciless, dark, and intriguing; "All Of Us Villains" is the perfect blend of suspense, excitement, and mystery that will leave you yearning for more. With shocking twists and a ton of "OMG" moments, I can definitely say this is one of my favorite reads of the year, and will surely be a huge hit when it is officially released. I can't wait for the sequel, as this book definitely ends on a bit of a cliffhanger! --- For more book reviews from Loren, checkout her Instagram: @reading.with.frances! REFERENCES
Amanda Foody [Author's Official Website]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.amandafoody.com/ CIN Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Goodreads [Cover Images, Genre/Themes, and Read-alikes]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ Loren F. (2021, July). Teen Review. Overdrive Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/
Hannah H., 17The Gilded Ones, by Namina Forna, is a tale of bravery, friendship, and love combined into a page-turning fantasy novel. Our protagonist, Deka, has been brought up to believe certain ideas her entire life, and having red-blood to be pure is one of many. But when the blood ceremony comes (a ritual to test the purity of the village girls) Deka’s blood oozes a deep golden hue, making her impure. Deka’s execution shortly follows, but in a surprising turn of events her final end does not come. This sparks her new life full of unimaginable pain, adventure, and self-discovery. What sort of creature has she developed into-- one so powerful as to hinder death? Although this work has an action-based storyline that truly draws the reader in, what stood out to me in Forna’s writing was Deka’s journey in developing herself. She comes from the harshest situation, and with the help of mentors and friends, Deka turns into the greatest warrior of them all. But underneath the glory and honor, there is just a feeling that doesn’t make sense in our main-character's mind. The monsters, called Deathshrieks, that her team specializes in killing, seem to know something about Deka that she doesn’t know about herself. What piece of the puzzle is she missing in her bizarre new life of battle? In all, I truly recommend this amazing fantasy novel to anyone in the teen audience. The only negative review of this work is that I wish it was longer, for the ending could have been stretched out for more suspense. Nevertheless, it’s page-turning and action-packed chapters truly immerse you into Deka’s world. I have spent many hours reading this novel, not even realizing the time that has passed. Thank you for reading this review, and I hope that you take the time to explore The Gilded Ones! REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Book Club Discussion Questions. (2021, June). Usborne. Retrieved from: https://usborne.com/media/book_club_notes/bookclubqs-thegildedones.pdf Goodreads [Cover Images]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ Hannah H. (2021, June). Teen Review. Namina Forna [Author's Official Website]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://naminaforna.com/ NoveList Plus: The Gilded Ones [Genre/Themes and Read-alikes]. (2021). Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10892051&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Overdrive Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/
Hannah H., 16A Peculiar Peril, by Jeff VanderMeer, fills the readers’ head with an oddly wonderful tale full of heroics and friendship. When Jonathan Lambshead first steps onto the eerie estate that he has inherited from his late grandfather, this young man suspects that something unusual is afoot. Abnormal and mysterious, the strange house hides more than just oddities. A hidden world known as the Aurora has been unlocked for Jonathan and his friends through this mansion, and what adventures and evils will they unearth? From talking vegetables and animals to incomprehensible threats, this novel is truly a page-turner and, at times, rather frightening. Incredibly lengthy--yet satisfying, VanderMeer’s two-part work provides an excellent story line, but some chapters definitely don’t add much to the overall arch of the book. Overall, this tale was a horrifying treat to read, and I would recommend it to any teen with a taste for fantasy, science-fiction, or horror stories. REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Goodreads [Cover Images]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ Hannah H. (2021, March). Teen Review. Jeff VanderMeer [Author's Official Website]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.jeffvandermeer.com/ NoveList Plus: A Peculiar Peril [Genre/Themes and Read-alikes]. (2021). Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10903117&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Overdrive Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/
Teen Review by Skye B., 17Hood by Jenny Moke is a creative and interesting retelling of the classic folktale, Robin Hood, with the main character not being Robin himself, but his unknown daughter. Isabelle, daughter of Marien, has only known the small struggling town of Kirklees and the convent her entire life, until one day, when trying to defend the innocent, she is arrested. Trapped and lonely, her mother rescues her and sends her into the woods with only a name and a singular message “Tell him the Wolf has returned.” And so, her journey begins as she flees the royal soldiers and uncovers her heritage little by little. Finding herself with new friends and companions, she learns of King John’s neglect of his people as she travels to find her father. Moke’s telling of Robin Hood with a female lead definitely makes this book stand out from the rest of the folktales that are told time and time again. I enjoyed that Hood is a separate story from the original Robin Hood, and instead of writing the exact same story, Moke writes Hood from the perspective of Robin Hood’s teenage daughter. Unfortunately, something that took away from the experience is that Isabelle and her group are almost always traveling in the book, making it hard to connect to the scenery and generate the feeling of a well-rounded book. While this was a portion of Hood I personally didn’t enjoy, it really depends on a reader's own tastes, as someone else may very well enjoy it! I would recommend Hood to younger teenagers who enjoy fantasy, adventure, and the classic Robin Hood tale. Read-alikes REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Disney Books [Official Discussion Guide]. (2020). Retrieved from: https://books.disney.com/book/hood/ Goodreads [Cover Images]. (2021). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ NoveList Plus: Hood [Genre/Themes and Read-alikes]. (2020). Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10899997&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Overdrive Catalog. (2021). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/ Skye B. (2021, March). Teen Review.
Teen Review by Skye B., 17Roseanne A. Brown tells a rich tale of two radically different characters and their intertwined stories in A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, a story of family, magic, strange creatures, and deep history. The story begins with Malik, a young man who has faced many difficulties in life and is ripe with anxiety. We not only follow Malik’s nervous journey to save a loved one, full of twists and turns surprising both the reader and Malik himself, but we’re also introduced to Karina, the Crown Princess of Ziran. Unlike Malik, Karina is born into luxury, yet her life has been full of grief and loss, despite being surrounded by constant wealth. We follow their intertwined story over the span of one single week in which Solstasia takes place, one of the most important festivals to the Kingdom of Ziran, only occurring every 45 years. Each day is packed with a different celebration meant to honor the gods, but the main event of them all is the champion competition. The only thing Malik and Karina have in common is their desire to save a loved one, both of them willing to do anything, even murder another human being. Brown does an amazing job of creating characters with complex personalities and deep family histories. I find Malik the most interesting character, and personally one of my favorites, as he is a main character full of anxiety, something we don’t often see in the fantasy genre. This makes Malik feel more real and relatable as the reader sees how he experiences the same problems we do in real life. Not only does Brown create relatable characters, but she also creates the world of Sonande, which is full of lore, kingdoms, and different languages. This aspect made the book especially fascinating to me, as the world Brown has created is so well thought out that I still want to learn more about it. Additionally, this is Brown’s first book ever published and is inspired by Northern and Western African mythology. There were many times I had to look up a certain creature or aspect of folklore, and in reading this book I truly feel like I was pushed to learn more. I would definitely recommend A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown to anyone that enjoys fantasy fiction, as it tells quite the memorable story. Personally, I can’t wait for the next book to be published! Read-alikes REFERENCES
CIN Catalog. (2020). Retrieved from: https://catalog.cin.bywatersolutions.com/ Goodreads [Cover Images]. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.goodreads.com/ NoveList Plus: Displacement [Genre/Themes and Read-alikes]. (2020). Retrieved from: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,shib&db=neh&tg=UI&an=10896181&site=novp-live&custid=s5664038 Overdrive Catalog. (2020). Retrieved from: https://cin.overdrive.com/ Roseanne A. Brown [Author's Official Website]. (2020). Retrieved from: https://roseanneabrown.com/ Skye B. (2020, September). Teen Review. |
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