This was a really cute read! I loved the art style and thought it matched the vibe of the book perfectly. The storyline was intriguing and I enjoyed learning more about the coven of witches and the vampire clan. All of the characters were interesting but my favourites were definitely Morgana and Oz, their scenes together were really fun! The ending left me wanting more and I'm excited to read the next volume!
Content Warnings: violence, death, grief, torture, death of a parent
Prelude of Fire has a lot of rich world-building and initial buildup to the main quest. The world felt fleshed out as if it could be a real place. There was also a wide variety of characters and different kinds of magical creatures that were interesting to learn about. The characters were my favourite aspect of the book, I enjoyed learning about their backstories and how they came together to be part of the team. Unfortunately, the plot was a bit repetitive which took away from my enjoyment. However, the writing style utilized imagery very well and instantly transported me into the settings.
This book is romantasy in full force! The world-building was intriguing and immediately transported me into a dark and dangerous kingdom. The idea of a trial involving subjects from different areas of the kingdom reminded me of The Hunger Games and the intensity of the trials did not disappoint. There was a lot of action and interesting fight scenes that were nicely balanced with slower character developing scenes. I liked how we followed Paedyn, one of the few magicless people in this world where magic is everything. That said, the magical powers of each of the main and side characters were intriguing to learn about and seemed to fit their personalities perfectly. I enjoyed how Paedyn and Kai each grew and developed throughout this first book. I only wish that we got to see their relationships with the side characters develop more. Before reading this book I had heard a lot about the great enemies-to-lovers romance and it did not disappoint! It was one of the few romantasies I've read lately where the main characters are actually enemies in terms of politics and worldviews. The banter and tension were great and the slow-burn romance was paced perfectly. We're left with an intense cliffhanger ending so I am very intrigued to see what will happen next and to explore other parts of the kingdom. I recommend Powerless to fans of The Hunger Games and the enemies-to-lovers trope!
Another great instalment of the City Spies series! In this book, we followed the team on a mission to protect a young climate activist. There were definitely some tense moments and action-packed plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Similar to the rest of the series, the writing was fast-paced and full of humour which grabbed my attention right away. We also had some great character development. I loved getting to see how Cairo integrated into the team and got to learn more about being a spy. Along with Cairo, Rio was a main focus in Mission Manhattan. His humour and determination were (as always) fun to read about and I loved getting to see him shine, especially when mentoring Cairo. All in all, a great read! I can't wait for the next book in the series!
Once again, James Ponti does not miss with another continuation of this exciting series filled with loveable characters, high-speed chases, and wholesome found family vibes!
This book was filled with plot twists! I loved the action and I was surprised at every turn. The writing style was easy to follow, with a great balance of dialogue and character development. The magic system was intriguing and felt unique. Unfortunately, I was a bit confused with the world-building and would have liked more information at the beginning. However, I enjoyed watching the characters grow as the story progressed. I especially liked reading about Tamsin and her emotional journey towards learning to let people into her life. The found family aspect was perfect and the side characters were all intriguing. The romance was also exciting, with great banter. Fans of rivals to lovers with a twist will definitely like this one. The action-packed cliffhanger ending left me super excited for the sequel!
I loved this book! I binged it in one day and enjoyed every minute of it. The characters were engaging and grabbed my attention right away. They all had intricately planned out relationships and personalities, they felt as if they were real people. Wyn was a favourite of mine because of how relatable she was. I loved her determination and admired her dedication to achieving her goals. Her journey towards finding her voice and learning self-love was inspiring. Also, her relationship with Three was so much fun to read about! If you love the rivals-to-lovers trope with banter you need to pick up this book! The writing style flowed nicely and made it hard to put down! The plot was engaging and had me on the edge of my seat, excited for what would happen next. I can’t wait to read more of Samantha’s work in the future. This is definitely one of my favourite books I’ve read in 2024.
This was a sweet story about growing up and all of the troubles that go along with it. My favourite part of this book was the character development. It was great to see the growth that each kid went through and how they changed as they learned more about each other. There was a bit of miscommunication, but it was needed for the story to progress. I enjoyed that this book not only focused on how relationships with friends change as you get older but also on how family relationships change. We got to explore how Eve and Andrew were impacted by what was happening at home and how it translated into their reactions. The writing style was fast and easy to follow, making this a quick read. Not If You Break Up With Me First is a story of growing up, changing friendships, and figuring out what it means to feel pressured by those around you.
Angie Thomas’ middle-grade debut is filled with adventure, action, and magical creatures! I enjoyed learning about the world of the Remarkables and their history. The plot was fast-paced and action-packed. All throughout we got to meet intriguing new characters and learn more about their myths and legends. The characters, especially Nic, were interesting to read about and added a great balance of humour and determination. There were a lot of great plot twists that kept me guessing, and the writing style was easy to follow. I listened to the audiobook and I definitely recommend it, the narrator does a great job of bringing the characters to life. All in all, a fun read and I’m excited to see what happens in book 2!
I had so much fun reading this book! There was action at every turn but it was also well balanced with slower and calmer scenes scattered throughout. As soon as I thought I knew which direction the plot was headed, it would suddenly change and go in an entirely different one than I was anticipating. It was so exciting! I also really enjoyed reading about our main character Will. He was relatable and very funny, making him a perfect character to narrate this story. The writing style was very easy to follow and even used some older words like betwixt instead of between to immerse you even more into the time period. I’ve saved so many great quotes while reading, there were a lot of lines that stood out to me. I liked the ending but there were a few open-ended plot points which I’d love to see explored in a sequel. I listened to the audiobook version which I’d definitely recommend! The narrator did a fantastic job bringing these dynamic characters to life. Filled with action, adventure, romance, and betrayal, By Any Other Name will grab ahold of your attention and refuse to let go.
Content Warnings: homophobia, mention of domestic violence
This book definitely felt like summer! With a summery setting and exciting events, we follow Mac’s friend group through fun adventures. I enjoyed the commentary on toxic friendships and how difficult they can be. I appreciated the gradual progression in the discussion and how both sides were considered. This book was very much character-driven. There were some key plot points and actions however, we mostly focused on Mac’s development with his friend group. At times, I wish that the plot were a bit more fast-paced to keep the energy going. Throughout the course of the book, Mac gradually grows into the version of himself that he’s meant to be. It was heartwarming to follow along as he discovered what was important to him and the kind of person he wanted to be. All in all, Hot Boy Summer is centred around friendship, loyalty, and belonging.