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2491 reviews
Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess: (A Graphic Novel) by Megan Brennan
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess
Author: Megan Brennan
Book Series: Magic Girls Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: BIPOC characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, fantasy, magical girl
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
Genre: MG Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 8+ (small cartoon violence)
Explanation of Above: There is a small amount of cartoon violence in this book, but nothing graphic and there are no weapons used. The violence consists of magic like plant power and water power being used against one another.
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Pages: 256
Synopsis: Fashionable fights, flashy attacks, and friends that are out of this world! This wacky and funny graphic novel series is a love letter to manga fans. With a tongue in cheek humor and delightfully fun action scenes, this series is perfect for fans of Sailor Moon , Cardcaptor Sakura , and Katie the Catsitter .
There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not.
Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be?
Review: This was just such a fun read! As a fan of magical girl stories, I loved this book about magical girls and how they’re made/what someone who is like Kira would do if they didn’t necessarily fit a specific magical girl criteria (in the book, she’s totally magical girl material in my opinion. She fits right in there with Usagi and Sakura personality wise). I loved how camp it was too! It was such a fun read, perfect for younger MG readers, and I loved all of the illustrations.
The only issue I had with it is that it was a little confusing in the beginning of the book world building wise, but it did make more sense after a bit.
Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend.
Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana
4.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Hope Ablaze
Author: Sarah Mughal Rana
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Diversity: Muslim Pakistani MC, Muslim Pakistani characters, Syrian characters, Christian Syrian character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, poetry
Publication Date: February 27, 2024
Genre: YA Contemporary
Age Relevance: 14+ (religion, racism, islamaphobia, terrorism, police brutality, animal death, violence, gun violence, death)
Explanation of Above: The Islamic religion is shown proudly throughout the book. There are scenes of racism and islamaphobia. Terrorism is mentioned and police brutality is shown and mentioned. There is an animal death mentioned (slaughter of a goat). There are scenes of violence and a shooting is mentioned. There is some death discussed in the book.
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Nida has always been known as Mamou Abdul-Hafeedh’s niece - the poet that will fill her uncle’s shoes after he was wrongfully incarcerated during the war on terror. But for Nida, her poetry letters are her heart and sharing so much of herself with a world that stereotypes her faith and her hijab is not an option. When Nida is illegally frisked at a Democratic Senatorial candidate’s political rally, she writes a scathing poem about the politician, never expecting the letter to go viral weeks before Election Day. Nida discovers her poem has won first place in a national contest, a contest she never entered, and her quiet life is toppled. But worst of all, Nida loses her ability to write poetry. In the aftermath of her win, Nida struggles to balance the expectations of her mother, her uncle, and her vibrant Muslim community with the person she truly wants to be. With a touch of magic and poetry sprinkled throughout, Sarah Mughal Rana's Hope Ablaze is heartbreaking, often funny, and ultimately uplifting, not only celebrating the Islamic faith and Pakistani culture, but simultaneously confronting racism and Islamophobia with unflinching bravery.
Review: This was such a good read. The book revolves around Nida who is following in her uncle’s footsteps of becoming a poet. Following a racist incident led by a political figure, Nida writes a poem about the incident which gets leaked. The book follows Nida as she navigates the insane racism and terrorism following the incident as well as discovering how the poem got leaked. The book was very impactful and honest in showing how the USA treats Muslim citizens. The book features some good poetry as well, so it’s great for people who like slam poetry in books. The book had great world building and character development as well.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was that it was a bit repetitive in places and there were some spots where I was like “eh… is that necessary?”. But overall I did think that the book was good.
Verdict: It was thought provoking. Highly recommend.
Freshman Year by Sarah Mai
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Freshman Year
Author: Sarah Mai
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Side character who has a chronic illness and uses a wheelchair
Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel readers, memoir, college, contemporary
Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Genre: YA Memoir Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 15+ (romance, slight sexual content, 1 HP reference, religion, anxiety, depression)
Explanation of Above: There is some romance and slight sexual content mentioned in the book. There is 1 HP reference in the book in a discussion about separating the art from the artist. There are mentions and showings of Catholicism in the book. Anxiety is also showcased in this book a lot, as well as depression.
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Pages: 288
Synopsis: Everyone gets a fresh start. Who do you want to be? Sarah is leaving suburban Wisconsin for her freshman year in Minnesota. She has high hopes for the impress her professors, meet interesting new people, stay close to her best friends and boyfriend back home, flourish as an artist, and shed her lingering high school anxieties. What seems manageable at first quickly unravels into a Sarah’s high-achieving roommate puts her to shame, her summer love dissolves, and she is quickly overwhelmed by the freedom, the isolation, and all the possibilities that await in this new environment. Based on the author’s personal college journal and comics, Freshman Year navigates the inner workings of an 18-year-old girl in witty, honest, and heartfelt detail. This graduation gift pairs perfectly with OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!. Dr. Seuss's sentimental graduation picture book is beloved, but the one teens really need is Freshman Year. This graphic novel debut shows the places students actually do go—the home goods aisle at Target; lavish libraries; grungy parties off campus; cereal-for-dinner at the dining hall. Whether you’re anxiously looking forward or nostalgically looking back, this is the perfect read for anyone who loves realistic graphic novels about the laughable growing pains of almost-adulthood, like Check, Please! and Bloom .
Review: So I never went away to college. I couldn’t really afford it, so I gave my nana’s address and spent my whole time at university traveling about 40 miles every other day to attend classes. So I didn’t have a typical freshmen year experience (and honestly my time was spent worrying about paying bills at home and getting enough hours but also trying to do homework while traveling at 6am to get to class but then going back home at 10pm at night). Regardless though, there are some universal things that every freshman in college experiences and I felt the author wrote them perfectly in this graphic memoir. The book showcased the anxiety and nerves the author faced when she left her town to go to college and how everything she thought would happen or expected was turned on its head. The book also expertly showcases how overwhelming the freedom to do whatever as an adult is when you are on your own to keep your expectations in place. I liked the artwork, the story was good, and the book made me cringe and feel things even though I’ve been out of school for almost 10 years now.
However, I did feel like the story was a bit scattered at times and that there were some things that I didn’t really see in this book. I felt like this was a more PG showcasing of what college looks like, which is fine and might have been the author’s truth but is certainly not other’s.
Verdict: It was good and I’d recommend it for those who are nervous about college.
DnDoggos: Get the Party Started by Scout Underhill
adventurous
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: DnDoggos: Get the Party Started
Author: Scout Underhill, Liana Sposto
Book Series: DnDoggos Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, fantasy, DND
Publication Date: February 27, 2024
Genre: MG Fantasy Graphic Novel
Age Relevance: 8+ (slight violence)
Explanation of Above: There is slight violence with weapons shown in a DND format.
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 272
Synopsis: Four adorable dogs are tail-waggingly excited to play their favorite role-playing game in Get the Party Started , the middle grade graphic novel debut from online comic creator Scout Underhill.
They've picked their characters and favorite dice, and are ready to set off on the adventure their game master Magnus has created for them.
Pickles, a rough and tumble fighter; Tonka, a playful and fun-loving bard; and Zoey, a wise and caring cleric, are given a quest to fetch a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp. But when they triumphantly return, they soon find that the collar isn't the only thing that has gone missing from Tail's Bend. All the squeaky toys in town have disappeared and Squish, the mayor's young son, has set off on his own to find them.
It's up to the Doggos to rescue Squish, track down the missing toys, and save the day!
Review: As someone who’s played DND and loves the game, I absolutely adored this book. It’s a cute little intro into the world and game in an easy to understand format for little kids. When I started playing DND, I was around 10 years old and my dad was my Dungeon Master. He incorporated things that my cousin (also 10) and I both loved (like Pokemon) into the game to make it more interesting to us and I love that this game did something similar with the chew toys. I think that DND is a great game that teaches kids a multitude of life skills, like how to be a part of a cooperative group and how to creatively problem solve issues. My dad also incorporated math into our sessions because I needed help in that area, and playing the game helped me out with my math grades lol. I also love how the book switched between the game DND and the real life of the dogs, showing how they’re all friends and how they get along outside of the game. This book was an absolutely adorable trip down memory lane for me and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series.
The only thing I will criticize is that the beginning was a bit abrupt. I would have liked to see how the group was formed, but for a middle grader I think going right into the action is a great idea for getting them hooked into the story early on.
Verdict: I love this book so much! Great for DND lovers and parents teaching the game to their littles!
You Are Fearless: A Book for the Littlest Taylor Swift Fans by Odd Dot
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: You Are Fearless
Author: Laura Catrinella
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: children’s book readers, picture book, biography, nonfiction, music, Taylor Swift
Publication Date: February 13, 2024
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Age Relevance: 0+
Explanation of Above: It’s a picture book featuring Taylor Swift and talking a little about her life.
Publisher: Odd Dot
Pages: 32
Synopsis: This uplifting read-aloud is a heartfelt wish for all children and a timeless introduction to the Grammy Award-winning and multi platinum singer and songwriter. YOU ARE FEARLESS presents Taylor Swift’s inspirational journey, encouraging children to be fearless, defy limits, and follow their hearts.
Review: You know that phenomena where people have reported going to The Eras Tour and then coming back out not remembering anything about it and having like kinda a PTSD-memory-loss response because of how overwhelmingly happy they are during it? Yea… I have that with this book. I usually take notes about the book and my only note is “cute little Swiftie book”. So like yea, it’s a cute little Swiftie book! I think it would be a cute little board book to give a Swiftie who’s just had a baby or has a littlie or as a present to a beginning Swiftie… or like just any person who likes Taylor Swift. It’s adorable, it talks a bit about who Taylor Swift is and has a good message about following your passions and defying the odds.
Verdict: I’d read it again =). Highly recommend.
The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Poisons We Drink
Author: Bethany Baptiste
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Black American Sapphic MC, Black American characters, Indian American character, Sapphic character, Non-Binary character
Recommended For...: young adult readers, urban fantasy, fantasy, witches, queer, contemporary
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (police brutality, violence, racism, gun violence, parental death, child death, PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-harm, gore, drugs, underage drinking, language, grief)
Explanation of Above: There are scenes and mentions of police brutality, gun violence, and violence in general. There is one on-page death of a parent and mentions of death of a child. There are moments of PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and forms of self-harm. There is some blood and vomit gore. There are mentions of drugs and underage drinking. There is some strong language. There are also scenes and mentions of racism and racist acts.
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 480
Synopsis: Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her. Then an enemy's iron bullet kills her mother, Venus’s life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother's killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. The cost? Brew poisonous potions to enslave D.C.'s most influential politicians. As Venus crawls deeper into the corrupt underbelly of her city, the line between magic and power blurs, and it's hard to tell who to trust…Herself included.
Review: Oh. My. God. This book was EVERYTHING. I absolutely devoured this read and I can’t wait to re-read it. The book was captivating, the story was just so addicting, and I loved everything about this book. I loved the main characters. I love the mix of witchcraft and the LORE. I usually do not do well with urban fantasy style books because I’m more of a “magic fits better in my mind with medieval style settings” but omg this has made me reevaluate my stance cause this was THAT GOOD. I felt like the background was well set up, the worldbuilding was great, the characters were well developed, and just EVERYTHING. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Like I don’t know how else to say that? Uhh… READ THIS BOOK.
The only thing I would say was a slight ding was some of the pacing here and there was a bit off in places, but other than that I NEED MORE.
Verdict: I loved it. I need more =). Highly recommend.
A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Disclaimer: I got this book from the library. Support your local libraries! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Death-Struck Year
Author: Makiia Lucier
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Italian characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, historical fiction, pandemic, Spanish Flu, Great Influenza Epidemic, survival
Publication Date: January 1, 2014
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Age Relevance: 13+ (death, sickness, pandemic, gore, miscarriage, racism)
Explanation of Above: There is death, especially child death mentioned. There is sickness shown and a pandemic (Spanish Flu/Great Influenza Epidemic) is the focal point of the book. There is some blood and vomit gore shown in the book and a miscarriage is vaguely mentioned. There is also some racism shown.
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Synopsis: For Cleo Berry, the people dying of the Spanish Influenza in cities like New York and Philadelphia may as well be in another country--that's how far away they feel from the safety of Portland, Oregon. And then cases start being reported in the Pacific Northwest. Schools, churches, and theaters shut down. The entire city is thrust into survival mode--and into a panic. Headstrong and foolish, seventeen-year-old Cleo is determined to ride out the pandemic in the comfort of her own home, rather than in her quarantined boarding school dorms. But when the Red Cross pleads for volunteers, she can't ignore the call. As Cleo struggles to navigate the world around her, she is surprised by how much she finds herself caring about near-strangers. Strangers like Edmund, a handsome medical student and war vet. Strangers who could be gone tomorrow. And as the bodies begin to pile up, Cleo can't help but wonder: when will her own luck run out?
Review: Reading this book as we are still in the middle of a pandemic is crazy, but hey I’m Paige and I do weird things so here we go! I absolutely loved this book. The voice was strong, the worldbuilding was amazing, I feel like the book was very well researched from what I know of the 1920s Flu Epidemic, and I loved all of the book. I devoured this book in almost one sitting and I would read more if the author wrote more. The book did so well to convey the horrors of the pandemic in this book that I thought the book was surely wrote in 2020 or 2021, but nope it was wrote in 2014! What a fortune-telling read it was for me honestly.
The only issue I had with the book is that the ending was a little too neat, but this is more suitable for younger YA readers, so I give it a pass on that.
Verdict: I have a weird interest in historic pandemics now. Highly recommend.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: My husband lent me this book to read. All opinions are my own.
Book: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, magical realism, grief
Publication Date: May 5, 2011
Genre: MG Magical Realism
Age Relevance: 9+ (grief, sickness, cancer, bullying, parental death, blood)
Explanation of Above: The book deals with a parent dying of cancer and exploring how the MC, who is her child, dealing with her sickness and his grief processing. There are scenes of bullying and some blood. There is also parental death shown.
Publisher: Walker Books
Pages: 237
Synopsis: Conor has the same dream every night, ever since his mother first fell ill, ever since she started the treatments that don't quite seem to be working. But tonight is different. Tonight, when he wakes, there's a visitor at his window. It's ancient, elemental, a force of nature. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.
Review: This was so heartbreakingly beautiful. I loved every second of this book and I can’t wait to see the movie. The book was something that I was kind of afraid to read at first, but one I go back to mentally whenever I am dealing with a lot of hard things. Recently, but after I read this book, I lost two pets. One of them was a childhood pet, the other was my husband’s childhood pet. And I felt like because I had read this book that it really helped me process those deaths very well. If you also know me well, you know that my papaw suffered with various forms of cancer for years before his death to liver cancer. That’s one of the main reasons I don’t read a lot of books where there is cancer involved, it’s become a really bad trigger for me. However, this book has started to help me process that and I’m getting better from it mentally. Anyways, about the book now lol The book was absolutely amazing. I loved how the book personified death and grief and there were definite distinct stages through the stories told to the boy. Story 1 was denial and anger, Story 2 was destruction, Story 3 was isolation, and Story 4 was letting go. This perfectly ties into the 5 stages of grief (denial (story 1), anger (story 1), bargaining (story 2), depression (story 3), and acceptance(story 4)). I also loved how the Yew Tree representing healing and grief… because there is grief in healing and healing in grief. They are unfortunately and fortunately tied together. I don’t think I could have thought up a better story and I hope this is one that future generations keep reaching for.
The only small issue I had was that I felt like an epilogue could have been good, but I know why there isn’t one. Because our stories aren’t written after grief, it’s our own to make.
Verdict: Yes. I cried. Highly recommend.
So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: So Let Them Burn
Author: Kamilah Cole
Book Series: Divine Traitors book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: BIPOC Jamaican inspired MCs, Sapphic MC, Sapphic side character, Black characters, Gay/Achillan side characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, dragons, mythology, Jamaican mythology
Publication Date: January 16, 2024
Genre: YA Fantasy
Age Relevance: 14+ (language, violence, war, anxiety and panic attacks, racism, racial slurs, slavery, genocide, colonialism, PTSD)
Explanation of Above: There is some strong language in the book. There are scenes and mentions of violence, war, genocide, colonialism, and PTSD. There are scenes with anxiety and panic attacks. There is some racism and racial slurs said. There are mentions of slavery.
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Pages: 400
Synopsis: Faron Vincent can channel the power of the gods. Five years ago, she used her divine magic to liberate her island from its enemies, the dragon-riding Langley Empire. But now, at seventeen, Faron is all powered up with no wars to fight. She’s a legend to her people and a nuisance to her neighbors. When she’s forced to attend an international peace summit, Faron expects that she will perform tricks like a trained pet and then go home. She doesn’t expect her older sister, Elara, forming an unprecedented bond with an enemy dragon—or the gods claiming the only way to break that bond is to kill her sister. As Faron’s desperation to find another solution takes her down a dark path, and Elara discovers the shocking secrets at the heart of the Langley Empire, both must make difficult choices that will shape each other’s lives, as well as the fate of their world.
Review: This book. THIS BOOK. Oh. My. God. I loved it so so so so so so much!!! This book is an amazing Jamaican inspired mythology with DRAGONS. The story is so well done and I loved how the book starts in the middle of a storyline, with the MCs having already faced a previous war and had all of this past storyline stuff. The story also did well to discuss war, especially how bad colonialism is and the repercussions of it. It also, most importantly, discussed genocide. The worldbuilding was also phenomenal and I can’t wait to read the second book and reread this one.
The only thing I can fault the book for is that it did feel a little rushed, but other than that it was amazing and I’m already excited to read it again.
Verdict: I love it! Highly recommend!
A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft
2.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: A Fragile Enchantment
Author: Allison Saft
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 2/5
Diversity: Gay side character, Bisexual MC, Chronic Illness rep MC, Sapphic side characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, romantasy, historical fiction
Publication Date: January 2, 2024
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Age Relevance: 14+ (war, death, language, alcohol consumption, alcoholism, homophobia, classism, romance, drugs, child abuse, anxiety attack, panic attack, poverty)
Explanation of Above: There are mentions of war and death. There is some strong language used. There are scenes of alcohol consumption and mentions of alcoholism. Homophobia is shown and mentioned, especially the parental disownment of a gay secondary character. Classism is shown as well as poverty. Romance is shown throughout the book. There are very vague mentions of drugs. There are mentions of child abuse. There are “on-screen” anxiety and panic attacks.
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Pages: 373
Synopsis: Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland. But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible. Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.
Review: This was a decent read. I liked the story of it and all of the Bridgerton-like feels of it. The romance was cute and I felt like if the book was worked a bit longer the story would have been really strong. The worldbuilding was good and it only felt like it could get better.
However, I didn’t like this one. I struggled so hard through it and I hope maybe it’s just because I had an e-arc. The structure was a mess and the worldbuilding was lacking. The ending was confusing and unsatisfying. I feel like the author focused more on the romance, which was definitely the stronger point of the book, and completely just sacrificed the story for it. The book could have been so good, but it just left me really disappointed.
Verdict: I wanted more, but didn’t get it. But maybe it’ll leave you satisfied.