Review: The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey

There is a side to the world that we do not see. Seventeen-year-old Echo doesn’t just see it—she lives and breathes in it. The problem? The ancient beings of this underworld have been at war for centuries, and Echo is thrown into the middle of the fighting when she is sent to find the mysterious firebird, which will end the conflict for good.

While some books have hooks on the first page, The Girl at Midnight has a hook that begins with the prologue and doesn’t let go until the last word. The characters are complex, the plot well developed, and the twists placed perfectly to pull readers deeper into the world of Avicens and Drakharins. The emotions that Grey was able to portray in this book are so real and profound that readers themselves will feel them alongside the characters. The best part is that the sequel Shadow Hour will be released later this summer!

The Girl at Midnight. Melissa Grey. Delacorte Press. April 2015.

368 pages. 14 and up. Order Here!

And once you finish, go back and pre-order Shadow Hour, which will be released July 12, 2016. Pre-Order Here! 

Review: Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

When I was a little girl, my mother had a rule about books: you had to read thirty pages before deciding you didn’t like it, because a bad beginning didn't necessarily mean a bad book. Hunter by Mercedes Lackey is the reason I still follow her rule. While the first two chapters are slow and overwhelming with information, the rest of the book makes up for it by being jam-packed with mystery, magic, romance, and scheming. 

Set in a dystopian America that is under attack by mythical beings, Hunters are magic wielders that protect the innocents from the monsters outside—or that’s what Joy Charmand thought.  Written in a first person story-teller narrative, Joy explains everything she does and every thought that passes through her head as she learns her way around her new city, but things only getting more complicate. By the end of the book, readers will be completely involved in the story, and will want to know what will happen next. The only bad news? No sequel has been announced yet…. but there is still time!

Hunter. Mercedes Lackey. Hyperion. September 2015. 384 pages. $17.99 Order Here!

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Having survived all the terrors that the Fae world has thrown at her, Fayre finally gets to settle into eternity with the man she loves—or that’s what she expected. Delving into complex feelings of guilt, posttraumatic stress, and self-discovery A Court of Mist and Fury will bring readers to their knees as Fayre learns to stand by herself. Highlords Tamlin and Rhysand take centerstage, not only pushing the plot forward but in helping Fayre discover who she wants to be. 

Fans of Maas, and of high fantasy in general, will love this series and beg for more. On a personal level, I read this book twice within two days—I finished it, and just had to have more. The writing is so beautiful that readers will forget where they are, and begin to believe that the characters are real. The ending was the perfect balance of shock, humor, and what can only be described as excitement. Next year can’t come quick enough!

A Court of Mist and Fury. Sarah J Maas. Bloomsbury. May 2016.

640 pages. $18.99. Order Here!

To get in on the action from page one, buy A Court of Thorns and Roses here for only $10.99 (it is worth every penny, trust me!) 

Review: Dark Shimmer by Donna Jo Napoli

Dark Shimmer by Donna Jo Napoli follows the path of her previous works: a beloved tale placed in a new setting, with logic and reasoning that has ever been added to classic stories in such an effective way. Dolce is a young woman with a troubled childhood and large heart: this combination leads to love and family, heartache and madness. As Napoli spins the tale, the reader will be on the brink of their seats, understanding what is going to happen next but wishing that they could change it. Overall, this was an enjoyable, light read that any fan fairytales would fall head first into.

Dark Shimmer. Donna Jo Napoli. Wendy Lamb Books. September 2015. 368 Pages. $16.99 Order Here!

Review: The Legacy of Kings, by Eleanor Herman

Travel back in time to Ancient Greece, where Prince Alexander of Macedonia is just beginning to take on the role of leader. In an age where the Gods have become myths, Alex and the various people in his life begin to explore the past and what it means to possess magic in a world where magic has begun to disappear. With enemies closing in in all directions, Legacy of Kings weaves a story so intricate that readers will have a hard time putting it down.

Above all else, this story is not finished; the multitude of characters makes it hard for readers to connect, and the first-person writing can seem awkward at first. Never fear though—it is the first book in a series! By the end, readers will be so engrossed in the plot and mystery that they will immediately beginning searching for the sequel. Fans of magic, mystery, and history will rejoice in this epic tale of Alexander the Great’s beginning.

Legacy of Kings. Eleanor Herman. Harlequin Teen. August 2015.

432 pages. $19.99

Order Here!

Review: Banished by Kimberly Griffithes Little

Picking up just after the end of Forbidden, Banished is the sequel that fans have longed for. In the deserts of ancient Mesopotamia, star-crossed teens Jayden and Kadesh make their fight to be together into an epic adventure that spans across the Arabian Peninsula. Along the way, secrets are revealed and betrayal is around every corner.

History buffs will be delighted in the factual description of the ancient world, while fantasy lovers will enjoy the subtleties of magic woven into the world. Readers will definitely want to explore Forbidden first, but every page is used masterfully to completely submerge readers. At the end, the only question will be: where is book three?

Banished. Kimberly Griffithes Little. HarperCollins. February 2016. 416 pages. $17.99.

Order Here!

And for the first part of the adventure, order Forbidden here.