Book Review: "The Book Witch" by Meg Shaffer

“All stories are love stories if you love stories.”

Even before I descended into a constant pit of despair about what’s going on in our country, I always loved when books I read had elements of magical realism. Some of my favorite authors create these storylines so masterfully, including Meg Shaffer. Her newest book was one I eagerly anticipated given how much I enjoyed her two previous books.

Rainy March is a Book Witch, like her mother and grandfather before her. Book Witches are responsible for protecting books and their characters from those who wish to do them harm. She jumps in and out of books, saving them from book burners, rogue villains, and the occasional character who goes on the lam.

Book Witches follow a strict code of rules. Real people belong in the real world, fictional characters belong in works of fiction. They’re never supposed to tell the characters that they’re not real people. The biggest no-no? Falling in love with a fictional character.

Rainy has some trouble with the last rule. She is in love with the Duke of Chicago, a handsome British detective who is the lead character in her favorite mystery series. She keeps getting reprimanded from pulling Duke into reality, but when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, Rainy needs Duke to help her solve the mystery. But the lines between reality and fiction are blurrier than she realizes.

The concept of this book really made me smile. Who wouldn’t want to help their favorite literary characters and protect the books they love? At times things got a little confusing for me, but in the end, the story warmed my heart.

Book Review: "The Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping" by Sangu Mandanna

I’ve been waiting for this book for a while!! I absolutely loved Sangu Mandanna’s previous book, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, and this book has been on my eagerly anticipated list for quite some time. The good news is, it was as sweet and charming as I hoped it’d be.

“…when you hold tight to the little magic you find, when years go by and the world loses much of its colour and still you refuse to forget the magic, magic will go out of its way to show you that it remembers you too.”

Sera was a powerful young witch in the UK. But when she used her power to bring her beloved aunt Jasmine back from the (relatively recent) dead, she loses most of her magic. To make matters worse, her actions cause her to run afoul of the British Guild of Sorcery and is exiled.

Now she assists Jasmine with running her family’s dilapidated inn. It is enchanted, so the inn is only visible to those who need it, and the magic within it is fairly unpredictable. But the inn is mostly home to guests who’ve become lodgers—and quite an odd crew at that.

When Sera finds out that there is an ancient spell that could help restore her magic, she desperately wants to figure it out. And when Luke, a magical historian who studies ancient languages, arrives at the inn, his no-nonsense attitude both irritates and entices Sera. He can’t wait to leave the inn but yet is compelled to stay, and much to his surprise, agrees to help her with her spell.

I love stories of chosen family, and this book grabbed hold of my heart. The supporting characters are wacky (there’s even a zombie rooster), and I love anything with a dash of magic. Mandanna is such a wonderful storyteller!

Book Review: "A Sky Full of Dragons" by Tiffany McDaniel

I was lucky enough to win a giveaway for this book! I don’t normally read middle-grade fiction but I love a good fantasy, plus I’ve been a fan of Tiffany McDaniel since her debut novel, The Summer That Melted Everything.

Spella was found in a cauldron one night by a witch known as Aunt Cauldroneyes, because of her ability to find almost anything in a cauldron. She raises Spella as her own, and teaches the girl how to make magical hats for all sorts of creatures.

When Spella turns 8, she gets an invitation to attend school at Dragon’s Knob, famous for teaching wizards and witches. But when Aunt Cauldroneyes is kidnapped (swallowed, actually), it’s up to Spella and her classmates to figure out what happened.

There are so many themes I love in this book—found family, friendships, finding your place and purpose, bravery, and, of course, magic. McDaniel’s storytelling is so hypnotizing, and I’d imagine it will resonate so much with anyone who loves magic.

I’m so grateful for the giveaway win and you can bet I’m ready for the next book in this series!

Book Review: "Somewhere Beyond the Sea" by TJ Klune

I never thought there would be a sequel to one of my most favorite books, The House in the Cerulean Sea. Having the opportunity to read the first few chapters thanks to Tor Books and NetGalley, I couldn’t wait for the whole book. And now, with happy tears running down my cheeks, I’m sad that the book is done.

When Arthur Parnassus was growing up, he was punished for being different. Yet instead of wallowing in his pain and sadness, he returned to Marsyas Island to create a new orphanage for magical children, where he once suffered. The six children he and his partner Linus are raising are each unique and have beautiful souls, and he hopes to officially adopt them.

One day, he is summoned by the government to tell the story of his trauma. Yet they aren’t interested in making amends; they want to keep all magical people separate and following “regular” rules, hiding what makes them special. And the government will stop at nothing to take one—or all—of the children away.

As much as Arthur and Linus should be afraid, they also know that they are raising their children to be brave, kind, loving, and more than a bit mischievous. And when a new young man comes to live with them, he teaches them a thing or two as well.

“This was hope; the children, love letters to a future that had yet to be decided. Yes, Arthur thought as Sal grinned shyly, hope was the thing with feathers, but it was also in the hearts and minds of those who believed all was not lost, no matter the odds.”

I felt like this book was particularly relevant at a time when some seek to divide us and tell the LGBTQIA+ community they need to be different than they are. Yet the answer isn’t necessarily violence; it’s meeting obstacles with conviction, courage, and love.

TJ Klune is one of my favorite authors and this book is another powerful example why. It’s a book about love, courage, overcoming trauma, the power of family and friends, and it is populated with some of the most incredible characters. This was a home run all the way.

Book Review: "The Lost Story" by Meg Shaffer

Sometimes books make me tear up or cause me to get emotional. Sometimes they make me sob, and at times it’s happy sobbing. Meg Shaffer’s newest book had me happy sobbing really hard. I am in love with this book.

Jeremy and Rafe were best friends. They were pretty much inseparable. One day while on a class trip to Red Crow State Forest in West Virginia, the two boys go missing. Search parties comb every inch of the forest but the boys were never found. And then six months later, hikers find the boys, who have no memory of where they were.

Fifteen years later, Jeremy makes a living finding and rescuing missing girls and women. Rafe is more of a recluse, a talented artist, who bears physical and emotional scars from his time in the Forest. They haven’t seen each other since the days following their rescue.

One day, a young woman named Emilie finds Jeremy and asks for his help to find her older sister, who went missing from the same forest years before. Jeremy believes that Emilie’s sister is still alive, but they’ll need to return to the forest—and they’ll need Rafe to join them.

Jeremy knows where Emilie’s sister is because when he and Rafe were lost 15 years ago, they actually found themselves in a magical kingdom, where Rafe was a prince and Jeremy was a knight. But only Jeremy remembers those days, while Rafe thinks those memories are just dreams. It’s time for the truth to be revealed, for the once-lost boys to come to terms with memories and feelings they’ve kept secret.

I honestly cannot say enough about how much I loved this story. It’s a bit of a fantasy, but it’s also a beautiful story about love, friendship, blood and chosen family, and coming to terms with things we’ve kept hidden. I will read anything that Meg Shaffer writes!!

Book Review: "The Emperor and the Endless Palace" by Justinian Huang

“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

Justinian Huang’s debut novel was my pick for our book club this month. A romantasy—which isn’t a genre I’ve read much of—that dealt with the idea of soulmates through time, it definitely provoked some interesting conversation.

The book alternates among three different narratives.

Dong Xian is a court clerk in the Endless Palace in the year 4 BCE. He wants to make something of himself, so when he is offered the chance to befriend and seduce the young emperor, he agrees. He does not count on the intrigue that surrounds him, or the one who wants to stop him.

In 1740, He Shican is an innkeeper who welcomes a handsome guest and his grandmother, who is very ill. Summoning his friend and former lover, a doctor, to help the guests, He doesn’t know what forces he is awakening.

In current-day Los Angeles, River, recently out of the closet, goes to a circuit party with a friend of his. There he meets Joey, a handsome man, whom he is immediately drawn to. Yet both have a feeling they know each other from somewhere, and River’s determination to find Joey again brings him up against a corrupt businessman.

This is a beautifully written book, although the few sex scenes were very odd for me, distracting me from the rest of the story. The ending was a bit abrupt and I don’t know if I made every connection between the three stories, but I was drawn in to the story.

Book Review: "A Curse of Scales and Flame" by Max Walker

It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy (and even longer since I’ve read an M/M one), but when a guy I thirst follow on Instagram (whatever) raved about this, I thought I’d give it a try. I was totally hooked!

There is a curse all over the world that seems to be killing dragons or, more specifically, humans who turn into dragons. No one understands who is responsible or how it can be reversed.

Damien is the oldest son in a family of dragons. He’s had to watch, powerless, as his mother died, and now his youngest brother is sick. Will the curse get each of them, one by one?

At his best friend’s magic store, Damien meets Robby, a friendly and somewhat klutzy guy. Damien rescues Robby from vampires twice, and then they find out that Robby is being hunted. Damien and his family want to protect Robby, and when they discover that somehow he has a link to those involved in the curse, they all want to find answers.

Of course, it’s not long before Damien and Robby’s intense attraction to one another brings them together in some very steamy ways. Can Damien protect Robby and find out how to reverse the curse before it’s too late for his brother? Can the two ever have a chance at happiness together?

I really enjoyed this and was so impressed with Max Walters’ creativity, his world-building, and the fascinating characters he created. This was an emotional, sexy, and completely entertaining, and I’ll be reading the second book in the series for sure!!

Book Review: "When the World Tips Over" by Jandy Nelson

Ten years ago, I read Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You the Sun. It was easily one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read. Four years later, I went back to read her debut, The Sky is Everywhere, and I loved that, too. But for a number of years, there’s been no concrete sign that a third Nelson book would be published.

Color me shocked when last week, I received an email from NetGalley with a “Read Now” opportunity—for Nelson’s new book! I couldn’t get to it fast enough.

Jandy Nelson doesn’t just write books. She creates dazzlingly beautiful, poetic masterpieces of words and images, with sparks of magical realism, which leave you breathless and shaken to your core, your mind spinning. That artistry is once again on display in When the World Tips Over.

This is the story of the Fall family, who live in Northern California wine country. The kids’ father was a winemaker who disappeared one day, leaving his family in disarray. Bernadette, his wife, is a celebrated chef. Their oldest son, Wynton, is a violin virtuoso with a talent for self-destruction. The middle child, Miles, is handsome, kind, smart, athletic, and lonely—and wants to find the perfect guy. And their youngest, Dizzy, thinks she’s ugly but dreams of being a heroine in a romance novel.

The appearance of a beautiful, tattooed young woman with rainbow-colored hair turns the Falls upside down. She changes the lives of all three children, but carries her own pain and sorrows. Is she an angel? A saint? A mirage? Simply ordinary?

This is one of those books where there are a lot of disparate threads that ultimately weave together. It’s a beautiful, emotional read about families, friends, love, hope, and a little bit of magic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Books for the advance copy; the book will publish 9/24.

Book Review: "Even Though I Knew the End" by C.L. Polk

This is a novella that’s a little creepy, a little mysterious, a little fantastical, even a little poignant and romantic.

⁣ ⁣ Helen is a talented magical detective in Chicago in the early 1940s. But instead of being recruited into the shadowy Brotherhood, promising her soul in exchange for her brother’s life leaves her shunned and without the Brotherhood's support. She knows she only has a few days left to live before the devil comes calling.⁣

⁣ But Helen’s mysterious client offers her a job too good to resist: find out the identity of the brutal murderer being called the “White City Vampire” and her debt will be considered paid. That means she’ll be able to spend the rest of her life with Edith, the woman she loves.⁣

⁣ Figuring out the identity of the killer is far more complicated than Helen bargained for. She finds herself in the middle of a gigantic web full of unspeakable evil. Will she be able to survive to enjoy her freedom, or will the job prove too dangerous?⁣

⁣ This was fairly outside my comfort zone but I absolutely loved it! It has a lot of different elements—magic, angels and demons, and a sapphic love story. At its core this is a story of how far we’re willing to go for those we love. I would love if C.L. Polk wrote a sequel someday!!⁣

Book Review: "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" by Sangu Mandanna

Friends, please meet my new favorite book of the year!!

When a friend suggested this book for our monthly buddy read, I hadn’t heard of it, but it sounded cute. I wasn’t expecting a book to fill my heart so much.

Mika Moon is a young witch in Great Britain. There is an unspoken rule that witches should hide who they really are, and mostly stay away from each other so their magic doesn’t mingle and cause problems. The one outlet she turns to is posting videos online, where she pretends to be a witch. She figures people will take it as a joke, as camp.

But one day she gets a message requesting her presence at Nowhere House, a mysterious yet charming home. She is asked by the house’s caretakers to help three young witches control their magic so as not to attract attention. Mika knows that having three witches in the same house—even young witches—is potentially dangerous and breaks rules, but she is drawn to the opportunity.

It’s not long before Mika is fully ensconced in Nowhere House, teaching the girls things they never knew. For Mika, who grew up lonely and raised by strangers, being a part of a family of sorts where she can be herself is amazing. She becomes enamored of the girls and the house’s caretakers—a former actor and his gardener husband, a housekeeper, and Jamie, the handsome librarian who is protective of the girls and sees Mika as a threat to their safety.

This book is so full of joy and love, of chosen family, diversity, and the feeling of being totally yourself for the first time. It honestly reminded me of The House in the Cerulean Sea in that this book, too, feels like a gigantic hug, and left me smiling and teary-eyed. Any of these characters could have their own story told.

I wish I could read this again for the first time.

Book Review: "Acts of Violet" by Margarita Montimore

There's nothing quite like family drama that tests the boundaries of reality.

Thanks so much to BookSparks, Flatiron Books, and Margarita Montimore for the complimentary copy of this book as part of #SRC2022! I had been eagerly anticipating this, as I really enjoyed Oona Out of Order.

Violet was a famous magician. She was the flamboyant one while her sister Sasha was the more stable one who was happy staying out of the spotlight. And then one day, in the middle of her act, Violet disappeared and was never seen again.

Trying to figure out what happened to Violet transfixed the public. And as the 10-year anniversary of Violet’s disappearance approaches, a podcaster is looking for answers, and won’t stop until he gets them from Sasha. But as much as she’d like to put Violet behind her, she is plagued by physical and emotional issues that must be tied to her sister. What does it all mean?

I tend to love books that mix different storytelling formats. This has letters, news articles, even emails scattered throughout, which gives the book more of an investigative feel. The story takes a while to unfold and the pacing moves slowly, but the plot is so rich. You will have to suspend your disbelief in order to enjoy this, so if a little bit of magic irritates, this may not be the book for you.

This was really a fascinating, heartfelt, and altogether unique story of family. It’s definitely touching and memorable, proving Montimore has a knack for stories that challenge reality but tug at your heart.

Book Review: "Cinderella is Dead" by Kalynn Bayron

Cinderella is Dead is a unique and empowering retelling of the classic fairytale.

The kingdom of Lille was where Cinderella met her prince more than 200 years ago. And although true love ignited the flame back then, the kingdom is now ruled by evil, fear, and violence, especially toward women. All teenage girls are expected to go to the annual ball, where they hope a suitor will choose them. If they are not picked by a man at three successive balls, they are given up by their families, sold as slaves, or even killed.

While there seems to be no choice for her, Sophia is fighting it all the way. She’s never dreamed of being Cinderella—she’d much rather marry a princess, anyway. But her heart is set on her best friend Erin, even though that would never be allowed in Lille or by their families, and there really is no way to escape the clutches of the king.

The night of the ball, when things go awry, she escapes, and the king demands she be found. He enacts cruelty after cruelty to try and flush her out. When hiding in Cinderella’s mausoleum one night, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella and her stepsisters. Constance is desperate to learn the real story of her family.

Together, Sophia and Constance vow to destroy the king and make him pay for his treatment of women. But along the way they learn the truth behind Cinderella’s story—and some truths about themselves as well.

It’s been a long while since I’ve read fantasy, but this hooked me pretty quickly. While not a lot of attention is paid to world-building, the characters and the story are very vivid, and I could see it unfolding in my mind’s eye. I liked the twist of a Black teenage lesbian challenging the myth of Cinderella.

But while the story is creative and I loved the message, there was a bit more telling than showing. I’ve always talked about hating the part in superhero movies where the villain details their master plan and why they seek vengeance. There was a little of that here, too. But still, Cinderella is Dead is unique and enjoyable and I was hooked.

Book Review: "The Magic of Found Objects" by Maddie Dawson

Sometimes love is worth risking it all for. At least that's the message of Maddie Dawson's newest book, The Magic of Found Objects.

Phronsie and her brother Hendrix were conceived at Woodstock, the product of a liaison between their free-spirited hippie mother and the practical son of a farmer. But the magic her mother espoused never really worked for Phronsie, so she lives a practical life. She’s not unhappy but there’s nothing she’s passionate about.

When her childhood best friend proposes marriage, saying that love between friends would be more secure than a relationship based on passion, she agrees. Why waste more time searching for something that might not ultimately work, when they get so much joy from their friendship?

No sooner does Phronsie agree to Judd’s proposal than someone new comes into her life, someone she feels could be her true love. Should she do the practical thing, like Judd and her stepmother think she should, or should she follow the magic her mother is putting out in the universe and wait for true love? What do you think will happen?

Dawson knows how to tell a story. Her characters are so appealing, you want to be friends with them, and she makes you believe love is possible. I really enjoyed this story so much!

Thanks to Suzy Approved Book Tours, Maddie Dawson, and Lake Union Publishing for inviting me on the blog tour and providing me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!

Book Review: "In Deeper Waters" by F.T. Lukens

A gay prince, pirates, a love story, and some magic? Yes, please!! Sign me up for F.T. Lukens' In Deeper Waters!

Tal is the youngest son of the Queen. He’s spent most of his life hidden away in the castle, as all are afraid he might inadvertently reveal his magical abilities, which could shatter the peace that his family has worked so hard to preserve.

Now, he’s been allowed to partake in the kingdom’s traditional coming-of-age tour, and travel throughout the kingdom with his older brother and the family’s bodyguard. But not long into the journey they find a burning ship and a mysterious prisoner, Athlen, with whom Tal feels an immediate connection. Athlen convinces Tal to free him, only to watch him jump overboard into the ocean.

Tal is devastated by Athlen’s disappearance, sure he must have drowned. When he sees Athlen a few days later, he’s surprised—and very pleased. But their time together is fleeting, as Tal is kidnapped by pirates who want to trick him into revealing his magical powers, which will instigate a war. It will take all of his strength and cunning to survive and get back home—and it’s Athlen’s turn to save him now.

What secrets are Athlen hiding? Will they help Tal or put him in more danger? Can Tal warn his family about what is happening before war breaks out? And can two very different young men from two different walks of life find happiness? There are lots of obstacles to overcome.

This book was utterly charming and so sweet. It felt a little like The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, a little like Carry On, but yet all its own. I really enjoyed all of these characters and their immediate acceptance of people’s differences.

I don’t know if In Deeper Waters is intended to be the first in a series, but I’d love to see this world and these characters that Lukens created again.

Book Review: "Destiny" by D.D. Larsen

The first book in D.D. Larsen's Academy series, Destiny, is a sexy, mysterious combination of romance, family secrets, and some magical elements.

At age 18, Jamie fled her small Colorado hometown, feeling stifled and needing to make a fresh start. She cut all ties to her friends, figuring it was easier that way than feeling the pull of home. After college she landed a job with a top biotech company and started to pursue her dreams.

Now, seven years later, her career has fallen apart and her last romantic relationship crashed and burned as well, so she decides it’s time to go home. While it’s good to see her parents, she quickly finds out it’s hard work to rebuild relationships with people you’ve neglected for so long.

Not long after her return home, she meets Wren, a ruggedly handsome park ranger with whom she feels an immediate, intense connection. He always seems to be around when she is in need of help, but otherwise he’s brooding and pushing Jamie away.

Meanwhile, people in her town are reportedly seeing wolves for the first time, and everyone is worried. And in a few cases, some creatures are harming people. Are the wolves to blame? Why does Jamie keep having dreams in which wolves appear, even one where she is a wolf? Is she safe, or is she in danger?

Little by little, Jamie realizes her town—and her family—is full of secrets, secrets of epic and almost magical proportions. She is drawn into a world she had never imagined, one that will change her life and her destiny.

This was a really fascinating read, with a brooding Twilight-esque vibe, although I don’t mean that in a negative way. Destiny had an interesting mix of romance and fantasy and even a little bit of the paranormal, and this was so compulsively readable. Can’t wait for Book 2 of the series!!

Kate Rock Book Tours and D.D. Larsen invited me on the tour for the book and provided me a complimentary advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Destiny publishes 4/20!!

Book Review: "The Fascinators" by Andrew Eliopulos

The Fascinators is a poignant story about being true to yourself, secrets, the often-confusing line between friendship and love, and magic.

Maybe we’re all under someone else’s spell.

Sam, James, and Delia are best friends, and the three members of their high school’s magic club. Each of them has some magical skill, and in their small, conservative Georgia town they’re looked at as freaks, especially Sam, who is openly gay on top of it all.

As they enter their senior year, things among the friends are starting to fray. Sam’s feelings for James have intensified and while he doesn’t think James feels the same way, he’s afraid to say anything for fear of messing everything up. They have plans to be roommates at UGA next year—Sam can't imagine going to college without James.

Meanwhile, James is spending more time with a girl from his church, and he’s been acting erratically to compensate for his abusive father’s behavior. Delia wants to attend an exclusive magic college, and she’ll stop at nothing to get in, even if it means abandoning her friends for more serious magickers.

When a group of dangerous magickers eyes the Fascinators to avenge something James did over the summer, the group falls further into disarray. And when a handsome new member joins the club, it complicates things even further for Sam.

At times this felt like two separate stories—one about friendship and one about magic—but other times the two storylines meshed so well. Despite the magical elements, this story felt very real and relatable—lord knows I had my share of unrequited crushes on friends growing up!

The ending felt a little bit rushed for me so I hope Andrew Eliopulos has a sequel in the works. But I loved the emotions in this book so much.

Book Review: "Magic Lessons" by Alice Hoffman

Magic Lessons is a well-told, moving story of love, family, and witchcraft.

Alice Hoffman returns with the prequel to The Rules of Magic and Practical Magic, and the story of the Owens family. In this book, which starts in the mid-1600s, a baby girl, Maria, is found abandoned in a snowy field in rural England. She is taken in by Hannah Owens, a kind woman who once had been jailed for being a witch.

Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift, and teaches her “the Nameless Art.” But as Maria grows under Hannah’s tutelage and watches her work with the women who come to her secretly for help, Maria learns that most of their problems have something to do with love, and she vows never to fall in love herself.

But even witches are powerless in the face of love, and it’s not long before she follows the man who betrayed her to Salem, Massachusetts. And while she tries to keep a low profile and help women like her adoptive mother did, ultimately she runs afoul of the fear and jealousy that ruled Salem in those horrible days.

"But even a witch can possess a woman's flaws, and a woman's desires. Maria thought she knew what was to com, but she was wrong. Anyone can fall in love, despite vows to the contrary. Any woman can make a mistake, especially when she is young, and sees the wrong man through a haze so that he appears to be something he's not."

This is a story of two generations of women, both who bore the scars of love gone wrong, yet in different manifestations. It’s a story about fighting your fears and letting yourself believe in the power of love even when you’ve seen it be destructive. But it’s also a powerful story about the fierce love of a mother.

I really love the way Hoffman writes and I have loved the earlier books in this series. While I enjoyed the emotions and the pain and the beauty of this story, because the book took place at such an historic time, there was a lot more background detail shared here, which I felt bogged things down a bit. But I’m not a fan of historical fiction so others might not be bothered by this.

You certainly could read this one first if you’ve not read the other books, but do yourself a favor—read those, too. Like so many of Hoffman's books, they’re just gorgeous and they’ll grab your heart.

Book Review: "These Witches Don't Burn" by Isabel Sterling

It’s not easy being a witch these days. That's what I picked up from Isabel Sterling's These Witches Don't Burn, at least.

Being a witch in Salem, Massachusetts may seem like a clichè, but that’s Hannah’s life. As an Elemental witch, she has the power to control fire, water, earth, and air, but she’s forbidden to let any non-witch see her magic. So instead, she spends her time trying to avoid her ex-girlfriend, Veronica (who is also an Elemental), and working at the Fly by Night Cauldron, which sells candles and crystals to tourists and Wiccans.

When the town starts to see signs of black magic that seem to be targeting Hannah and Veronica, Hannah is convinced a Blood Witch is to blame, even though her coven doesn’t agree. But as things become more dangerous, she’s forced to team up with Veronica to try and flush the evil out of Salem. And at the same time, Hannah is intrigued by Morgan, a new crush.

Will Hannah be able to stop what is happening before it puts her and those she loves in danger? Will the time she spends with Veronica jeopardize any chance she might have with Morgan?

It’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy novel and I enjoyed this. Sterling did a great job creating a world within our world and deftly juxtaposed the witchy issues with emotional ones. At times it got a little too melodramatic, but that's just like teenagers, isn't it?

I’ll definitely check out the sequel, plus there's a prequel of sorts that apparently sets up this book. (I didn't read that and didn't feel as if I missed out.)

Book Review: "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by TJ Klune

OMG, this was so good! It really gave me All. The. Feels!

“The world is a weird and wonderful place. Why must we try and explain it all away? For our personal satisfaction?”

Linus Baker is a quiet man leading a quiet life. He’s a caseworker for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, where he always follows the rules to a “t.” He doesn't question authority and does what's expected of him: nothing more, nothing less. Other than that, he lives with a cranky cat and his music to keep him company. It’s a lonely existence but he doesn’t know anything else.

And then one day he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and sent on a top secret assignment: to investigate the Marysas Orphanage, located on a remote island. The children that live there are supposedly unlike any Linus has ever seen—dangerously magical, apparently—and there’s a rumor one could bring about the End of Days. He is also urged to investigate the home's master, Arthur Parnassus, for reasons no one explains to him.

When Linus arrives, he is shocked by what he finds, in that these children ARE different. Sure, they have the potential to be dangerous (particularly one), but they have the same needs of all children—to be loved and cared for, to be taken seriously, and to have their dreams nurtured. All of this definitely is happening thanks to the enigmatic Arthur Parnassus.

What happens when a man who has always followed the rules and been led by his brain suddenly has his heart opened? What will that mean for his life, his job, and the children?

One of the blurbs for The House in the Cerulean Sea says it’s “very close to perfect,” and I couldn’t agree more. This is a gorgeous book about our tendency to fear what we don’t understand, the magic love can do, and the different meanings of family.

This is a fantasy, of course, so it’s not for everyone, but while there are fantastical elements to the story, beyond that it's just a story about love and relationships and belonging. Boy, this is one I’ll remember and love for a long, long time.

Book Review: "Reverie" by Ryan La Sala

When you read as much as I do, at times you wonder whether there are still books out there which are totally original, because quite often books tend to feel similar. And then a book like Ryan La Sala's Reverie comes along, which truly knocked me on my ass with its originality, camp, and downright craziness. I marveled at La Sala's storytelling and the creativity of this story, which is billed as Inception meets The Magicians.

"Reveries are what happens when a person’s imagined world becomes real. They’re like miniature realities, with their own plots and rules and perils."

Kane Montgomery is a high school student who has amnesia following a car accident. He can't remember much, which makes his day-to-day existence even more difficult than it has been, given the fact that he's a gay student in a small town. As he deals with bullying by his classmates and trying to figure out whom to trust, he starts to notice that things in his life don't seem to be adding up. He realizes that among the many things he's forgotten about his life before the accident is that he was part of a group called The Others, who are supposed to help save people from reveries, which are fantasies that become alternate realities.

This is one of those books that is more enjoyable when you don't know much about the plot, and instead you let La Sala transport you into a whole different world of sorts. The characters are truly unforgettable, none so much as Poesy, the drag queen who may or may not be a villainness. She's a sorceress, prone to lofty speech and trickery, and I was utterly FASCINATED every time she appeared in the story.

As crazy of a fantasy as Reverie is, it also deals with some pretty weighty issues, including bullying and homophobia. It's nice to have a book like this in which LGBTQIA+ issues and characters are at the forefront.

I love the way La Sala writes, but at times there was so much going on it was a little difficult to keep focused. I can't even imagine where he came up with these ideas, but this is one of those unforgettable stories that will stay in my mind for a long time. This isn't a book for everyone, but if you like a mash-up of fantasy and camp, Reverie might be right up your alley.

NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire gave me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!