Review: Ballad & Dagger

Ballad & Dagger by Daniel José Older
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I gave this book 3.5 stars, rounded up. The first half was... a slog. It was slow and political and not much happened. It picked up after that, and I'm really glad that I finished it. The last 30% or so was fantastic - things finally picked up, more powers were used, stuff happened!

I loved the lore of San Madrigal, and I loved the spirits. I wish we'd been able to see more use of the powers and a bit more action in the first half to make it interesting. It was a lot more political than I expected for a YA book.

I loved the POC representation and the cultural aspects of the book.

Will I pick up the sequel? Probably. The end of this one was good enough to warrant that.

Recommended for fans of mythology and Rick Riordan books with patience for slow beginnings.

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Review: The Agathas

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I really loved this one! It was a well-crafted YA mystery with some homages to the Queen of Crime herself, Dame Agatha Christie.

The two main characters, Iris and Alice, are well-developed and have depth. The potential murderers are all pretty well-developed too, and the mystery throws enough wrenches in the works to make you keep jumping from suspect to suspect. I think the Dame would be proud of Alice, using her Christie obsession to help them solve the case.

I would absolutely love if this were a series, so here's hoping for more. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie, YA, and mysteries, then you should definitely pick this one up. Highly recommended.

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Review: Seasonal Fears

Seasonal Fears by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tor through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own honest ones.

Yet again, Seanan McGuire proves why she's in my list of top favorite authors. She writes a unique story, full of twists and turns, while building a world that is deep, developed, and believable. She made me care about these characters, just like in Middlegame, and root for them. She made me want to get more glimpses of the alchemical world.

In this one, we follow Harry and Melanie as they learn that their future is a bit predetermined, and their journey to make that fate their own.

Highly recommended for those who love Seanan McGuire, seasons, the supernatural, urban fantasy, and road trips. I'd also say it's probably best to read Middlegame first. There is some stuff revealed in this one that spoils the first book. That's your fair warning! I'm thinking there will be more in this world, so fingers crossed for another installment.

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Review: Hide

Hide by Kiersten White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

You ever read one of those books that plays out like a movie in your head? It's got a good pace. It's got a good premise. It's got a good cast. It's got a good setting. It's got everything needed to fit the mold of a modern day smash at the box office.

This book... is that. It has all of those things. And I think it should be a movie.

The characters were great - I hated some, I loved some, I had some to root for.

The premise was awesome - the readers were given hints that not all was as it seemed, but we watched the cast slowly figure it out.

The storyline was fantastic - the perfect horror movie setup and build.

All in all, the only complaint that I had was that, at the end, I was hoping for just a tad bit more. But that's also not a complaint, because the best books always leave you wanting more (in a good way).

Five stars. Highly recommend. Will definitely be picking up more of this author's work in the future.

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Review: The Stardust Thief

The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for gifting me an advanced copy. Below is my honest review.

WOW. That is a debut! This book was a fun romp through the wild heat of the desert, steeped in magic and dripping with violence (but not in a gory way).

I loved the magic in this book. The jinns were fantastic, their magics and histories were intriguing, and while the beginning was a little slow to get going (which I think was a mood thing for me and nothing to do with the book itself), it picked up pretty quickly. The relics were so much fun - think Xiaolin Showdown meets A Thousand and One Nights.

But do you know what is disappointing? I read this one early... which means my wait for book two will be longer than the average reader. *stomps feet* Not fair!

Highly recommended. Definitely will pick up book two as soon as it's available to me!!! While in London for vacation this past week, we went the famous Piccadilly Circus 6 floor Waterstones. They had multiple displays of this one... and anyone nearby who was looking at it got my recommendation!

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Review: The Girl and the Moon

The Girl and the Moon by Mark Lawrence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mark Lawrence really knows how to plot trilogies expertly. So far, I've read Book of the Ancestor and Book of the Ice and loved them both. I own the Impossible Times trilogy, and once I read those, will go back for Broken Empire.

I care deeply about the characters in this trilogy, as much as the ones from Book of the Ancestor, and really need more. The blurb doesn't say "trilogy," instead saying "series," so maybe this one will have more? *sighs*

Highly recommend this one, but with the caveat that you at least need to read the first two Book of the Ice before picking this one up. I'd definitely suggest reading Book of the Ancestor first as well, and as many others have mentioned his other series, perhaps those too. There are connections a-plenty.

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Review: A Catalogue of Catastrophe

A Catalogue of Catastrophe by Jodi Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can't begin to describe how much fun Jodi Taylor's books are. I adore both St. Mary's and the Time Police spinoff, and they're absolutely highlights of my reading each year.

This one didn't fail to meet that qualification. Yet again, smashing success!

We pick up where we left off - with Max and Markham on the outs from St. Mary's, working with Smallhope and Pennyroyal as time bounty hunters. Only this time, someone invades their home base. Consequences abound! Shenanigans ensue!

We roll through a bunch of important moments in history, per the usual, this time focusing on trying to figure out this shady organization's plans. On top of all that, Max is starting to experience the side effects of all her time hopping and things are getting... weird.

I can't say more, as I don't want to spoil anything... but I am a little annoyed that now I have an extra few weeks to wait before the followup would come out next year, since I had an ARC. I am so excited to see more of this new shady group and what their goals are.

If you haven't read the Chronicles of St. Mary's, then you should definitely start at the beginning. Also, what's wrong with you? Go read them! They're amazing.

HIGHLY recommended.

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