Posts

Looking for a dark, yet quirky fantasy quest? Look no further. Nettle and Bone (2022) delivers with the story of Marra, a princess determined to save her sister from an abusive marriage. Of course she needs help on her quest and help comes in the form of a dust-wife (a witch who can speak to the dead), a dog made of bones, an honorable knight saved from goblins, a fairy godmother with dubious talents and a demon possessed chicken.  

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart is a #1 New York Times bestseller, won the Goodreads Choice Award and was Amazon’s #1 Young Adult novel of 2014. But does this book live up to its hype? In my opinion it does.

To say Xingyin has lived a sheltered life is putting it mildly. She, her mother, and her mother's attendant live alone in the Palace of Pure Light on the moon, for Xingyin's mother is the moon goddess.

Rating: 4/5

This graphic novel takes place in a magical universe in a special town. There is magic, a seer, quirky tech, a bakery, a musician, a mystery and romance. This is a cozy, magical read with some adventure.

Rating: 5/5

This is an extremely cute romance graphic novel series with beautiful art. This series has recently been adapted by Netflix. Charlie Spring was outed and heavily bullied his first year at Truham Grammar School for Boys. Entering year 10 Charlie is hopeful about the new year. Until he develops a crush on Nick Nelson, a year 11 in the rugby team, a possibly, maybe not, entirely straight cute boy.

Rating: 5/5

One Of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus

When the creator of a high school gossip app mysteriously dies in front of four high-profile students, all four become suspects. It's up to them to solve the case.

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms is a heart lifting story about finding your voice, LGBTQ+ representation, friendship and love. This is a quick read with a happy ending. The character Anne wants to get into college and tries to find a way to become more involved in after school activities after a meeting with her guidance counselor. While Bebe is trying to figure out life after coming out and joining the cheerleading squad as the first transgender cheerleader. This graphic novel is a definite must read!

Tokyo Ever After is a great book to read if you enjoyed the Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot. The characters in this story were really interesting and worked well with each other. Zoom Zoom is a teenage just trying to understand who she is and where she comes from, finding out she’s a princess in Japan is a big surprise. Her friends are her found family and help support her through the changes of her new life. Zoom Zoom not only has to navigate culture shock and her new fame but she also falls in love and doesn't know who to trust. I enjoyed reading her journey. 

Solo Leveling I by Chugong

Known as the the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind, E-rank hunter Jinwoo Sung's contribution to raids amounts to trying not to get killed.

A Curse So Dark And Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Eighteen for the three hundred twenty-seventh time, Prince Rhen despairs of breaking the curse that turns him into a beast at the end of each day until feisty Harper enters his life.

If you're a fan of fairy-tale retellings (specifically Beauty and the Beast), then have I got a recommendation for you.

After his grandfather's death, a young man must prove how deep his love of books really is when a strange cat asks for his help to save books that are being abused. As the young man journeys with the cat, he not only finds the courage to stand up to the adversaries that bar his path, but also to start living life again.