Fiction

middle Grade ROund Up: Halloween

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So, since I have read quite few middle grade Halloween books I’m reading this month I decided to group them together in one post cause the reviews won’t be that long. I’ll be doing three in a post each week and that should be good enough! They’re cute books and I do this every year cause it’s fun to go back to childhood with spooky reads and some of them have actually been quite good.

The story follows Luke and Lizzy Morris and their family as they arrive at Horrorland where terror becomes a reality at every turn. But, Luke and Lizzy don’t believe the rumors and think it’s just to entice people to visit the park. But when mysterious things began to happen, Luke and Lizzy find themselves coming face to face with the frightening realization that the rumors are true.

It’s been so long since I’ve read goosebumps so when I was planning my TBR for this month’s readathon, I wanted to see about revisiting these books. When I was young I was so into Goosebumps and Fear Street, I read them any chance I could so this was a fun trip down memory lane. It did make me laugh thinking about things that occurred in this book and how my younger self was so shocked with what I had read. But, it was still a fun read.

Claire has absolutely zero interest in the paranormal. She’s a scientist and she can’t think of anything worse than helping her dad on one of his Chicago themed ghost bus tours. She thinks she’s safe when she sees a young boy with sad face and dark eyes sitting in the back of the bus. But there’s something off with his presence and at the end of the bus tour, she can’t find him. She shrugs it off at first but when strange things start happening to her, she’s beginning to wonder if she’s being haunted. She needs to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.

This is a fantastic middle grade story that blends Chicago history with spooky mystery and a fantastic friendship. Claire hasn’t had the best 7th grade as her dad’s ghost bus tour business has been embarrassing, the new girl is swooping in to steal her best friend, and she feels trapped. Even though I’m a lot older, I could feel Claire’s pain especially with losing a best friend to someone else. That’s never fun and I did find her a fun and unique character in addition the other characters and even with her dad. This is a really cute, spooky, and heartwarming tale that is bound to entertain readers of all ages.

This story follows, eleven year old Ollie who is trying to cope with a tragic loss and finds that books are her only solace. One of the books that Ollie finds is a mysterious and chilling tale that follows Beth and her two brothers who loved her and a peculiar deal they made with a sinister slender man who grants your timely wish for the ultimate price. Things get even more mysterious on a school trip where Ollie sees the graves of the very people she’s been reading about. On the way home, the bus breaks down and Ollie and two classmates heed the bus drivers warning to be careful and not venture into the woods.

This was actually a chilling and spooky tale which I give a lot of credit to Katherine Arden for. I would literally read anything she wrote cause her writing is so beautiful and captivating. This is debut middle grade novel and it was fantastic.This is a great introduction for middle grade readers who are looking for a spooky yet fun tale as it has everything you could want. Check it out if you want!

SteelStriker By Marie Lu

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“You live life, certain it will always stay this way, until it doesn’t.”

As a striker, Talin was taught loyalty is life. Loyalty to the shield who watch your back and to the strikers that risk their lives on the battlefield, and most of all to Mara, which was once the last nation free from the Karensa Federation’s tyranny. But, Mara has fallen and it’s destruction has unleashed Talin’s worst nightmare as her friends scattered from combat and her mother has been taken hostage by the premier. Talin does the unthinkable in order to save her friends, family, and her adopted home as she betrays them to become the federation’s most deadly war machine as their newest Skyhunter. A stranger in enemy land, Talin finds herself becoming friends with Red, who knows the cruelty firsthand done by federation but he knows that this isn’t over for Mara or Talin. The link between them may be weak but it might be the only way for them to salvage their past and safeguard their future.

Well, Marie Lu did it again. I’ve been waiting for this book to come out ever since I read the first book with was a rollercoaster journey of emotions and she didn’t dissappoint with the follow up. As it was delightful, fun, emotional, and gripping until the end and I was hoping it would be because I loved the first book. There’s so much that I love about this one but what really stands out to me are the characters and the writing. The characters felt so real, raw, and alive with emotion that you could really feel what they were going through and they were all interesting and unique in their own way. I love how Marie crafts her characters and she spends a lot of time with developing them and it shows in the writing and how they are described. I really love seeing Talin and Red’s perspectives and I found their relationship interesting and real and the dynamics between them throughout the book was great.

Marie really knows how to write really great antagonists as Premier Constantine wasn’t all bad. He had a story and through Talin’s perspective it really shows that he’s human which I loved because it’s interesting to have characters like that. I like that she really does flesh them out and make them complicated because when it’s just one sided, it’s not that interesting. The side characters were just as interesting and complicated as the main characters and that’s always something that I’ve loved with her writing as she really spends time and effort making her characters complicated yet so real with emotion.

I think this was a fantastic conclusion to the series. As much as I’d love to see more, I would prefer if she didn’t write a follow up as I felt everything got wrapped up really well. So if you’re a sci-fi, adventure or fantasy fan, I think you would like this!

Hollow Heathens

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“I fell in love anyway, and they would all laugh. They could not see her beauty. No one would believe me if I said the moon breathed life into me, that it was here, inside her, where I found myself again.”

This is the story of a young girl named Fallon who was taken away from the home she knew shortly after she was born. A home that she barely knew and a home full of strange traditions and bizarre superstitions that she would return to twenty four years later. A town that she’d heard about during restless nights under a marble moon to take care of a last living relative. In that same town was a boy named Julian, who was born centuries ago and it was one of the four Hollow Heathens, very dark creatures who put fear in the town’s people and cause them to live in fear. Fallon and Julian were told to stay away from each other but there is a gravitational pull that can’t keep them apart.

Well this was quite the treat. As usual, I’m trash for fantasy and this has actually been a good month for me fantasy wise as last month wasn’t so great. But, this was pretty great and I’m excited for the next book as the premise is close to other books that I’ve read but I’m trash for fantasy so I loved all of it. The characters were interesting and complex and I did enjoy that the sex scenes very well written because sometimes with fantasy it’s either too much or not enough. Julian and Fallon had great chemistry and I did love their banter with each other and it felt like the relationship developed normally instead of being too rushed or not enough. But that writing is what I really loved as it was very beautifully written and there were times where I actually felt like I was in the story. I’m a sucker for world building so I can’t say I’m surprised with myself with choosing the writing as the best part of the book. But, it was beautifully written world-building and I feel as though it really helps drive the story because when it’s poor world-building, it can make it difficult to follow. But if you’re looking for an adult fantasy novel that brings in the paranormal, monsters, witches etc., then this is it for you.

The Saturday Night Ghost CLub

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“Reality never changes. Only our recollections of it do. Whenever a moment passes, we pass along with it into the realm of memory. And in that realm, geometries change. Contours shift, shades lighten, objectivities dissolve. Memory becomes what we need it to be.”

Growing up in Niagara Falls in the 80’s, a seedy but magical haunted place where Jake Baker spends most of his time with his uncle Calvin, an eccentric enthusiast of occult artifacts. The summer that Jake turns twelve, he befriends a pair of new siblings in town and so Calvin decides to innate them into The Saturday Night Ghost Club. But as the summer goes on, what started out as a seemingly lighthearted project may ultimately uncover more than it’s members imagined.

What a cute and heartwarming read from beginning to end!! I really enjoyed this book, found it super cute and enjoyable and felt like the stories were perfect. I wasn’t anticipating enjoying it so much but I literally couldn’t put it down, it was fun and super easy to get through. The writing was probably my favorite aspect of the book as it was beautifully written and captivating. The plot was fun and reminded me of Scooby Doo as the kids in the town investigate mysterious happenings in the town and get in trouble along the way. Secondly, the characters are lovable and I really enjoyed the relationship between Jake and his uncle Calvin. They’re very close and you could feel that with the way the dialogue was written and everyone wants a cool uncle who’s into ghost stories, urban legends, and who also owns an oddities store where you can find so many interesting things. But, if you’re thinking that this is a horror book, you’ll be a little disappointed as it’s very light on the horror but still is very entertaining.

Overall, a very fun and easy read with a heartwarming message.

October TBR

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Wow! I can’t believe October is here, this is my favorite month so I am super excited for it! I have some good reads for this month and I can’t wait to share them with you.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
Genre: Adult

Halloween Fiend by C.V. Hunt
Genre: Novella

Hollow Heathens: Book Of Blackwell by Nicole Fiorina
Genre: Fantasy

Lady Killer by Joelle Jones & Jamie Rich
Genre: Fiction

Mina and The Undead by Amy McCaw
Genre: Horror

Nightbooks by J.A. White
Genre: Horror

No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull
Genre: Horror

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: LGBT

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Genre: Thriller

The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson
Genre: Horror

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
Genre: Middle Grade

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh
Genre: Horror

Steelstriker by Marie Lu
Genre: Sci-Fi

The Witch’s Hand by Nathan Page & Drew Shannon
Genre: Graphic Novels

Reality Check

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The word crazy had never meant more to me than any other word in the English language. It wasn’t a curse, and it wasn’t derogatory in my mind. That was before my diagnosis. Now, the word felt dirty, cruel, and everything I was trying my hardest not to be.

In ten seconds Priya watched her lover, Dimitri get fatally wounded yet while she watched his life slip through her fingers. Except there’s only one thing: Dimitri never existed and was created by Priya in her mind as she has been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. While Priya is still mourning her loss and coming to terms with her diagnosis, her clinical team decides that she needs to learn how to be a normal teenage to find her footing in reality. They give her a checklist and with the help of her best friend Eli, she is able to discover that being a teenager can be fun and exciting. But as she finds success with checking things off the list, she also struggles with her own mind and being able to live life to the fullest with the good and bad. Will Priya be able to stay grounded in the real world or will she fall back into the one inside her mind?

This book really is a reality check and I was very impressed and glad to see Schizophrenia in YA book handled the way it was. I was a little nervous especially since I think Schizophrenia is misunderstood as a mental illness and sadly not done the way it should be. I found myself learning more about the disorder and that was something that I appreciated the author for including in the book. I think it’s important to provide readers with accurate information about mental disorders as it can help lessen the stigma and create a bigger conversation. But, it was interesting to see it in a YA book and while there is heavy subject matter in the book in addition to mental illness, there are also heartwarming, emotional, and light-hearted moments that help drive the plot. Priya is a very real and relatable character and you find yourself rooting for her to find a peace of mind while coming to terms with her diagnosis. She’s witty, funny, strong, and is passionate about what she wants to do with her life and not be defined by her diagnosis. Singh did a fantastic job as it showed that the things discussed in the book were detailed and thought out to be portrayed in a way that felt raw and very real. I highly recommend this book!

Fade Into White

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“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

On the outside, Thea Fenton’s looks perfect but looks can be deceiving as her life is falling apart and she’s struggling to pick up the pieces. The young girl is wracked with anxiety that no one around her seems to care about or understand so she resorts to self-harm to deflect the pain inside. But, when a local teen commits suicide, Thea’s world completely unravels as her anxiety skyrocket’s and things beginning happening that she can’t explain leaving her trapped in her own chaotic mind. The lines between reality and another world are starting to blur leaving Thea to feel like the world is caving in on her. That is until she meets Khi, a mysterious new boy from a coffee shop that seems to know Thea better than anyone does even herself. She finds herself drawn to him and is able to tell him how she really feels and he listens and tries to help her sort through her own thoughts to make sense of them.

Well this is probably one of the best novels about Mental Health in particular anxiety that is very accurate which made me super happy as it’s hard to find good rep with mental health. Sometimes, I feel like the authors don’t do the research or portray it correctly and it’s more romanticized than it needs to be. As someone who was diagnosed Generalized Anxiety Disorder, I found Thea extremely relatable and felt for her as she developed throughout the book with character growth. I felt like the author did a very good job at portraying anxiety and how it differs from feeling anxious and how that anxiety can be so exhausting and draining that you don’t even know how to explain it. It was truly well written and I loved the end result of where Thea ended up on her journey with finally coming to accept who she is. She never thought she would get there and she does and I think it was really well done and I enjoyed the book from beginning to end.

His and Hers

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“Tell a person they’re wrong, and they’ll cover their ears. Tell a person they’re right, and they’ll listen to you all day long.”

This is the story that is told from three pov’s: His, Hers, and Truth. When a young woman is murdered in Blackdown, a quintessentially British village, everyone is on high alert. The case begins to unfold as Jack London, a detective covering the case is suspicious of Anna Andrews, a newsreader who is reluctantly covering the case. But before Jack can make any movements, he becomes a suspect is his own murder investigation. Danger lurks in the shadows as someone isn’t telling the truth and some secrets are worth killing to keep.

What a fascinating murder mystery as I found myself deeply immersed into the characters, the plot, and how the story was told. This the first book by Feeney that I’ve read and I will reading more of her books as this was truly enjoyable and a true thriller. Anna, works as a BBC Commentator and Jack is a chief police officer who find themselves tangled in web of lies, seduction and murder. Anna tells her story while Jack tells his and we also get a POV from the killer! The way the POV’s are told really makes you turn the page in anticipation to find what out what will happen next and I really enjoyed how Feeney wrote the POV’s and the way she set up the atmosphere, it really felt like I was there. There are just some books that reel you in and you can’t set it down because you want more and yo don’t want to wait to find out. Well, that’s how I felt with this book as it really felt like a thriller and didn’t have silly plot points but the development of the characters, the plot, and eventually the ending made this story truly satisfying and enjoyable. I highly recommend it especially if you’re into thrillers and mysteries!

The Gilded Wolves

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“Make yourself a myth and live within it, so that you belong to no one but yourself.”

The Gilded Wolves starts out in 1889 Paris when the city is on the cusp of power and industry and the exposition universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. In the city, no one keeps tabs on the dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Severin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission. A mission that will deliver Severin with the prize that he never thought he would able to get: his true inheritance. To make this mission successful, Severin recruits Lalia, Hypnos, Zofia, and Enrique as they embark on a journey that will change the course of their lives and test the bonds of loyalty that they to each other.

Ah rereading this book made me realize how much I love Chokshi’s writing and how much it’s improved. She has a way with words and how her world-building is developed is truly amazing. It makes you feel like you’re actually in the world that she’s created. The premise is what hooked me in as I’m sucker for heist stories just like Six Of Crows, but this is very different than Leigh Bardugo’s band of misfits. What I really loved about the book were the characters especially Zofia and Hypnos as they were unique, interesting, and well written. There was a lot of development with each of the characters so it’s hard to pick a favorite and the dynamics between the group was great with banter, flirtation, and realizing that they have more in common than they first thought. This is truly a delight but I will say that the pacing in the beginning is slow but it does pick up and you find yourself turning the page in anticipation of what will happen next.

I am reviewing the second book next so stay tuned!