Young Adult

Cytonic

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“I’m not exactly a “there are nuances to this situation” type of girl. I’m more of an “if it’s still moving, you didn’t use enough ammunition” type of girl.” 

Cytonic continues with the adventurous and brave, Spensa who has proved herself as one of the best star fighter pilots for the Defiant Defense Force in the human enclave of Detritus and she saved her people from death at the hand of the Krell, a mysterious alien species that has been holding them hostage for decades. Not only that, she has traveled light years as an undercover spy to infiltrate the superiority, where she learned of the galaxy beyond her small, desolate planet home.

But, now the superiority, the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating human life has started a galaxy wide war. And Spensa knows the weapons that they plan to use: The Delvers which are an ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. But there is one thing that could saved them and it is Spensa herself, as she is cytonic and has faced and defeated a delver. She knows it’s not going to be easy but she is willing to do whatever is needed to keep her people from harm even if she risks losing her own life.

This was a truly enjoying book and I am looking forward to more even though it’s gonna be a long wai One of the best aspects of the book was the setting and character development as it was really well written as he really knows how to reel you in and make you beg for more. I have really enjoyed seeing the character development of Spensa because I think she’s a really great protagonist with relatable flaws and traits.This is a perfect set up for Defiant as it’s really the lull before the storm and while it had it’s downsides being slow paced at times, I think it does a good job of setting up what will happen. Go check it out if you haven’t!

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

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“A hero does not choose her trials. She steps into the darkness, then she faces what comes next.”

All her life, Spensa dreamed of becoming a pilot. Dreamed of being able to help her people and being able to find the truth of what happened to her father. Now having f those dreams, she is left with the crushing truth with her father but she’s not willing to give up on him and she’s certain there is more to the story and she’s determined to find out. When she makes it out of her protective shell of a planet, she heard the stars and she heard terrified her as everything she had taught as a child turned out to be a lie. Her world shaken by the truth, Spensa must do what is necessary to help her people and if she must travel to end of the galaxy then that’s what she’ll do.

Another terrific story of this series! I absolutely loved this book probably even more so than the first book and a big part of why I enjoyed it so much is the excellent development of Spensa who is a champion of authenticity, courage, and determination which makes her very relatable. Sanderson really knows how to craft well written characters and with Spensa, she’s so real that you find yourself in her. One of the things that I have enjoyed about the series is how Sanderson doesn’t just throw in themes for the take of it. They were important and the way he writes them shows that as the themes in this series are very relevant to real life with personal biases, prejudice, and individualism vs collectivism. How people should hear and listen to others even if they are different from you and that is something that we all need a reminder about. It really added to the story line and made me enjoy this book even more.

Highly recommend this series! I’m checking out the third book now cause it just came out!! I’ll have a review up soon hopefully but until then happy reading!

Skyward by Brandon Sanderson

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“People need stories, child. They bring us hope, and that hope is real. If that’s the case, what does it matter whether people in them actually lived?”

The remains of the human race have been crushed, defeated, driven to almost extinction on a planet that is constantly attacked by mysterious alien starfighters. One such human, a young girl by the name of Spensa who longs to be a pilot may have found a way to achieve her dream while helping her people in the process. One day, she finds wreckage of an ancient ship, she realizes this could be her way out but there are more hurdles than she expected and this journey could alter the course of her for better or worse.

This was such a fantastic book! I had heard a lot of good things about this series so I decided to finally check it out and I’m so glad I did. I’m currently reading through the second book right now in anticipation of the third coming out next week. From start to finish, this book was excellent and I loved everything about it. Spensa is such a fantastic main character, with flaws and qualities that make her very relatable and I’ve been loving her character development along the way. It felt very real and I could empathize with her when she was tested with what was the right thing to do and how to go about it. I enjoyed the other characters in addition to Spensa. With the solid worldbuilding, rich and diverse characters, interesting plot and how everything came together to lead up to the second book, I highly recommend it. I am actually checking out his other books because this series reeled me in and I want more! Stayed tuned for my review on Starsight coming up!

Medusa

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People think your beauty is their possession. As if it’s there for their pleasure, as if they’ve got something invested in it. They think you owe them for their admiration.

This was such a beautiful retelling of Medusa that not only gives her a voice but really makes you feel for her. Medusa has been exiled with her two sisters, Stheno and Euyale to a remote island where the only company they have is each other and their dog. They have been on the island for four years and Medusa is feeling lonely and trapped but things change when a Perseus, arrives on the island and she believes he might be able to alleviate her problems but this will lead her on a journey of love, trust and betrayal.

While this is a beautifully written retelling of Medusa giving her a voice and sending her on a journey on self-acceptance with owning and acceptance the good and bad and being able to find peace with your past. I think this is something that many people need to see as we all have very different set of unique experiences that led us to where we are and that finding peace with your past is so essential for growth and acceptance of who you are. It’s a message that I myself crave and love and think many others feel the same.

It does delve into sexual harassment, in particular with rape culture, victim blaming and slut-shaming even by other women. Which I know that can be uncomfortable to read about especially as a woman myself, but it is very important to understand even though it hard seeing it come from other women. But, that is something that can and will happen even now in our current culture. The story along with the illustrations, which were absolutely stunning rewrote the narrative for Medusa and gave her a story that she could embrace and own. Highly recommend it!

Once upon A Broken Heart

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“Heroes don’t get happy endings. They give them to other people.”

Finding solace in her beloved father’s novelty shop, Evegeline Fox grew up on the legends of immortals such as the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him never end well. But, when Evegeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she is desperate to stop the wedding before it’s too late. She begs the Prince of Hearts to help and at first it seems like things are going her way but after their first kiss, she learns that the Prince has other plans for her and it will either end up with a happily ever after or the most exquisite tragedy.

This book is pure magic from beginning to end. I knew I was going to be in for a real treat as I have enjoyed Stephanie Garber’s previous books. Caraval was one of my favorite series to read, it was such a treat so I was hoping this book would be just as good and thankfully it was. What I loved about this book is that none of it felt predictable or cliche, there were so many twists and turns and just when you thought you had things figured out, it turned in another direction. But, she really knows how to spin retelligns of fairy tales, I would love to read more books if she did retellings. But like Garber’s other books, the way she develops her characters is what really stands out as they are always unique, interesting, and incredibly flawed. If you like retellings and lush worldbuilding, then this book is just for you!

Enchantment of Ravens

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“Why do we desire, above all other things, that which has the greatest power to destroy us?”

An Enchantment of Ravens tells us the story of a young woman by the name of Isobel who is able to craft stunning portraits of her dangerous set of clients, the fair folk who are immortal who crave a terrible thirst for human craft. The fair folk trade valuable enchantments for Isobel’s paintings. But, what happens when Isobel makes a terrible mistake with her first royal client and paints mortal sorrow into his eyes, which expose something that he can’t be: weak. Livid with Isobel, he takes her to his kingdom for her to stand trial for her transgressions. But, all is not as it seems and soon Rook and Isobel find themselves on a journey that thrusts their relationship into a powerful alliance, one that could come at a cost as love is a forbidden emotion and violates the fair folk ruthless laws, thus rendering their lives forfeit. Isobel and Rook know the only way that could help is Isobel’s paintings, but can she conjure a painting powerful enough to defy the ancient magic of the fairy courts.

This was a reread for a readathon I’m doing and I feel like I was a bit disappointed in the reread. I read this a year ago and loved it and really bought into the hype of it and while it’s still very good, I do feel like the romance was a bit rushed. The plot was super interesting and found myself invested in the characters especially Rook and Isobel as they did have chemistry. Even though it was corny at times, I did enjoy how the story developed and Robinson has a way with words that really made me invested. I’m a sucker for good worldbuilding so that really helped with being invested throughout the book even with things that were miss for me. Overall, it was a good book but just wish the romance wasn’t as rushed as I felt it was. Go check it out if you think it’s up your alley!

Dagger Hill

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Dagger Hill tells the story fro four POV’s: Gabe, Kimberly, Sonya, and Charlie, the four friends are getting ready for their senior year and plan to spend their summers like they usually do at Dagger Hill. While, their parents don’t like the idea of Dagger Hill, the four best friends don’t see the problem s teenagers often feel like their parents worry too much. But, what starts out as relaxing and unwinding as they usually do, ends up throwing the four friends into an adventure that none of the expected to happen. It all started when a plane crashed landed at Dagger Hill with the four friends running into the woods as quickly as they can. When the dust finally clears up, the kids are taken to the hospital, well everyone except Kimberly and no one knows where she is. Can they find her before it’s too late?

What a spooky, entertaining, and thrilling read that tied Stranger Things into the story and it did that very well. I love the 80’s and Stranger Things is one of my favorite shows so this was super fun. The plot was very intriguing and wasn’t predictable so that’s always good cause it’s the worst when the plot sounds good from the outside but you get into it and it doesn’t live up the way you expected it to do. While I loved the writing and plot, I really enjoyed the characters and the dynamics between them as it felt real and relatable, they all had unique personalities which really helped drive the story! Overall, I enjoyed the book and if the plot sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend checking it out.

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!

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

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Deja, I don’t want October to be over. Because October means you.”


This was a pretty fun and easy read. I’ve read a few of Rowell’s books and enjoyed them so I decided to check read this for my TBR. The story follows, Deja and Joshia who are seasonable best friends as every autumn throughout high school, they work together at the same pumpkin patch. But this time, it will be different as this is their last year working together before they graduate high school and go their separate ways. The two had different ideas for how their last shift should end but both believe that it should end with an adventure.

The characters especially Deja were fun, interesting, and relatable and I loved the relationship between Deja and Joshia as it felt real. The plot was cute and the ending was super cute and I liked how things developed throughout the story. I found the romance pretty cute and believable and I’m glad that it wasn’t rushed. Super cute and fun story so if you’re looking for a short and easy read, this is for you!