Title: Ever Cursed Author: Corey Ann Haydu Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: July 28, 2020 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Damsel meets A Heart in a Body in the World in this incisive and lyrical feminist fairy tale about a princess determined to save her sisters from a curse, even if it means allying herself with the very witch who cast it.
The Princesses of Ever are beloved by the kingdom and their father, the King. They are cherished, admired.
Cursed.
Jane, Alice, Nora, Grace, and Eden carry the burden of being punished for a crime they did not commit, or even know about. They are each cursed to be Without one essential thing—the ability to eat, sleep, love, remember, or hope. And their mother, the Queen, is imprisoned, frozen in time in an unbreakable glass box.
But when Eden’s curse sets in on her thirteenth birthday, the princesses are given the opportunity to break the curse, preventing it from becoming a True Spell and dooming the princesses for life. To do this, they must confront the one who cast the spell—Reagan, a young witch who might not be the villain they thought—as well as the wickedness plaguing their own kingdom…and family.
Told through the eyes of Reagan and Jane—the witch and the bewitched—this insightful twist of a fairy tale explores power in a patriarchal kingdom not unlike our own.
Review:
The princesses of Ever were cursed on their thirteenth birthdays. Just before the oldest princess’s thirteenth birthday, a young witch, Reagan, visited them, cursed the five princesses, and enclosed their mother in a glass box. On each of their thirteenth birthdays they would be cursed, each girl losing the ability to eat, to sleep, to love, to remember, or to hope. The princesses will have just a few days to break the curse after the youngest princess turns thirteen and before the witch turns eighteen, which will make the curses last forever. The eldest princess, Jane, who has lost the ability to eat, has to look after her sisters and figure out how to break the curse, while also learning why they were cursed in the first place.
This story was set in a fairytale-like kingdom called Ever, but the serious subject matter wasn’t like a children’s fairytale. The Kingdom looked picturesque from the outside, but their history was filled with sexual assaults and rape. These things were hinted at through the beginning of the book, and weren’t confirmed until partway through, but I think it was obvious that that was what happened. These serious issues reminded me of the dark subject matter of the original Grimm’s fairytales, which were disturbing and not always meant for children.
I was hopeful for the princesses throughout the story, though they kept having bad things happen to them. It was getting so bad that I didn’t see how it could possibly have a happy ending. I won’t spoil the ending, but I think it was fitting for the story.
This is a great fairytale fantasy with contemporary themes.
Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
Have you read Ever Cursed? What did you think of it?
Title: Catkwondo Author: Lisl H. Detlefsen, Erin Hunting (illustrator) Genre: Children’s, Picture Book Publisher: Capstone Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: September 1, 2020 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Kitten wants to a break a board, and she wants to do it now. But Tae Kwon Do is not easy. Kitten must focus. She must practice. And above all, she must be patient. Will Kitten’s determination and dedication pay off when it’s finally time to break a board? Author Lisl Detlefsen delivers a turbo-charged story filled with action, fun, and encouragement. Korean phrases are intermixed throughout Catkwondo, and the Tae Kwon Do Oath and a Tae Kwon Do glossary complete this energetic picture book.
Review:
Kitten goes to a Tae Kwon Do class. She wants to break a board right away. Before she can break the board, she has to practice and learn the rules of Tae Kwon Do. With practice and determination, Kitten can break the board.
I have never done Tae Kwon Do but I had friends who did when I was a kid. I remember how they were so excited about breaking a board. It was one of their biggest goals, and they were so proud when they could finally do it.
There was a great glossary of Korean terms at the back of the book. There were Korean terms that are used in Tae Kwon Do in the story. I wasn’t familiar with these words, so it was great to see this glossary with pronunciations.
I loved the message of this story. Kitten was able to reach her goal of breaking a board through lots of practice and focus. Even though Kitten wanted to break the board immediately, she came to realize that she needed to do the work before she could break the board. This can be applied to any goals you may have, which is an inspiring message for children.
This is a great children’s book!
Thank you Capstone for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
1, 2, 3 Jump! by Lisl H. Detlefsen, Madeline Valentine (illustrator)
Cone Cat by Sarah Howden, Carmen Mok (illustrator)
Have you read Catkwondo? What did you think of it?
Title: The Love Square Author: Laura Jane Williams Genre: Fiction, Romance Publisher: Avon Source: Publisher via Edelweiss Format: Ebook Release Date: July 7, 2020 Rating: ★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
She’s single. But it can still be complicated…
Penny Bridge has always been unlucky in love.
So she can’t believe it when she meets a remarkable new man.
Followed by another.
And then another…
And all of them want to date her.
Penny has to choose between three. But are any of them The One?
The bestselling author of Our Stop will have you laughing, crying and cheering Penny on in this funny and feel-good exploration of hope, romance and the trust it takes to finally fall in love. Perfect for fans of Mhairi McFarlane’s If I Never Met You and Beth O’Leary’s The Flatshare.
Review:
Penny is a café owner who is discouraged by the lack of romance in her life. When Francesco walks into her café one day, she thinks that her luck is about to change. They have a whirlwind romance that seems too good to be true. Penny is suddenly called away from London, to return to her home town in Derbyshire to run her uncle’s restaurant. Francesco makes it easy for her to leave, but she can’t help thinking about him while she starts two new romances in Derbyshire. Penny strings all three men along, which can only end in heartbreak.
This story started out as a slow burn. Penny and Francesco’s romance was quite slow, and took up almost the first half of the book. I was wondering when the “love square” was going to come in, because it was just the two of them for so long. I think some of the details of that romance could have been condensed to get to the main point of the plot sooner, which was Penny’s love square with three men.
Penny was a frustrating character. At the beginning, a man told her that he didn’t want to be with her because she was too confident. However, by the end, she was letting certain men put her down to the point that she thought there was something seriously wrong with her. The men made her feel bad for doing the same things that they did to her. It was frustrating to see her being insulted and lacking the confidence that she was told she had the beginning of the story.
The cover didn’t match the story. The three men who are pictured on the cover don’t match the ones in the story. On the cover, one man has a dog and another has a bike, even though bicycles were never mentioned and a dog barked in one scene. These men didn’t match the chef, wine merchant, and concert tour manager in the story.
This slow burn romance didn’t work for me.
Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Have you read The Love Square? What did you think of it?
TBR Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, where you post a title from your shelf or e-reader and find out what others think about it.
My pick this week is Intercepted (Playbook #1) by Alexa Martin.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Marlee thought she scored the man of her dreams only to be scorched by a bad breakup. But there’s a new player on the horizon, and he’s in a league of his own…
Marlee Harper is the perfect girlfriend. She’s definitely had enough practice by dating her NFL-star boyfriend for the last ten years. But when she discovers he has been tackling other women on the sly, she vows to never date an athlete again. There’s just one problem: Gavin Pope, the new hotshot quarterback and a fling from the past, has Marlee in his sights.
Gavin fights to show Marlee he’s nothing like her ex. Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to let her escape her past. The team’s wives, who never led the welcome wagon, are not happy with Marlee’s return. They have only one thing on their minds: taking her down. But when the gossip makes Marlee public enemy number one, she worries about more than just her reputation.
Between their own fumbles and the wicked wives, it will take a Hail Mary for Marlee and Gavin’s relationship to survive the season.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
Title: Two Dark Reigns (Three Dark Crowns #3) Author: Kendare Blake Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy Publisher: HarperTeen Source: Purchased Format: Hardcover Release Date: September 4, 2018 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake returns with the highly anticipated third book in the Three Dark Crowns series! And while Arsinoe, Mirabella, and Katharine all have their own scores to settle, they aren’t the only queens stirring things up on Fennbirn Island.
Queen Katharine has waited her entire life to wear the crown. But now that she finally has it, the murmurs of dissent grow louder by the day. There’s also the alarming issue of whether or not her sisters are actually dead—or if they’re waiting in the wings to usurp the throne.
Mirabella and Arsinoe are alive, but in hiding on the mainland and dealing with a nightmare of their own: being visited repeatedly by a specter they think might be the fabled Blue Queen. Though she says nothing, her rotting, bony finger pointing out to sea is clear enough: return to Fennbirn.
Jules, too, is in a strange place—in disguise. And her only confidants, a war-gifted girl named Emilia and her oracle friend Mathilde, are urging her to take on a role she can’t imagine filling: a legion-cursed queen who will lead a rebel army to Katharine’s doorstep.
This is an uprising that the mysterious Blue Queen may have more to do with than anyone could have guessed—or expected.
Review:
Queen Katharine won the battle, so she is ruling Fennbirn Island. Her sisters, Arinsoe and Mirabella, are on the mainland, where they escaped after the duel with Katharine. Katharine doesn’t know if her sisters are alive or not, which means they could come and threaten her reign. Arsinoe’s friend Jules also escaped and is living in disguise. Jules’s friends Emilia and Mathilde want her to fill the role of the legion cursed queen to oppose Katharine. At the same time, the legendary Blue Queen is appearing in Arsinoe’s dreams, pointing her back toward Fennbirn Island. The biggest danger may be something they can’t see.
This story had a lot of world building, even though it is the third in the series. It opens with a flashback 400 years ago when Queen Illian, the Blue Queen, was born. She plays an important role in the story. I loved that history returned to the island in this story.
The plot took a twist I didn’t see coming. Some characters that were minor in previous books became more important to the story in this book. I love that the plot arc has changed in a surprising way, yet it still makes sense to the story as a whole.
I loved this book! I’m going to have to get the next book right away!
What to read next:
Five Dark Fates (Three Dark Crowns #3) by Kendare Blake
Queens of Fennbirn (Three Dark Crowns #0.1-0.2) by Kendare Blake
This is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. In this post we highlight a book that’s highly anticipated.
The book that I’m waiting on this Wednesday is Majesty (American Royals #2) by Katharine McGee. The expected publication date is September 1, 2020.
Goodreads Synopsis:
Is America ready for its first queen?
Power is intoxicating. Like first love, it can leave you breathless. Princess Beatrice was born with it. Princess Samantha was born with less. Some, like Nina Gonzalez, are pulled into it. And a few will claw their way in. Ahem, we’re looking at you Daphne Deighton.
As America adjusts to the idea of a queen on the throne, Beatrice grapples with everything she lost when she gained the ultimate crown. Samantha is busy living up to her “party princess” persona…and maybe adding a party prince by her side. Nina is trying to avoid the palace–and Prince Jefferson–at all costs. And a dangerous secret threatens to undo all of Daphne’s carefully laid “marry Prince Jefferson” plans.
Title: Monsters 101 Author: Cale Atkinson Genre: Children’s Publisher: Tundra Books Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: August 4, 2020 Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Readers who loved Unicorns 101 will love this laugh-out-loud picture book that finally sets the record straight about monsters!
Monsters! They’re so much more than just that scary thing under your bed. Join Professors Vampire, Blob and Werewolf, and their trusty lab assistant–a zombie named Tina–as they reveal eerie and frankly ridiculous monsters facts never uttered outside a crypt! For example:
– Monsters love competitive board game nights! – Favorite monster foods include clam pudding with fish heads and pickled ant ice cream! – In addition to cauldrons and spider gardens, monster homes often include homemade collages! – Werewolves hate the sound of vacuum cleaners! – Monsters aren’t all scary! Try being nice to one for a change! Offer them a compliment!
Full of eye-popping illustrations and a story with nonstop sidesplitting laughs, plus a removable Professor of Monstrology diploma at the end of the book, Monsters 101 will have children–and adults–eager to enroll, time and time again!
Review:
This is a reference book about monsters. It talks about different kinds of monsters, and includes sections on what monsters eat and what they do in their day to day lives.
This would be a great book for kids who love monsters. There were tons of fun facts about different monsters, including vampires, werewolves, and zombies. This would also be a great book to teach kids not to be afraid of monsters. It shows what monsters do when they hide under a bed, and they are actually more afraid of humans than humans are of them.
The book ends with a diploma to show that the reader has completed the Monsters 101 book. This is such a cute book for kids.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Unicorns 101 by Cale Atkinson
Have you read Monsters 101? What did you think of it?
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