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Review: The Barren Grounds (The Misewa Saga #1)

Title: The Barren Grounds (The Misewa Saga #1)
Author: David A. Robertson
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Puffin Canada
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 8, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Narnia meets traditional Indigenous stories of the sky and constellations in an epic middle grade fantasy series from award-winning author David Robertson.
Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home — until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything — including them.

Review:

Morgan and Eli are Indigenous foster children who live in the same foster house in Winnipeg. Eli has just moved in, and even though Morgan moved in two months before, she doesn’t feel comfortable yet because she hasn’t ever had a comfortable long term home. Their foster parents try to make the children feel more at home by bringing in Indigenous traditions, but it only pushes them away further. One night, Morgan and Eli sneak up to the attic and discover a portal into Misewa, a land with talking animals. Misewa has become barren, with a winter that has lasted years. Morgan and Eli have to help their new friend, Ochek the fisher, bring the green time back to their land while also learning about their Indigenous heritage.

This story reminded me of the Chronicles Narnia, but with Indigenous roots. The land that they travel to has talking animals who walk on two legs and speak Cree. This story had some creative aspects because Morgan is a writer and Eli is an artist. It is through Eli’s drawing that they find the mysterious land. As a writer, I liked how these creative arts connected that world with ours.

Though Morgan is from an Indigenous background, she doesn’t know their traditions. She has been in foster care for as long as she can remember, so she doesn’t feel a connection to her heritage. When her foster parents bring in Indigenous food and moccasins for her to wear in an attempt to get closer to her, it pushes her further away because she doesn’t have that connection to her heritage. This reminded me of the residential schools in Canada. Years ago, Indigenous children were taken from their homes and sent to residential schools to remove their traditions and cultural history. The way that Morgan didn’t know her own background reminded me of that because she had also been removed from her family and heritage. However, this wasn’t quite as devastating for Morgan as it was for the children who were sent to residential schools because she was able to learn some of her Indigenous heritage on their trip to Misewa.

This is a beautiful middle grade story. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Top 5 Saturday – Science Fiction Books I Want to Read

This is a weekly meme hosted Devouring Books. This week’s prompt is Science Fiction Books I Want to Read. Here’s my list:

1. Prodigy by Marie Lu

2. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

3. Cold Falling White by G.S. Prendergast

4. The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee

5. Aurora Rising by Amir Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

(All book covers from Goodreads)

If you’d like to do this list too, consider yourself tagged!

Did you make a Top 5 Saturday list?

Review: The Queen’s Secret: A Novel of England’s World War II Queen

Title: The Queen’s Secret: A Novel of England’s World War II Queen
Author: Karen Harper
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 19, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

If you love Jennifer Robson or The Crown you will love New York Times bestselling author Karen Harper’s novel about Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
1939. As the wife of the King George VI and the mother of the future queen, Elizabeth—“the queen mother”—shows a warm, smiling face to the world. But it’s no surprise that Hitler himself calls her the “Most Dangerous Woman in Europe.” For behind that soft voice and kindly demeanor is a will of steel.
Two years earlier, George was thrust onto the throne when his brother Edward abdicated, determined to marry his divorced, American mistress Mrs. Simpson. Vowing to do whatever it takes to make her husband’s reign a success, Elizabeth endears herself to the British people, and prevents the former king and his brazen bride from ever again setting foot in Buckingham Palace.
Elizabeth holds many powerful cards, she’s also hiding damaging secrets about her past and her provenance that could prove to be her undoing.
In this riveting novel of royal secrets and intrigue, Karen Harper lifts the veil on one of the world’s most fascinating families, and how its “secret weapon” of a matriarch maneuvered her way through one of the most dangerous chapters of the century.

Review:

Queen Elizabeth is married to King George VI. Together they have to strategize with Winston Churchill about how to defeat Hitler in WWII. But Elizabeth is keeping many secrets that could damage her reputation if they were discovered. Elizabeth holds her breath while hoping her darkest secrets are never revealed.

This was an exciting story. The royals had to deal with the war happening around them as well as their personal problems. King George missed his brother, who had been exiled after abdicating the throne. Elizabeth was concerned about her daughter falling for a young navy officer, Philip. Elizabeth was also keeping her own secrets from everyone else, which would cause many problems if they were revealed.

There were many different secrets that the Queen was keeping. Some of them were believable, but others were so extreme that I had a hard time believing could be true. As I often do when I read historical fiction, I had to google characters to figure out what really happened. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but these were scandalous secrets that would have affected her life if they were true and they were exposed. The Queen’s secrets made the story intense, but they were so scandalous that they didn’t seem realistic.

I enjoyed this royal historical story!

The Friday 56 – The Queen’s Secret

This is a weekly meme hosted by Freda’s Voice.

The Rules are:

Grab a book, any book.
Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
Find any sentence, (or few, just don’t spoil it) that grabs you.
Post it. And share your link.
It’s that simple.

I chose The Queen’s Secret: A Novel of England’s World War II Queen by Karen Harper.

Here is my line from page 56 in my copy:

“It was good to see our own children enjoying themselves so. Both Lilibet and Margot had pink cheeks, had been laughing, and were out of breath from pretending to fight a duel with each other wielding two of Queen Mary’s old walking sticks like sabers, whacking away.”

Did you make a post for the Friday 56?

Review: Cracking the Case of the Missing Egg (Farm Crimes!)

Title: Cracking the Case of the Missing Egg
Author: Sandra Dumais
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 15, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A peaceful day on the farm turns to panic when Hen discovers her egg has been stolen! The only one who can crack the case? Billiam Van Hoof, the world’s number one goat detective (at least, that’s what he calls himself).
As Van Hoof questions the animals and collects clues—a piece of eggshell, a yellow feather, and some tiny footprints—the answer to the mystery becomes obvious to everyone except the bumbling inspector.

Review:

When Hen wakes up to discover that her egg is missing, goat detective Billiam Van Hoof has to investigate. He interviews the other animals and searches for clues, on his search for the missing egg.

I loved the details in the illustrations. All of the animals were wearing clothes. Hen had just woken up and was rushing around, so she was wearing bunny slippers and pearls. The detailed images added to the humour of the story.

Billiam van Hoof wasn’t a very good detective. He found a cracked shell, a feather, and tiny footprints, but he still couldn’t guess what happened. Even though he couldn’t solve the mystery very quickly, young readers will figure out what happened to Hen’s egg.

This is an adorable children’s book.

Thank you Owlkids Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TBR Thursday – September 10

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 Sisters of Sword and Song by Rebecca Ross.

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the author of The Queen’s Rising comes a thrilling YA stand-alone fantasy about the unbreakable bond between sisters. Perfect for fans of Ember in the Ashes, Sky in the Deep, and Court of Fives.
After eight long years, Evadne will finally be reunited with her older sister, Halcyon, who has been proudly serving in the queen’s army. But when Halcyon appears earlier than expected, Eva knows something has gone terribly wrong. Halcyon is on the run, hunted by her commander and charged with murder.
Though Halcyon’s life is spared during her trial, the punishment is heavy. And when Eva volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence, she’s determined to find out exactly what happened. But as Eva begins her sentence, she quickly learns that there are fates much worse than death.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Blog Tour Review: These Vengeful Hearts

Title: These Vengeful Hearts
Author: Katherine Laurin
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Thriller
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 8, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Anyone can ask the Red Court for a favor…but every request comes at a cost. And once the deed is done, you’re forever in their debt.
Whenever something scandalous happens at Heller High, the Red Court is the name on everyone’s lips. Its members–the most elite female students in the school–deal out social ruin and favors in equal measure, their true identities a secret known only to their ruthless leader: the Queen of Hearts.
Sixteen-year-old Ember Williams has seen firsthand the damage the Red Court can do. Two years ago, they caused the accident that left her older sister paralyzed. Now, Ember is determined to hold them accountable…by taking the Red Court down from the inside.
But crossing enemy lines will mean crossing moral boundaries, too–ones Ember may never be able to come back from. She always knew taking on the Red Court would come at a price, but will the cost of revenge be more than she’s willing to sacrifice?

Review:

The Red Court is a secret society at Heller High that deals out favors. Students can send them a message to get revenge on someone at the school, but the favor comes at a cost that will be repaid at a later date. Ember wants to join the Red Court so she can take them down. She blames them for causing her sister’s accident years ago, that left her paralyzed and in a wheelchair. However, joining the Red Court may take more out of Ember than she’s able to give them.

This was an exciting and suspenseful story. The chapters were short which made it easy to read quickly. The tasks that Ember had to do for the Red Court were also fast paced, which left a lot of cliffhangers to encourage me to keep reading.

My suspicions about the identity of the Queen of Hearts, the leader of the Red Court, were correct, so the ending wasn’t too shocking. It was a satisfying ending and all of my questions were answered, so there weren’t any loose strings. The ending left the possibility for a sequel, which I would love to read!

This was a great story!

Thank you Inkyard Press for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

About the author:

Katherine Laurin lives in Colorado with her husband, two sons, and tiny dog. When she’s not writing, Katherine enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and listening to true crime podcasts. These Vengeful Hearts is her first young adult novel.

Have you read These Vengeful Hearts? What did you think of it?

‘Waiting on’ Wednesday – September 9

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 The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. The expected publication date is October 6, 2020.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A Life No One Will Remember. A Story You Will Never Forget.
France, 1714: in a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forever and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets.
Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue, and a dazzling adventure that will play out across centuries and continents, across history and art, as a young woman learns how far she will go to leave her mark on the world.
But everything changes when, after nearly 300 years, Addie stumbles across a young man in a hidden bookstore and he remembers her name.

What books are you waiting on this week?

Review: The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy #1)

Title: The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy #1)
Author: Signe Pike
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Touchstone
Source: Gifted
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Compared to Outlander and The Mists of Avalon, this thrilling first novel of a debut trilogy reveals the untold story of Languoreth—a forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotland—twin sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin.
I write because I have seen the darkness that will come. Already there are those who seek to tell a new history…
In a land of mountains and mist, tradition and superstition, Languoreth and her brother Lailoken are raised in the Old Way of their ancestors. But in Scotland, a new religion is rising, one that brings disruption, bloodshed, and riot. And even as her family faces the burgeoning forces of Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons, bent on colonization, are encroaching from the east. When conflict brings the hero Emrys Pendragon to her father’s door, Languoreth finds love with one of his warriors. Her deep connection to Maelgwn is forged by enchantment, but she is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king. As Languoreth is catapulted into a world of violence and political intrigue, she must learn to adapt. Together with her brother—a warrior and druid known to history as Myrddin—Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way and the survival of her kingdom, or risk the loss of them both forever.
Based on new scholarship, this tale of bravery and conflicted love brings a lost queen back to life—rescuing her from obscurity, and reaffirming her place at the center of one of the most enduring legends of all time.

Review:

Langoureth is the forgotten queen from the sixth century. She was raised with her twin brother, Lailoken, in the Old Way, with legends and secrets kept by the Keepers. As they grew up, Christianity grew in popularity and became the religion of the land. When Langoureth is promised to be married to the son of the king, she has to fight between the desire to follow her heart and to do what’s right for her family.

This story was fast paced and exciting. The chapters ended with cliffhangers that made me want to keep reading. Langoureth had many secrets that she had to hide from others, which added tension. If these secrets were revealed, it could mean the death of her or the people she cared most about so it was important that she keep them to herself. The threat of these secrets kept up the tension in the story.

I loved the medieval history in this story. I wasn’t aware of this story before reading this book. There isn’t a lot of information about these historical figures, since it took place 1,500 years ago, but this story of the forgotten queen, Langoureth, is an important one.

This is a great historical story. I’m so excited to read the next book in the trilogy!

Top Ten Tuesday – Books for My Younger Self

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and it is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s theme is Books for My Younger Self. Here’s my list: