Jill's Book Blog

Review: Confetti Realms

Title: Confetti Realms
Author: Nadia Shammas, Karnessa
Genre: Graphic Novel, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 17, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A group of teens are transported from a graveyard to another realm where they must collect teeth— and learn about themselves— in order to return home.

On Halloween night, when the moon is full, teenagers get up to mischief. But when an encounter with a giant, sentient puppet in a graveyard sends five teens to a mysterious dimension called the Confetti Realms, they must overcome obstacles in their own friendships–and collect the debted teeth owed to the puppet–in order to make their way home. But the allure of staying in a fantasy world is a hard one to beat, and going home to their normal lives is starting to sound less and less appealing for some. Will these friends return home?

Featuring a diverse cast of characters, this Tim Burton-esque, comedic, modern, and high-energy story is written by Eisner Award-winner Nadia Shammas, with art by Karnessa and colors by Hackto Oshiro.

Review:

On Halloween night, a group of four teens decide to explore a graveyard. They come across a mausoleum which has a giant puppet inside. He comes to life and sends them to another dimension called the Confetti Realms. He gives them the task of finding him five teeth from various creatures throughout the realm. If they find them all before that night, he will send them back home. However, as the night goes on, each of the friends realize that if they stay in the confetti realm, they won’t have to face their problems at home, so they must decide if they will stay or go back.

This story had lots of queer representation. It had a spooky atmosphere which is perfect for this time of year! The creatures they encountered were fun and entertaining. I laughed a few times while reading this graphic novel. I would have liked the ending to be less open ended because I like the closure of knowing exactly what happened.

Confetti Realms is a great Halloween graphic novel!

Thank you Mad Cave Studios for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: seizure (mention), panic attack (mention), homophobia (mention)

Have you read Confetti Realms? What did you think of it?

Review: In Myrtle Peril (Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries #4)

Title: In Myrtle Peril (Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries #4)
Author: Elizabeth C. Bunce
Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery, Historical Fiction
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Thomas Allen and Son
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Myrtle Hardcastle—twelve-year-old Victorian Amateur Detective—returns to investigate the case of a missing heiress lost at sea, an inquiry that runs aground when a murder in plain sight has no apparent victim.

When a mysterious girl attempts to stake her claim to the Snowcroft family fortune, Myrtle Hardcastle’s father, a lawyer, is asked to help prove—or disprove—the girl’s identity. Is this truly Ethel Snowcroft, believed to be lost at sea with her parents, or a con artist chasing a windfall? Mr. Hardcastle’s pursuit of the case takes a detour when he’s hospitalized for a tonsillectomy—only to witness a murder. Or does he? With no body at the scene, Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, fear the so-called murder was a feverish delusion—until a critical piece of evidence appears.

But where’s the victim? And who at the hospital could be harboring murderous intent? Myrtle is determined to find out before the killer comes after her father.
With stakes this high, her sleuthing has put Myrtle, her family, and the patients and staff at the Royal Swinburne Hospital In Myrtle Peril.

Review:

A mysterious girl arrives in Swinburne to try to claim she’s the heir to the Snowcroft fortune. Myrtle’s father, Mr. Hardcastle, is hired to help prove this girl’s identity. The girl, who claims to be Ethel Snowcroft, was lost at sea with her parents as a young child, but apparently she somehow survived. Meanwhile, Mr. Hardcastle is hospitalized with severe tonsillitis. While under the influence of pain medication, he claims to have seen a murder. Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, are the only people who believe him, so they must conduct their own investigation in the hospital, while also trying to prove Ethel’s identity.

This is another great Myrtle Hardcastle mystery! I loved the complexity of the mystery. Though the case of the girl who was claiming the fortune and the murder in the hospital seemed like two separate mysteries, they were connected. They were cleverly woven together and everything was explained in a way that made sense in the end. I really enjoyed this middle grade mystery!

In Myrtle Peril is a great mystery!

Thank you Thomas Allen and Son for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: murder, carbon monoxide poisoning, death of parent, hospital visits, drowning, attempted suicide

Other books in the series:

Have you read In Myrtle Peril? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – October 10

Happy Pub Day to these authors!

Realm of Wonders by Alexandra Monir

The Portal Keeper by David A. Robertson

Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros

Hatchet Girls by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Project F by Jeanne DuPrau

Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll

Thank you Disney Publishing, Tundra Books, Inkyard Press, and Penguin Teen Canada for providing copies of these books!

What books are you most excited for this week?

Review: Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune #1)

Title: Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune #1)
Author: Chloe Gong
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The first book in a captivating new duology following an ill-matched pair of spies posing as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders in 1930s Shanghai.

It’s 1931 in Shanghai, and the stage is set for a new decade of intrigue.

Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but the strange experiment that saved her also stopped her from sleeping and aging—and allows her to heal from any wound. In short, Rosalind cannot die. Now, desperate for redemption from her traitorous past, she uses her abilities as an assassin for her country.

Code name: Fortune.

But when the Japanese Imperial Army begins its invasion march, Rosalind’s mission pivots. A series of murders is causing unrest in Shanghai, and the Japanese are under suspicion. Rosalind’s new orders are to infiltrate foreign society and identify the culprits behind the terror plot before more of her people are killed.

To reduce suspicion, however, she must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong, and though Rosalind finds Orion’s cavalier attitude and playboy demeanor infuriating, she is willing to work with him for the greater good. But Orion has an agenda of his own, and Rosalind has secrets that she wants to keep buried. As they both attempt to unravel the conspiracy, the two spies soon find that there are deeper and more horrifying layers to this mystery than they ever imagined.

Review:

Shanghai, 1931: Four years ago Rosalind Lang was brought back from the dead, with a drug that stops her from aging, sleeping, and allows her to heal quickly from any wound. She uses her new abilities to work as an assassin for the Nationalists under the code name Fortune. However, when there are a series of strange murders throughout the city, Rosalind’s mission changes. She must pose as the wife of another Nationalist spy, Orion Hong. Rosalind doesn’t trust him with her true identity, but she’s willing to work with him for the mission. As they investigate the murders, they discover they both have secrets that are connected to the bigger conspiracy happening in the city.

This book was an exciting beginning to this duology set in the world of These Violent Delights. I loved seeing the characters again. Rosalind and her sister Celia were intriguing in These Violent Delights but they weren’t the main characters, so I’m glad they get a larger role in this series. At the beginning, it was a little confusing to figure out who was on which side of the Nationalists and Communists, especially since there were many double agents with multiple identities. However, there were so many twists near the end of the story that I didn’t want it to end! I’m so excited to read the next book!

Foul Lady Fortune is another great story by Chloe Gong!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death, stabbing, gun violence, death of sibling (mention), parental abandonment

Other books in the series:

Foul Heart Huntsman (Foul Lady Fortune #2)

Have you read Foul Lady Fortune (Foul Lady Fortune #1)? What did you think of it?

Review: DeadEndia: The Broken Halo

Title: DeadEndia: The Broken Halo
Author: Hamish Steele
Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy, LGBTQ
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 2, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Norma Khan has been split in two . . . literally! Dead End, the haunted hotel attraction at Phoenix Parks, has been rebuilt following the epic destruction that occurred there when Norma and her friends Barney and Pugsley saved the world. Unfortunately, Norma can’t keep herself together as a result. Not only is her friendship with Barney on the rocks, but she can’t seem to keep her own ghost inside her body. When Norma feels like she’s about to lose it all, her irksome friend and demon, Courtney, steps in to provide some unexpected support—though they are battling their own issues with identity and sense of belonging.

Meanwhile, Barney can’t face going back to Phoenix Parks and is mourning the loss of his beloved friend Pugsley. When his boyfriend, Logan, urges him to get a job, an opportunity from the demon planes comes knocking, and soon Barney is climbing the ladder of success in the Demon Wrestling Federation. Barney’s glory in the ring quickly comes crashing down when the friends discover they’ve stepped into an eons old battle between the demons and the angels. Can they keep their relationships and sense of self intact while doing battle with the forces of good AND evil?

Part workplace comedy, part supernatural horror adventure, with a splash of LGBTQ+ romance, The Broken Halo is perfect for fans of author Hamish Steele’s TV series Dead Paranormal Park who are in search of more adventures, for graphic novel lovers who want more diversity in their reads, or for anyone who has finished The Watcher’s Test and is ready for the next entry in the zany, creative, and laugh-out-loud funny world of DeadEndia.

Review:

Dead End, the haunted house at Phoenix Parks, was rebuilt after the tragic end of The Watcher’s Test. Norma can now split into a ghost and her relationship with Barney is still rocky. Barney isn’t ready to return to Phoenix Park yet, but he becomes a fighter in the Demon Wrestling Federation which earns him a lot of money. His success comes to a crashing halt when he’s set up for a dangerous fight. Norma, Barney, and their other friends must reunite to save the multi-planes of angels and demons.

This was a great second book in the DeadEndia series. I really liked seeing the characters again. Barney is trans, but that wasn’t as big of a plot point in this book as in the first. When the story went to the multi-planes and the battles between the angels and demons, the story drifted away from the main plot of Barney and Norma dealing with demons at the haunted house. I would have liked to see more of the fun stories that were in the first book. However, I loved the cliffhanger ending. I hope there will be another book in the series!

DeadEndia: The Broken Halo is a great graphic novel!

Thank you Union Square and Co. for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read DeadEndia: The Broken Halo? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – October 3

Happy Pub Day to these authors!

The Scarlet Alchemist by Kylie Lee Baker

Snowed in for Christmas by Jaqueline Snowe

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

Scream for the Camera by Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus

Wildfire by Hannah Grace

Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley

The Spells We Cast by Jason June

Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen by Geri Halliwell-Horner

The Bliss House by Jim Bartley

The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert

Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft

The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Thank you Inkyard Press, Forever, Simon Teen, Union Square and Co., Simon and Schuster Canada, Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen Canada, Dundurn Press, Frenzy Books, Wednesday Books, Tor Books, and Raincoast Books for providing copies of these books!

What books are you most excited for this week?

Review: Athena’s Child

Title: Athena’s Child
Author: Hannah Lynn
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mythology, Retelling
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

For readers of Madeleine Miller and Claire Heywood comes the story of the most infamous monster of Greek mythology: Medusa.

First, they loved her. Then, they abused her. Finally, they made her a villain.

Gifted and burdened with stunning beauty, young Medusa seeks sanctuary with the Goddess Athena. But when she catches the eye of the lecherous but mighty Poseidon, she is beyond protection. Powerful men rarely answer for their actions, after all.

Meanwhile, Perseus embarks on a seemingly impossible quest, equipped with only bravado and determination…

Medusa and Perseus soon become pawns of spiteful and selfish gods. Faced with the repercussions of Athena’s wrath, blamed for her assault, Medusa has no choice but to flee and hide. But can she do so without becoming the monster they say she is?

Medusa’s truth has long been lost. History tells of conquering heroes, of men with hearts of gold. Now it is time to hear the story of how history treats women who don’t comply.

Review:

Medusa was a beautiful human girl who was sent to Athena’s temple to be a priestess to save her from an early marriage. One day, she was visited by the god Poseidon, who raped her. When Athena discovered that, she punished Medusa by cursing her to turn anyone she looks at to stone. Perseus was born to a human mother as the son of Zeus. When his mother was sent to marry a horrible King, Perseus was given the quest to get the head of Medusa to earn his mother’s freedom. Medusa and Perseus are used as pawns for the gods, but they end up having more in common than expected.

This was a great retelling of Medusa’s story. She is often made to be the villain in stories, but she is actually a victim of the gods. In this story, she was born as a human and made into a Gorgon rather than being born one. I really liked the twist at the end. I didn’t expect it, but it was a nice way to bring the story full circle and connect Medusa and Perseus in an original way.

Athena’s Child is a beautiful retelling of Medusa’s story.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: rape, spousal abuse, death, death of parents

ead Athena’s Child? What did you think of it?

Review: Scream for the Camera (Graveyard Girls #2)

Title: Scream for the Camera (Graveyard Girls #2)
Author: Lisi Harrison, Daniel Kraus
Genre: Middle Grade, Horror, Contemporary
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: October 3, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling authors Lisi Harrison and Daniel Kraus deliver a s lightly scary, extremely addictive contemporary middle-grade series—perfect for fans of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps and Ann M. Martin’s The Babysitters Club.

It’s been a month since the Graveyard Girls—Gemma, Whisper, Sophie, Frannie, and Zuzu—discovered Silas Hoke’s empty grave. A month, and no answers. That changes when messages from the other side start to creep up on the Graveyard Girls. Gemma’s good-luck charm. The skull in Whisper’s spilled milk. Sophie’s vanishing phone. Frannie’s theater curse. And Zuzu’s possessed Jōurnal. Who is trying to reach them . . . and why?

The good There might be one person with some answers. The bad She’s a mortician . . . with a deadly secret.

Speaking of bad news, straight-A Sophie is quickly sliding down the scale to becoming a B-flat friend. She is spending way more time hanging out with “Danger Me” and way less time with the Graveyard Girls and her schoolwork. Will her scary story be enough to win back her pals, or will her picture-perfect life become the ultimate photo bomb?

Review:

A month ago, the Graveyard girls discovered the infamous killer Silas Hoke’s grave was empty. They’re still wondering what happened when strange things start happening. Gemma breaks her mother’s good luck charm, Whisper sees a skull in spilled milk, Frankie curses the theatre, Sophie’s phone disappears, and Zuzu is possessed by Ginny Baker, who was Silas’s murder victim. The girls have to figure out why these strange things keep happening, while also searching for Silas Hoke’s body and dealing with the everyday challenges of being a preteen.

This was another great Graveyard Girls book! I really like the way the characters are developed. The narrative alternates between each of the five girls, but they are all distinct characters with different lives and challenges. One of the girls in the first and second books tells her own spooky story, which is included in the book. It’s a fun little bonus story that’s connected to the main plot. This story ended on a very good cliffhanger so I hope there will be more books in the series!

Scream for the Camera is a great middle grade story for spooky season!

Thank you Union Square Kids for sending me a copy!

Content warnings: child death (mention), death of parent (mention)

Other books in the series:

1-2-3-4, I Declare a Thumb War (Graveyard Girls #2)

Have you read Scream for the Camera? What did you think of it?

Review: Nayra and the Djinn

Title: Nayra and the Djinn
Author: Iasmin Omar Ata
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this coming-of-age graphic novel with a fantastical twist, Nayra Mansour, a Muslim American girl is helped on her journey to selfhood by a djinn.

Nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour. There’s the constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless bullying from her classmates, and exhausting friendship demands from Rami -the only other Muslim girl at school. Nayra has had enough. Just when she’s considering transferring schools to escape it all, a mysterious Djinn named Marjan appears.

As a djinn, a mythical being in Islamic folklore, Marjan uses their powers and wisdom to help Nayra navigate her overwhelming life. But Marjan’s past is fraught with secrets, guilt, and trouble, and if they don’t face what they’ve done, Nayra could pay the price.

In this beautifully illustrated graphic novel, Iasmin Omar Ata has created a realistic coming-of-age story with an enchanting dose of the fantastical about strength, identity, and, most of all, friendship.

Review:

Nayra Mansour is under pressure from her family to do well at school, but her family doesn’t know how much she is bullied for being Muslim. She is friends with the only other Muslim girl at school, Rami, but that friendship isn’t strong enough to make Nayra feel better. While Nayra is considering transferring to a different school, a Djinn, a mythical creature in Islamic folklore, appears before her. The Djinn has run away from their home, but they want to help Nayra with her problems. Nayra has to figure out how to solve her problems with the help of the Djinn.

This was a great middle grade graphic novel! Nayra experienced a lot of racism and Islamophobia from her classmates. There was one girl who would call her names, even when Nayra asked her to stop. Nayra had to figure out a way to connect with the bully in order to get her to stop. It was sad to see her treated like that. Throughout the story, Nayra was fasting for Ramadan, but her classmates didn’t understand that so they made fun of her. If more people can understand and be empathetic to people from different backgrounds, there may be less racism in the world. It’s important for children to read stories like this one to see the harm that can come from bullying and racism.

Nayra and the Djinn is a great middle grade graphic novel!

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for providing a copy of this book!

Content warnings: racism, Islamophobia, bullying

Have you read Nayra and the Djinn? What did you think of it?

Happy Pub Day – September 26

Happy Pub Day to these authors!

The Witches of Bone Hill by Ava Morgyn

What Became of Magic by Paige Crutcher

Athena’s Child by Hannah Lynn

The Ex-Mas Holidays by Zoe Allison

Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey

For Girls Who Walk Through Fire by Kim DeRose

The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy

Foul Heart Huntsman by Chloe Gong

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

The Scarlet Veil by Shelby Mahurin

We the Sea Turtles by Michelle Kadarusman

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Sourcebooks Landmark, Berkley Romance, Union Square and Co., Penguin Random House Canada, Simon and Schuster Canada, Penguin Teen Canada, HarperCollins, Fable App, and Pajama Press for providing copies of these books!

What books are you most excited for this week?