Review: A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga #1)

Title: A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga #1)
Author: Melissa Blair
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Union Square and Co.
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: August 2, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

My body is made of scars,
some were done to me,
but most I did to myself. 
 
Keera is a killer. As the King’s Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the king’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure moves against the Crown, Keera is called upon to hunt down the so-called Shadow. She tracks her target into the magical lands of the Fae, but Faeland is not what it seems . . . and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she learns, and can’t help but wonder who her enemy truly is: the King that destroyed her people or the Shadow that threatens the peace?
 
As she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago, one that will test her in every way. To keep her word, Keera must not only save herself, but an entire kingdom.
 
Fans of fast-paced high fantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses series, The Inadequate Heir, and From Blood and Ash author Jennifer L. Armentrout, will enjoy the fierce female characters, sapphic representation, and fantasy romance of A Broken Blade.

Review:

Keera is the King’s Blade, his favourite assassin. When a mysterious figure known as the Shadow starts attacking near the capital, the King sends Keera out to find him. She travels to the lands of the Fae to find out more about the Shadow. Keera is shocked when she meets the Shadow, and he isn’t the enemy she thought he was. The Shadow makes Keera question her position as the Blade and who her real enemy could be. 

This book definitely lived up to the hype. It was fast-paced and action packed. This story was based on the way Indigenous people were/are treated in North America. The King in this book took the lands from the Fae and Elves who lived there. Halflings, those who were half mortal, half elf, were deemed as lesser. The King would take custody of and train Halflings as his own soldiers. This story showed how horrible a leader like the King really is, and it’s disturbing that it’s a mirror image to what happened in the real world here. 

A Broken Blade is a fantastic fantasy! I can’t wait to read the sequel!

Thank you Union Square and Co and Manda Group for sending me a copy!

Content warnings: self harm, alcoholism, murder, physical abuse, parental death

What to read next:

A Shadow Crown by Melissa Blair

Other books in the series:

  • A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga #2)

Have you read A Broken Blade? What did you think of it?

Review: Schnozzer and Tatertoes: Take a Hike!

Title: Schnozzer and Tatertoes: Take a Hike!
Author: Rick Stromoski
Genre: Children’s, Graphic Novel
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: June 27, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A buddy adventure through the forest, starring two best-pal pooches!  Two best friend dogs, Schnozzer (the smart one) and Tatertoes (the cheerful one), set off into the forest on a journey to visit Tatertoes’s mom. Along their adventure, they encounter bees, bears, quicksand, characters from fairy tales, something called “nose spiders,” and  lots  of yo-yo action. Their adventures are told as a series of vignettes, propelled by easygoing but giggle-inducing humor. That plus Rick Stromoski’s lush, illustrative style and charming character designs make for page-turning, chuckle-filled reading.

Review:

Schnozzer and Tatertoes are two dog friends who live together. After a game of “Mother May I,” Schnozzer realizes he doesn’t have any memories of his mom. They decide to go to the farm where Schnozzer was born to find his mom. Along the way, they meet fairytale characters, like Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks, and creatures like “nose spiders” and “a log with a face” in the water. They have a entertaining journey to find Schnozzer’s mom. 

This was an adorable children’s graphic novel! Schnozzer is a cheerful and naive dog, while Tatertoes is more logical. There were jokes that will make kids and adults laugh. The illustrations were beautiful and expressive too. I liked the inclusion of familiar fairy tale characters. It made the story relatable, since they were characters I already know. 

Schnozzer and Tatertoes Take a Hike is a great children’s graphic novel!

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

Have you read Schnozzer and Tatertoes: Take a Hike? What did you think of it?

Review: Reputation

Title: Reputation
Author: Lex Croucher
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 8, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A classic romcom with a Regency-era twist, for fans of Mean Girls and Bridgerton.

Abandoned by her parents in favour of a sea view, middle class Georgiana Ellers has moved to a new town to live with her dreary aunt and uncle. At a particularly dull dinner party, she meets the enigmatic Frances Campbell, a wealthy socialite and enchanting member of the in-crowd.

Through Frances and her friends, Georgiana is introduced to a new world of wild parties, drunken debauchery, mysterious young men with strangely alluring hands, and the sparkling upper echelons of Regency society.

But high society isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and the price of entry might be more than Georgiana is willing to pay . . .

Full of lavish parties, handsome men on horseback and laugh-out-loud humour, this is the summer read everyone’s talking about.

Review:

Mean Girls meets Bridgerton in this Regency rom com. Georgiana Ellers has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle for the season while her parents stay by the sea for her mother’s health. At a boring dinner party, Georgiana meets Frances Campbell, a wealthy socialite and rebel. Georgiana is soon accepted into Frances’s exclusive group of friends, who drink, do drugs, and have wild parties. However, things take a dark turn when the parties get out of control. Georgiana must stand up for herself, even if it means giving up her place in high society. 

This was such a fun rom com! I loved the way modern partying was combined with a Regency setting. Frances was like Regina George from Mean Girls, influencing Georgiana to do everything she’s been taught not to do. There were even some references to Mean Girls which I loved. The story took a darker turn towards the end. There was a sexual assault and a bit of a “me too” movement, which also made the story relatable to a modern audience. This part was definitely deserved in the story, as it showed how the wild parties can have an explosive ending. 

Reputation is a great Regency rom com!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital copy of this book!

Content warnings: abandonment, parental death, sibling death, alcohol poisoning, drug use, sexual assault

What to read next:

Infamous by Lex Croucher

Have you read Reputation? What did you think of it?

Review: Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music

Title: Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music
Author: Rebel Girls
Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction
Publisher: Rebel Girls
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

TRUE STORIES OF WOMEN WHO RAISE THE ROOF!

This collection features 25 stories of extraordinary women in music—women who have moved hearts and minds with their lyrics, uplifted other musicians, and gotten people to jump, dance, and sing along with their music.

Belt out pop anthems with Lizzo, bang on the drums with Nandi Bushell, and write country hits with Dolly Parton. The women in this book come from all around the world. They play different instruments, experiment with new sounds, and stand out in their genres. But one thing is true of them They rock! 

With a forward by iconic rocker Joan Jett and activities curated by Gibson Guitars, this book will have readers everywhere jamming out! Plus, scannable codes let you listen to more stories on the Rebel Girls app.

Review:

Rebel Girls Rock tells the stories of 25 women in the music industry. The women are musicians, singers, or music executives. 

I was familiar with many of the women, such as Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, and Lizzo, but most of them were new to me. Evelyn Glynne is a Scottish drummer who is deaf. She creates music through feeling the thumps of the percussion instruments. Jody Gerson is the CEO and chairman of Universal Music Publishing Group, and works with artists such as Lady Gaga and Halsey. Laura Jane Grace is a trans punk rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist who found confidence through creating music. I loved learning about these inspiring women in music. 

Rebel Girls Rock is a must-read for anyone interested in the music industry!

Thank you Rebel Girls for providing a digital copy of this book!

What to read next:

Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women by Rebel Girls

Have you read Rebel Girls Rock? What did you think of it?

Review: Something More

Title: Something More
Author: Jackie Khalilieh
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: June 6, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A contemporary teen romance novel featuring a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school, for fans of Jenny Han and Samira Ahmed. 

Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in color is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.

Review:

Fifteen-year-old Jessie Khassis has just been diagnosed with autism the summer before starting high school. This diagnosis has explained why she has always felt different, but she wants to have a fresh start in high school and keep her autism a secret. Jessie makes a list of goals as she begins to navigate the confusing landscape of high school. She makes new friends who don’t always behave the way she thinks they would, and there are boys who she likes but they send her mixed signals. Jessie must find her place in high school while learning more about herself along the way. 

I found this story so relatable. Jessie is neurodivergent and understands the world in a way that is different from neurotypical people. However, I think neurodivergent and neurotypical readers could relate to her struggles in high school. Being a teenager and figuring out high school can be difficult. Some people can be confusing, like Jessie’s friends who said one thing but acted a different way. Even though Jessie’s autism makes her view the world in a unique way, these kinds of mixed signals can be confusing for anyone. Even when something is right in front of us, we may not want to believe it if we don’t want to be real. 

Something More is one of the most authentic and relatable contemporary young adult novels I’ve read in a long time!

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

Content warnings: bullying, cheating, death of grandparent

What to read next:

Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Have you read Something More? What did you think of it?

Review: Camp QUILTBAG

Title: Camp QUILTBAG
Author: Nicole Melleby and A.J. Sass
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary, LGBTQ
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: March 21, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the acclaimed authors of Hurricane Season and Ana on the Edge, an unforgettable story about the importance of and joy in finding a community, for fans of Alex Gino and Ashley Herring-Blake.

Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is so excited to spend her summer at Camp QUILTBAG, an inclusive retreat for queer and trans kids. She can’t wait to find a community where she can be herself—and, she hopes, admit her crush on that one hot older actress to kids who will understand.

Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is not as excited. E just wants to hang out with eir best friend and eir parkour team. And e definitely does not want to think about the incident that left eir arm in a sling—the incident that also made Kai’s parents determined to send em somewhere e can feel like emself.

After a bit of a rocky start at camp, Abigail and Kai make a pact: If Kai helps Abigail make new friends, Abigail will help Kai’s cabin with the all-camp competition. But as they navigate a summer full of crushes, queer identity exploration, and more, they learn what’s really important. Camp QUILTBAG is a heartfelt story full of the joy that comes from being and loving yourself.

Review:

Twelve-year-old Abigail (she/her/hers) is excited to attend Camp QUILTBAG for the first time. It’s an inclusive two-week long camp, where she can finally be herself. After her crush on her friend’s mom was discovered, she was teased by her friends. She hopes to discover some new friends with similar interests. Thirteen-year-old Kai (e/em/eir) is reluctant to attend Camp QUILTBAG. E would rather stay at home with eir best friend. After an incident at school left Kai with a dislocated shoulder, eir parents thought it would be a good idea to meet kids like em. Both kids went to the camp for different reasons, but learned to accept their true identities. 

This was such a sweet story about an LGBTQ+ inclusive camp. I didn’t realize until I began reading that the name QUILTBAG is made of many of the letters in the LGBTQ acronym, though it left out some identities. The leader of the camp acknowledged that they should come up with an even more inclusive name. I liked the gender neutral pronouns that Kai used. Those pronouns were much easier to read than the gender neutral pronoun “they,” which can be confusing to read as it gets mixed up with the plural pronoun “they.” There was a wide variety of different gender identities and sexualities represented in this story. Every child at the camp came from a different background and experience but they were all accepted at the inclusive camp. 

Camp QUILTBAG is a great LGBTQ+ middle grade story!

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book!

What to read next:

In the Role of Brie Hutchens… by Nicole Melleby

Have you read Camp QUILTBAG? What did you think of it?

Review: The Alchemy of Moonlight

Title: The Alchemy of Moonlight
Author: David Ferraro
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Historical Fiction, Gothic
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Source: Manda Group
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: May 30, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

When Emile’s aunt declares he must marry or be disowned for being gay—he runs away to hide as a servant in Count Montoni’s mansion. In their service, Emile tends to the family who all suffer a strange affliction on the full moon. And after overhearing suspicious family arguments, he finds a body on the estate, drawing the attention of a handsome doctor as well as the count’s charismatic nephew, Henri. 

Before Emile can sort out his affections or unravel the growing Montoni family mystery, his identity is revealed and his aunt comes to collect him.

When she arrives, Count Montoni forces everyone to depart to the remote Udolpho Castle—where there are no witnesses and no chance for escape. There, Emile realizes that he will have to risk his life to find the love he deserves—and survive the Montoni family.

Review:

When Emile’s aunt insists he get married or be sent to an asylum for being gay and lose his inheritance, he runs away and gets a job as a servant in Count Montoni’s mansion. He finds a dismembered hand on the property which introduces him to the local doctor, Valancourt. Emile also draws the attention of the Count’s nephew, Henri. As Emile finds more bodies on the property, he wonders if the Count has a dark secret. He hopes to figure it out so that he can blackmail the Count so that he no longer has to wait for his inheritance. However, Emile’s past catches up with him and the family moves to Udolpho castle, where there is no chance for escape and the danger lies within the castle walls. 

This story is a queer retelling of The Mysteries of Udolpho. I haven’t read that story but I am familiar with it. Though I can’t speak to the way this story was adapted, I liked the other nods to classic gothic novel. For example, there was a character in a scene named Carmilla, whose skin was cold to touch, like the vampire in the book Carmilla. This story was exciting, with twists that I didn’t see coming. There was also a love triangle, but it actually ended in a healthy relationship, that I won’t give details on to avoid spoilers. 

The Alchemy of Moonlight is a spooky new gothic novel!

Thank you Manda Group for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parents, mentions of suicide, dismemberment, homophobia

What to read next:

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Have you read The Alchemy of Moonlight? What did you think of it?