Review: Castles in Their Bones (Castles in Their Bones #1)

Title: Castles in Their Bones (Castles in Their Bones #1)
Author: Laura Sebastian
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: February 1, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A spellbinding story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.

Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes.

Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria.

The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers.

Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?

Review:

Since Empress Margaraux gave birth to triplets, she planned to marry them off to princes in three different countries so that she could reign over them all. When they turn sixteen, Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are each sent to a different country to get married, with the promise that they will be reunited at home a year later. They have been trained to take down the monarchies using seduction, deception, and perhaps some magic. However, their mother did not tell them all of her plans. The three girls have to navigate around new countries and monarchies while dodging the tests that are put in their way. 

I knew I would love this story because I loved Laura Sebastian’s Ash Princess trilogy. This one lived up to my expectations. The settings were descriptive and distinct. The three sisters were sent to different countries, and they each had to deal with a completely different situation with their new husband and politics at the palaces. There were loads of twists that I didn’t expect. The ending was shocking and I found it hard to believe that one thing really happened. I’m so glad I will get to read the next one soon, as it comes out next week!

Castles in Their Bones was a thrilling start to a fantasy series!

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

What to read next:

Stardust in Their Veins by Laura Sebastian

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

Other books in the series:

  • Starlight in Their Veins (Castles in Their Bones #2)

Have you read Castles in Their Bones? What did you think of it?

Review: The School of Mirrors

Title: The School of Mirrors
Author: Eva Stachniak
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Random House Canada
Source: Publisher, Tandem Collective Global
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

A scintillating, gorgeously written historical novel about a mother and a daughter in eighteenth-century France, beginning with decadence and palace intrigue at Versailles and ending in an explosive new era of revolution.

During the reign of Louis XV, impoverished but lovely teenage girls from all over France are sent to a discreet villa in the town of Versailles. Overseen by the King’s favorite mistress, Madame de Pompadour, they will be trained as potential courtesans for the King. When the time is right, each girl is smuggled into the palace of Versailles, with its legendary Hall of Mirrors. There they meet a mysterious but splendidly dressed man who they’re told is merely a Polish count, a cousin of the Queen. Living an indulgent life of silk gowns, delicious meals, and soft beds, the students at this “school of mirrors” rarely ask questions, and when Louis tires of them, they are married off to minor aristocrats or allowed to retire to one of the more luxurious nunneries. 

Beautiful and canny Veronique arrives at the school of mirrors and quickly becomes a favorite of the King. But when she discovers her lover’s true identity, she is whisked away, sent to give birth to a daughter in secret, and then to marry a wealthy Breton merchant. There is no return to the School of Mirrors.

This is also the story of the King’s daughter by Veronique—Marie-Louise. Well-provided for in a comfortable home, Marie-Louise has never known her mother, let alone her father. Capable and intelligent, she discovers a passion for healing and science, and becomes an accredited midwife, one of the few reputable careers for women like her. But eventually Veronique comes back into her daughter’s life, bringing with her the secret of Marie-Louise’s birth. But the new King—Louis XVI—is teetering on his throne and it’s a volatile time in France…and those with royal relatives must mind their step very carefully.

Review:

King Louis XV of France has teenage girls from all over the country come and live at a nearby villa. His mistress Madam de Pompadour oversees the training of these girls as courtesans for the King, though they are told they will be visiting with a Polish Count. Thirteen-year-old Véronique is one of these girls whose mother sends her away because she can’t afford to keep her. Véronique becomes a favourite girl of the King, but when she becomes pregnant, she’s whisked away to give birth in secret and then she must marry a merchant that has been chosen for her. Véronique’s daughter Marie-Louise has to grow up without her parents. She isn’t treated well by her guardians, until she is sent to be trained by a midwife in Paris. The woman who teaches her treats Marie-Louise like her niece, and gives her a good life. However, when Marie-Louise finds a piece in the puzzle to her parentage, she tries to find the secret of her birth. 

This was quite a difficult book to read. There were some terrible things that happened to women and girls in the book, many of which were because of the time period but some still happen today. One thing that was interesting was the medical side of this story. Medicine has come a long way since the eighteenth century, but there was a female labour machine that mimicked the way a woman would give birth to teach midwives. This was an interesting piece of history that I didn’t know existed before reading this book. 

The School of Mirrors is a tough read but it’s a touching story. 

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tandem Collective Global for providing a copy of this book. 

Content warnings: child abuse, child death, mother death, childbirth complications, nonconsensual sexual encounters

What to read next:

The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull

Have you read The School of Mirrors? What did you think of it?

Review: Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2)

Title: Hell Bent (Alex Stern #2)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Source: Purchased
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell in #1 New York Times bestselling author Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent.

Find a gateway to the underworld. Steal a soul out of hell. A simple plan, except people who make this particular journey rarely come back. But Galaxy “Alex” Stern is determined to break Darlington out of purgatory―even if it costs her a future at Lethe and at Yale.

Forbidden from attempting a rescue, Alex and Dawes can’t call on the Ninth House for help, so they assemble a team of dubious allies to save the gentleman of Lethe. Together, they will have to navigate a maze of arcane texts and bizarre artifacts to uncover the societies’ most closely guarded secrets, and break every rule doing it. But when faculty members begin to die off, Alex knows these aren’t just accidents. Something deadly is at work in New Haven, and if she is going to survive, she’ll have to reckon with the monsters of her past and a darkness built into the university’s very walls.

Thick with history and packed with Bardugo’s signature twists, Hell Bent brings to life an intricate world full of magic, violence, and all too real monsters.

Review:

Galaxy “Alex” Stern will do anything to bring her mentor Darlington back. Though Lethe, the secret organization, has forbidden Alex and her friend Dawes from embarking on a rescue mission, she won’t let that deter her. Meanwhile, Yale staff members are dying in unusual ways that point to Lethe. Alex has to venture into places no one has gone before to save Darlington, her friends, and everything she calls home. 

I can’t say much about this book without spoilers, but it was worth the 3 year wait. The story was unpredictable and so twisty, I never knew what was going to happen next. There was a little bit of flipping between the past and present in chapters which could be confusing at times, but this happened less than in Ninth House. There were some intense surprises throughout the story that will keep readers entertained!

Hell Bent is a fabulous new Leigh Bardugo book! I can’t wait to read the next one!

What to read next:

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake

Other books in the series:

Have you read Ninth House? What did you think of it?

Review: Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code

Title: Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code
Author: Corinne Purtill, Marina Muun (illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Nonfiction
Publisher: Rebel Girls
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 17, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the exciting adventures of Ada Lovelace: one of the world’s first computer programmers.

Growing up in nineteenth century London, England, Ada is curious about absolutely everything. She is obsessed with machines and with creatures that fly. She even designs her own flying laboratory!

According to her mother, Ada is a bit too wild, so she encourages Ada to study math. At first Ada thinks: Bleh! Who can get excited about a subject without pictures? But she soon falls in love with it. One day she encounters a mysterious machine, and from that moment forward Ada imagines a future full of possibility—one that will eventually inspire the digital age nearly two hundred years later.

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is the story of a pioneer in the computer sciences, and a testament to women’s invaluable contributions to STEM throughout history.

Includes additional text on Ada Lovelace’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to teach simple coding and mathematical concepts.

Review:

Ada Lovelace was the daughter of poet Lord Byron. She loved fairytales and had a strong imagination. Her mother encouraged her to study math, to try and keep her in control. Ada fell in love with math and sciences, and was fascinated by the creation of machines. Though she couldn’t become a scientist as a woman in the nineteenth century, she has been given credit for her studies and research nearly two centuries later. 

I didn’t know anything about Ada Lovelace before reading this story so I found it fascinating. She was quite ahead of her time in the way she thought about machines. Many of her ideas, such as machines that can create music or art, can be done today with our phones. Though she couldn’t get credit for her work during her lifetime, we now know what she was capable of creating. 

This book also has some fun codes and activities that kids will enjoy doing!

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code is an inspiring story for children and adults!

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

What to read next:

Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a Forest by Rebel Girls

Other books in the series:

Have you read Doctor Who: Origins? What did you think of it?

Review: Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns #1.5)

Title: Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns #1.5)
Author: Margaret Rogerson
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Novella
Publisher: Margaret K.McElderry Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 17, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

In this sequel novella to Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas must unravel the magical trap keeping them inside Thorn Manor in time for their Midwinter Ball!

Elisabeth Scrivener is finally settling into her new life with sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn. Now that their demon companion Silas has returned, so has scrutiny from nosy reporters hungry for gossip about the city’s most powerful sorcerer and the librarian who stole his heart. But something strange is afoot at Thorn Manor: the estate’s wards, which are meant to keep their home safe, are acting up and forcibly trapping the Manor’s occupants inside. Surely it must be a coincidence that this happened just as Nathaniel and Elisabeth started getting closer to one another…

With no access to the outside world, Elisabeth, Nathaniel, and Silas – along with their new maid Mercy – will have to work together to discover the source of the magic behind the malfunctioning wards before they’re due to host the city’s Midwinter Ball. Not an easy task when the house is filled with unexpected secrets, and all Elisabeth can think about is kissing Nathaniel in peace. But when it becomes clear that the house, influenced by the magic of Nathaniel’s ancestors, requires a price for its obedience, Elisabeth and Nathaniel will have to lean on their connection like never before to set things right.

Review:

In this sequel to Sorcery of Thorns, Nathaniel and Elisabeth are living together at Thorn Manor. They wake up one morning to find the house covered in vines that can’t be removed. As Nathaniel and Elisabeth get closer, the house’s wards misbehave and trap them inside along with Mercy, the new maid, and Silas, their demon companion. They have to figure out how to fix the house before the Midwinter Ball, which they’re supposed to host in 10 days. 

It’s been 3 years since I read Sorcery of Thorns, and I was excited to return to this world in this novella. I really liked that this was a complete short story that gave a glimpse into the lives of these characters after their main story. I’ve read other novellas that follow a series or complete story that don’t have a real or interesting plot. The plot in this story was fun and mysterious, which made me excited to read it. 

Mysteries of Thorn Manor is a great novella!

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

What to read next:

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson

Other books in the series:

Have you read Mysteries of Thorn Manor? What did you think of it?

Review: Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business

Title: Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business
Author: Denene Millner, Salini Perera (illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Nonfiction
Publisher: Rebel Girls
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 17, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker: America’s first female self-made millionaire.

Sarah is the first person in her family who wasn’t born into slavery in Delta, Louisiana. But being free doesn’t mean that Sarah doesn’t have to work. She cooks, she cleans, she picks cotton, she does laundry, and she babysits. And when she works, she wraps up her hair.

One day, Sarah’s hair starts to fall out! It’s itchy, crunchy, patchy, and won’t grow. Instead of giving up, Sarah searches for the right products. And then she invents something better than any shampoo or hair oil she’s used before. Her hair grows and grows! That’s when she decides to rebrand herself as “Madam C.J. Walker,” and begins her business empire.

Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business is the story of a leader in the hair care industry, but it’s also an inspiring tale about the importance of empowering women to become economically independent.

Includes additional text on Madam C.J. Walker’s lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to teach entrepreneurship.

Review:

Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, was an entrepreneur in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who created hair care products for Black women. She is considered the first female self-made millionaire. After dealing with hair loss and dandruff, she was introduced to products that could grow her hair. When those products made her hair grow, she developed her own formula to help women across America. Madam C.J. Walker was an inspiring woman. 

I love the Rebel Girls books about women who have accomplished incredible achievements, so I was excited to try their new chapter books about specific inspiring women. Madam C.J. Walker is a huge inspiration considering she created products for Black women during a time when Black people were fighting for civil rights in America. She was turned away from the powerful Black and white men who she approached for help, so she had to achieve it all on her own. 

I can remember learning about Madam C.J. Walker in school, but I didn’t know the extent of all that she achieved throughout her lifetime. It’s quite inspiring so see someone who overcame every obstacle and became a success. I highly recommend this beautifully illustrated book!

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

What to read next:

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code by Corinne Purtill, Marina Muun (illustrator)

Other books in the series:

  • Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a Forest
  • Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code
  • Junko Tabei Masters the Mountains
  • Alicia Alonso Takes the Stage

Have you read Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business? What did you think of it?

Review: Lunar Love

Title: Lunar Love
Author: Lauren Kung Jessen
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Forever
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

This sweet, enemies-to-lovers debut rom-com filled with Chinese astrology will undoubtedly prove to be a perfect match with readers of Helen Hoang, Jasmine Guillory, and Helena Hunting.

Always a matchmaker, never a match…

Olivia Huang Christenson is excited-slash-terrified to be taking over her grandmother’s matchmaking business. But when she learns that a new dating app has made her Pó Po’s traditional Chinese zodiac approach all about “animal attraction,” her emotions skew more toward furious-slash-outraged. Especially when L.A.’s most-eligible bachelor Bennett O’Brien is behind the app that could destroy her family’s legacy . . .

Liv knows better than to fall for any guy, let alone an infuriatingly handsome one who believes that traditions are meant to be broken. As the two businesses go head to head, Bennett and Liv make a deal: they’ll find a match for each other—and whoever falls in love loses. But Liv is dealing with someone who’s already adept at stealing business ideas . . . so what’s stopping him from stealing her heart too?

Review:

Olivia Huang Christenson is excited to take over her grandmother’s matchmaking business, Lunar Love. They match people with their ideal partner based on their Chinese zodiac sign compatibility. Just as Olivia is taking over the business, she discovers a new matchmaking app that uses a Chinese zodiac algorithm to make matches but without the human connection that Lunar Love provides. Bennett O’Brien is the creator of ZodiaCupid, the matchmaking app. When Bennett and Olivia meet, she instantly doesn’t like him. She sees him as competition and a threat to her business. They keep getting thrown together so they make a bet to match each other using their own methods and whoever wins will get media exposure and more clients. However, Bennett and Olivia often end up spending time together on the dates that they set each other up on. Though their zodiac signs aren’t compatible, Olivia may need to accept that compatibility isn’t always necessary for love. 

This is such a cute rom com! Both Bennett and Olivia were mixed-race, and they were influenced by the relationships in the past generations of their families. Olivia wanted to make her grandmother proud by continuing to make compatible matches. Since Olivia had had a bad experience with a boyfriend who’s zodiac was incompatible with hers, she thought that compatibility was the most important thing with matchmaking. Bennett forced her to see if differently, using an algorithm with his app. Though this was an enemies to lovers story, Olivia and Bennett did have a lot in common, with similar backgrounds and similar professional goals as matchmakers. 

Lunar Love is a great new rom com!

Thank you Forever for sending me a copy of this book.

What to read next:

Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Have you read Lunar Love? What did you think of it?

Review: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

Title: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 15, 2013
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

“A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend.”

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena’s world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie… and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Review:

Assassin Celaena Sardothien is now the King’s Champion, which means she must murder anyone who the King orders her to kill. However, she hasn’t been keeping her promises. She’s sending the men into hiding while she pretends to have murdered them. While on these missions, Celaena discovers an underground group who is trying to take the King down. Meanwhile, her friend Nehemia, a foreign princess, has a target on her back that Celaena isn’t told about. All of these issues lead to a tragic night, where Celaena’s life turns in a new direction. 

I’m so glad that I’m finally reading the Throne of Glass series! It’s fast paced and exciting. There was more magic in this story, which made it unpredictable. I had suspected the final twist based on things I’d heard about the series over the years, but I still enjoyed the ending. 

Crown of Midnight is a great sequel to Throne of Glass!

What to read next:

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Other books in the series:

  • Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
  • Heir of Fire (Throne of Glass #3)
  • Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)
  • Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5)
  • Tower of Dawn (Throne of Glass #6)
  • Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass #7)

Have you read Crown of Midnight? What did you think of it?

Review: Doctor Who: Origins

Title: Doctor Who: Origins
Author: Jody Houser, Roberta Ingranata
Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction
Publisher: Titan Comics
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

This latest Doctor Who graphic novel brings a fresh new take on the beloved time-traveler, with a brand-new never-before-seen adventure!

An epic adventure with the traveling Time Lord, this graphic novel is the explosive new story that reveals the very early years of the Doctor. Past, present and future all collide in a Doctor Who tale that’s out of this world!

Bursting straight out of the long-running hit television series, this Doctor Who collection continues the time-traveling tales of the Doctor and friends.

Buy it, read it, then travel back in time to read it for the first time all over again…!

Review:

The Fugitive Doctor makes her debut in this graphic novel about the Doctor’s early years. She has to explore different worlds where Time Lords are living. However, this mission takes a dark turn that the Doctor isn’t expecting. She must find a way to solve the problems while saving the Time Lords at the same time. 

The Fugitive Doctor comes before the First Doctor from the TV series. There was a small cameo from the First Doctor that gave the timeline for when this story takes place. This Doctor had a distinctive personality, who did things her own way, while also holding onto the integrity of the character. It was a good story, but I would have liked to see more about the origins of this version of the Doctor and where she came from. 

This was a great Doctor Who graphic novel! 

Thank you Titan Comics for providing a digital copy of this book.

What to read next:

Doctor Who: Alternating Current by Jody Houser

Other books in the series:

  • Doctor Who: Alternating Current
  • Doctor Who: Missy
  • Doctor Who: Empire of the Wolf

Have you read Doctor Who: Origins? What did you think of it?