Fiction – Page 6 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)

Title: The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Contemporary
Publisher: S.A. Prasad Publishing
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 15, 2021
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cursed by a sorcerer’s hex, Alyssa McCarthy finds herself in a fight she can’t afford to lose, or everything she knows will be lost!

After she finishes her final year of junior high, fourteen-year-old Alyssa faces an uncertain future in more ways than one when a sorcerer casts a hex that leaves her with involuntary magical powers that are too dangerous to remove.

Unable to control her newly gained abilities Alyssa’s end-of-middle-school sleepover ends in disaster when she knocks her friends unconscious when her powers go out of control. If Alyssa can’t learn to master her magic soon, she will be cursed to forget her loved ones and serve as the warlock’s slave for all of eternity.

Her only hope is to focus on controlling her emotions if she is to break the curse. However, the difficulties of adolescence, along with the perils and growing disasters she faces, make Alyssa struggle even more. From putting her friends’ lives at risk to losing their trust, she continues to fear what will become of her if she fails.

Will Alyssa be able to break the hex and become the enchantress that she was meant to be, or will she become enslaved to the sorcerer forever?

Review:

Alyssa McCarthy’s magic powers have returned with the appearance of a new villain: Boo-Champ Corey. She has a sleepover with friends that ends in her friends being attacked and stolen away, which sends Alyssa on a hunt throughout the magical world for them. Alyssa has to regain the trust of her friends while also learning how to use her new powers and defeat Boo-Champ Corey.

This is a great third book in the series. It was action packed. Alyssa had to deal with regular friendship drama that most kids face, as well as learning how to use her magical powers. The writing and storytelling really improved throughout the series. The ending was open to more books in the future so maybe there will be more books about Alyssa McCarthy.

The New Enchantress is an exciting magical middle grade novel!

Thank you Sunayna Prasad and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parents (off page)

Other books in the series:

Have you read The New Enchantress? What did you think of it?

Review: The Good Bracelet

Title: The Good Bracelet
Author: Jasmine Golden
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: October 23, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if a simple bracelet could change your life?

It’s been six months since the accident that turned 12-year-old Jayna’s world upside down. When Jayna receives a bracelet from a mysterious sender that promises to change her life forever, she is skeptical at first. Then good things start happening—coincidences too perfect to ignore. With her best friend, Isa, by her side, Jayna sets out to uncover the bracelet’s secrets:

– Who sent it to her?

– Is it really magic?

– Who is the other girl wearing the same bracelet?

The Good Bracelet is more than just a story—it’s a guide for young girls to discover their inner strength and realize that they have the power to change their lives. Perfect for readers who are ready to explore the magic within themselves, this book will inspire, uplift, and empower.

Review:

Six months ago, twelve-year-old Jayna’s mother died suddenly, leaving Jayna to look after her young sister while her dad works. One morning, she opens the front door and finds a package addressed to her with no return address. Inside the package is a bracelet with the word “good” on it, with a note saying that the bracelet has magic and will allow the wearer to only see the good in every situation. At the same time, another girl named Amanda receives the same bracelet with the same note from her Aunt Hope. When both girls wear the bracelets, their lives start looking up and good things begin to happen to them. They want to figure out the magic of the bracelet and how they can share it with their friends.

This is such a great middle grade story. It’s short and fast paced so I read it in one sitting. It has a great message for young readers. You can change your situation in life by having a positive outlook. The girls believed good things would happen while they wore the bracelets because the notes said they would. Your state of mind and outlook on life can have an influence on your success and happiness.

The Good Bracelet is a great middle grade story with an important message!

Thank you Jasmine Golden and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parent

Have you read The Good Bracelet? What did you think of it?

Review: There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book

Title: There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book
Author: Andy Waters, Mark Kummer (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Prepare for a tale of enchantment and quacky chaos! Join our intrepid narrator as he embarks on a whimsical retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, only to find himself in a feathery frenzy thanks to an inquisitive duck! This feathered mischief-maker can’t help but dive beak-first into the heart of the story, peppering the narrative with uproarious questions and hilariously skeptical speculations about the potential appearance of a majestic unicorn. Will the narrator manage to corral this whimsical waddler and bring the fairy tale to its majestic conclusion, or will the duck-driven disruptions lead to a side-splitting showdown of epic proportions? Get ready for a quacktacular adventure that’s bound to have you giggling, grinning, and dreaming of unicorns! About the There Might Be book series: The There Might Be series from Taffy Tales is silly. It is funny. It is funny and silly. That’s it. It is for every young reader who impatiently wants to rush to the ending of the story, but one who also enjoys some jokes and silliness along the way. Taffy Tales creates best-selling children’s titles that will be cherished and remembered.

Review:

The narrator is reading Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the duck, but the duck is only interested in finding a unicorn in the story. The narrator told the duck that there might be a unicorn at the end of the story. After the duck gets too excited and rips up the book, the story takes an unexpected turn with seven squirrels appearing and possibly a unicorn.

This was such a fun picture book! The duck was impatient to find out what happened at the end of the story. I’m sure most readers will know that the traditional story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs doesn’t include a unicorn, so the story has to take an unexpected turn to end the way the duck wants. This story reminded me of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, which is one of my favorite picture books!

There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book is a fun picture book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book? What did you think of it?

Review: A Curse of Mayhem (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)

Title: Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #2)
Author: Sunayna Prasad
Genre: Middle Grade, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Independent
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 15, 2020
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

History, like magic, has a habit of repeating itself.

It’s been six months since thirteen-year-old Alyssa McCarthy left magic behind for good. Or so she thought…

Then the enchanted objects that protected her disappear. Now a skeleton named Errol has cursed her with magical powers that keep getting her in trouble. Suddenly strange things are happening with disastrous effects, and if Alyssa can’t remove the magic, she will lose everything she holds dear.

In order to get rid of her unwanted wizardry, Alyssa will have to boost her bravery and confidence and determine who Errol really is. But every time Alyssa uses an enchantment, Errol is one step closer to getting his flesh back and becoming alive, and he will do anything to achieve his goals…even if it means destroying Alyssa’s happiness.

Review:

Alyssa McCarthy has left magic behind since moving in with her godfather, Alex. When the magical items that had been left in her care disappear, Alyssa discovers that she now has magic powers. However, she can’t control them, so she gets in trouble at home and school for using magic. Every time Alyssa uses her magic, an evil skeleton named Errol gets one step closer to getting his body back, so she must quickly figure out how to get rid of her powers.

This is a great sequel in the Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions series. This story was quite different from the first one. Alyssa had new friends in this book, because she had moved from New Jersey to Chicago. I liked that this introduced new characters to help Alyssa on her mission.

A Curse of Mayhem is a great middle grade fantasy!

Thank you Sunayna Prasad and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Content warnings: death of parents (off page)

Other books in the series:

The Frights of Fiji (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #1)
The New Enchantress (Alyssa McCarthy’s Magical Missions #3)

Have you read A Curse of Mayhem? What did you think of it?

Review: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)

Title: Fall Into Me (The Fall Trilogy #2)
Author: Arden Coutts
Genre: Romance, Thriller, Contemporary
Publisher: CEI Media LLC
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A night of passion, a world of vengeance, and a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Will Marcus and Kee fall for each other or fall to the dangers around them?

Kee and Marcus have been playing a game of emotional cat and mouse and have finally surrendered to their desires. After a passionate night together, they find themselves falling for each other. However, their newfound happiness is abruptly shattered when Marcus disappears without a word.

Confused and hurt, Kee wonders why Marcus would leave her without any explanation or information about his whereabouts. Little does she know, he has embarked on a dangerous mission.

As Marcus plunges into the treacherous world of vengeance, he faces numerous obstacles and life-threatening situations. He relies on his cunning, physical prowess, and unwavering determination to navigate the murky waters of retribution.

Meanwhile, Kee struggles with her conflicting emotions—torn between worrying for Marcus’s safety and feeling betrayed by his sudden departure. She embarks on her own journey of self-discovery as she seeks answers about Marcus’s motives and contemplates the nature of their relationship.

Will Marcus survive the perils he faces along his path of revenge? Will he find redemption and make it back to Kee? And can Kee find it in her heart to forgive him for leaving her in the dark?

Review:

Following the events of Fall Into Midnight, Kee and Marcus have fallen for each other. After a night of passion, Marcus runs away to Russia without telling Kee. He’s on the hunt for his nemesis Dimitri’s daughter, who was connected to Marcus’s father’s murder. Kee joins Marcus’s friends to travel to Russia and save him.

This was such a great sequel in the Fall Trilogy. The characters were all introduced in the first book, so the action started right away. There’s romance but there’s also a lot of danger that the characters face. I’m excited to read the third book soon!

Fall Into Me is a great suspenseful romance!

Thank you Arden Coutts for sending me a copy of this book.

Content warnings: death, kidnapping, torture, blood, sexual assault

Other books in the series:

Fall Into Midnight (The Fall Trilogy #1)
We All Fall (The Fall Trilogy #3)

Have you read Fall Into Me? What did you think of it?

Review: Sunny Gale

Title: Sunny Gale
Author: Jamie Lisa Forbes
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Pronghorn Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: May 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

It’s 1895 and fourteen year old Hannah Brandt is struggling with the hard life on a new Nebraska homestead. When her imagination is captured by a wild filly she becomes obsessed with horses, which opens the door to her destiny. Just three years later she enters the first Cheyenne Frontier Day rodeo where she wins the relay race, the following year she wins the bronc riding and her fate is sealed. She gives herself a new name, Sunny Gale, and pursues a rodeo career, much to the disgust of her young husband and her very proper mother. Sunny defies convention with every move as the drive to compete takes over her life, leaving everything else behind, including husbands and children. It is a rough life she has chosen, but she craves the glory of the spotlight and refuses to bow to the expectations for a woman in her time.

Award winning author Jamie Lisa Forbes has once again days when rodeo was wide open for them to become stars. It is a
story of the social mores of the times and of a woman determined to defy them no matter how high the personal cost or where that choice might take her.

Review:

1895: Hannah Brandt was struggling with her family’s new life in Nebraska, until she decided to try riding a horse. She entered the world of rodeos and horse competitions, and changed her name to Sunny Gale when she started winning. However, her husband and mother weren’t happy with her new career. To have a successful career as a woman in the early 1900s means she must give up a lot, including her family.

This was a fascinating story. It was inspired by real women who competed in rodeos in the early 1900s, but they disappeared from history after they weren’t allowed to compete anymore. There was a lot of heartbreak in this story. There were numerous animal deaths, and Sunny tragically leaves her family to pursue her dreams. She was also treated horribly by most of the men in her life. Though many things that Sunny experienced are better for women today, things aren’t perfect, and women often have to give up other parts of their lives for success in their career.

Sunny Gale is a fascinating story about a woman who became a trailblazer in a male-dominated industry.

Thank you iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: death, death of animals, rape, child abuse

Have you read Sunny Gale? What did you think of it?

Review: Pablo and Splash

Title: Pablo and Splash
Author: Sheena Dempsey
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 3, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

‘Irresistibly funny’ Guardian

Join time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash on an unexpected adventure to the time of the dinosaurs in this brilliantly funny full-colour graphic novel. Perfect for fans of Bunny vs Monkey or Bumble and Snug.

Antarctic penguins Pablo and Splash are polar opposites and besties for life. Pablo is a home-bird and a careful planner. Splash is easily bored and hungry for adventure. Sick to her flippers of the harsh, freezing weather, Splash persuades Pablo to go on a holiday with her. But far from the luxury beach destination that Splash has in mind, the pair end up in a time-travel machine that takes them back to the age of the dinosaurs! Suddenly their icy homeland doesn’t seem so dull …

‘Joyful, fun and very silly indeed’ Louie Stowell, author of A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good

This is the first book in a series and further time-travel adventures await for Pablo and Splash.

Review:

Pablo and Splash are two penguins who live in Antarctica. Pablo likes his life on the ice, but Splash wants to go on an adventure somewhere hot. They end up escaping to a scientist’s lab and jump in a time machine that takes them to a beach. However, they have gone back in time to the age of dinosaurs. Pablo and Splash must find their way back to their safe, comfortable home.

This was such a cute graphic novel. I liked how Pablo and Splash were best friends but they were opposites in many ways, which gives two perspectives. This story taught them to love their home.

Pablo and Splash is a cute children’s graphic novel!

Thank you Bloomsbury Children’s Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read Pablo and Splash? What did you think of it?

Review: This Was Written For You

Title: This Was Written For You
Author: Anonymous
Genre: Philosophy, Contemporary
Publisher: Explore Unguided
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

WHAT IF THERE WAS A PART OF YOU THAT YOU KNEW NOTHING ABOUT?

“This was written for you”, is a story that was found in the possessions of a wealthy book collector after their death.

It was a discovery that captivated those who made it.

Typed in a leather journal and discovered next to first editions of very well known works of literature, no other copy of this specific text is known to exist. *This is the first time it has been made available to the public…* Don’t miss your opportunity to read it.

This eBook is an exact transcript of what was discovered in the leather journal – a wild philosophical adventure about an imaginary version of yourself who is jealous that you are real.

Determined to be real too, they begin a journey that takes them to the enchanting fields of an eccentric cult and onwards into a manipulative and dangerous experiment that blurs the boundaries between body and mind. As they discover more about the limits of their existence, they learn something about themselves. Something very strange. Something that they struggle to believe, even though it’s clearly true.

This magical book delves into the profound human desire to understand who we are. Maybe, just maybe, we are far more extraordinary that we ever dared to dream.

“This was written for you” is an extraordinary example of literature that breaks down the barriers between fiction and reality – a story, within a story, where there is no separation between the reader, the writer, the narrator or the characters. Everyone is in the action together and it is written by whoever is reading it, as they read. For some, it is a supernatural book. For others, it is a literary experiment of the most remarkable kind.

Review:

This story is a philosophical journey that happens in the reader’s imagination. The narrator is the reader’s imagination who meets other people who are in the reader’s mind and represent people in their real life. The narrator must figure out who they are and what their purpose is in life.

This was a unique story. The narrator speaks in the second person often, addressing the reader as “you.” The narrator was going on their own self discovery journey, which involved drug experimentation and war. This story will make you think about how your mind works.

This Was Written For You is a fascinating philosophical story.

Thank you Michael Roberts and Bookinfluencerscom for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Content warnings: rape, drug experiments, drug addiction, torture, poisoning

Have you read This Was Written For You? What did you think of it?

Review: Stars, Hide Your Fires

Title: Stars, Hide Your Fires
Author: Jessica Mary Best
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, LGBTQ
Publisher: Quirk Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 11, 2023
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A wanted thief. A murdered emperor. A killer loose on the station. A gripping YA mystery set in space.

As an expert thief from a minor moon, Cass knows a good mark when she sees one. The emperor’s ball is her chance to steal a fortune for herself, her ailing father, and her scrappy crew of thieves and market vendors.

Her plan is simple:

1. Hitch a ride to the planet of Ouris, the dazzling heart of the empire.
2. Sneak onto the imperial palace station to attend the emperor’s ball.
3. Steal from the rich, the royal, and the insufferable.

But on the station, things quickly go awry. When the emperor is found dead, everyone in the palace is a suspect—and someone is setting Cass up to take the fall. To clear her name, Cass must work with an unlikely ally: a gorgeous and mysterious rebel with her own reasons for being on the station. Together, they unravel a secret that could change the fate of the empire.

Review:

Cass is a thief who decides to go to the Emperor’s ball on another planet to steal a fortune for her sick father and her group of friends. However, when she gets there, instead of announcing the Emperor’s heir, they announce that the Emperor is dead. Someone plants a murder weapon on Cass, and she must join up with a resistance movement to prove she’s innocent.

This is a great sci-fi heist story. Cass was a good thief, but she was realistic because she made mistakes which other thieves caught. There were unexpected twists throughout the story. However I did correctly guess who the real murderer was, but I enjoyed reading the end of the story.

Stars, Hide Your Fires is a great YA sci-fi story!

Thank you Quirk Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Content warnings: death of parent

Have you read Stars, Hide Your Fires? What did you think of it?

Review: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (Dream Harbor #1)

Title: The Pumpkin Spice Cafe (Dream Harbor #1)
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: One More Chapter
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 30, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

Review:

After losing her job after her boss’s death, Jeanie takes over her aunt’s cafe in the small town of Dream Harbor. Logan is a local farmer in Dream Harbor, who has been the subject of town gossip since his last girlfriend rejected his public proposal. Jeanie enlists Logan’s help when things start going wrong in the cafe. Logan is drawn to her, but he’s hesitant to get too attached because he doesn’t want to have his heart broken again.

This was such a cute fall read. The town of Dream Harbor was so much like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls. I especially loved their town hall meetings and their quirky mayor who used his dreams to make decisions about the town. I would have loved to see more of these funny aspects of the town, so I hope there will be more of them in the next books in the series.

The Pumpkin Spice is a cute cozy fall romance!

Thank you Frenzy Books for providing a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore (Dream Harbor #2)

Have you read The Pumpkin Spice Cafe? What did you think of it?