Tag: Fiction

Review: Unicornia: Learning to Fly

Title: Unicornia: Learning to Fly
Author: Ana Punset, Diana Vicedo (illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Do you believe in unicorns? School, friendship, and a certain magical beast will enchant beginning readers in this first of a series.

Welcome to Unicornia, the most wonderful place ever! Claudia is about to start her first day at the Unicornia Academy of Magic, where she’ll learn all about spells, potions, and most importantly, unicorns! But she will need to ace her first unicorn flying test at the end of the week if she hopes to advance. With the help of her new friends, will Claudia learn to ride in record time? Get ready for unicorns, glitter, and magic galore in this shimmering story of friendship and fun. Originally published in Spain, the popular series, with sweet illustrations and a simple, humorous text, is poised to charm young unicorn fans everywhere.

Review:

Claudia and her family have just moved to Unicornia, where unicorns fly in the sky. She’s excited to start her first day at Unicornia Academy of Magic where she will learn about potions and magic. However, she’s nervous about learning to ride a unicorn. Claudia must ace the flying test at the end of the week to be able to continue in the class, so her new friends join together to teach Claudia how to get comfortable riding a unicorn.

This is such a cute, illustrated chapter book. I loved that the illustrations were coloured in black, white, and pink. Claudia learned to make friends who in turn taught her how to fly a unicorn. Even though she was scared at first, Claudia faced her fear and learned how to do it.

Unicornia: Learning to Fly is a fun chapter book!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book! This book was gifted to me from @penguinrandomca as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read Unicornia: Learning to Fly? What did you think of it?

Review: The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)

Title: The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)
Author: Erin Sterling
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: September 22, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

Review:

Gwyn runs the successful witchy shop, Something Wicked, in her hometown of Graves Glen. The grumpy descendent of the town’s founder, Wells Penhallow, arrives in the town for a new start. Wells starts his own shop, Penhallow’s, across from Something Wicked. Gwyn wants to shut it down, but as she spends more time with Wells, she starts to fall for him. When her magic begins to fade, Gwyn and Wells must figure out what’s causing it before it’s completely gone.

Gwyn was one of my favourite characters in The Ex Hex, so I was excited to read her own story. I loved the grumpy/sunshine pair, though Gwyn could be more grumpy than sunshine at times. There were some funny moments, just like in the first book. I listened to the audiobook as well as reading the physical book, and it was really well done!

The Kiss Curse is a cute witchy rom com!

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Kiss Curse? What did you think of it?

Review: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore (Dream Harbor #2)

Title: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore (Dream Harbor #2)
Author: Laurie Gilmore
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: One More Chapter
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 29, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

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Goodreads Synopsis:

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller and viral TikTok phenomenon, The Pumpkin Spice Café, comes a brand new spicy romance set in Dream Harbor!

When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazelcan’t understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out.

Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he’s been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!

Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells…

The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:
• opposites attract
• small town
• forced proximity
• he falls first

Review:

Hazel is the manager of The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore. One day, she finds a highlighted message in a romance book as she is putting it away. Noah, a fisherman, shows up after she finds the message, and he suggests they follow the clue together. Hazel is going to turn 30 soon and she regrets not having a wild time in her 20s. She decides she can have some fun with Noah, who’s known for only having flings. Hazel and Noah spend a lot of time together, but they start to fall for each other, despite their agreement that it will just be a summer fling.

This book was a spicy romance! It was spicier than the first book in the Dream Harbor series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, because Hazel and Noah already knew each other at the beginning so their romance could begin right away. I liked that the romantic couple for the next book was set up in this one. I’m excited to continue this series. 

The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore is a spicy summer romance!

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Have you read The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore? What did you think of it?

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: ★★★★

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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: ★★★★★

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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: ★★★★★

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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: ★★★★

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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:

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: ★★★★★

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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:

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: ★★★★

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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: ★★★★

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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?