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Review: Reign Returned (The Felserpent Chronicles #1)

Title: Reign Returned (The Felserpent Chronicles #1)
Author: Katie Keridan
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: SparkPress
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 1, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Kyra Valorian is the most gifted Astral healer the golden-blooded realm of Aeles has seen in ages. When tragedy strikes, Kyra discovers she possesses a life-changing she’s a Recovrancer, able to enter the realm of the dead and recover those who’ve died before their time. Unfortunately, recovrancy is outlawed in her realm. Desperate for answers, Kyra will do anything to get them . . . even partner with a dangerous enemy.

Sebastian Sayre is the most sought-after Daeval assassin in all of Nocens. A silver-blooded Pyromancer, he wields fire and dreams of finding Rhannu, a legendary sword that makes its holder invincible. Since the sword was long ago stolen from Nocens and hidden where no Daeval can retrieve it, however, such a dream seems impossible … until he encounters the one Astral who might be both able and willing to help him.

As Kyra and Sebastian work together to uncover the secrets of their realms, they also uncover secrets within their own pasts—pasts that are far more intertwined than they ever imagined. Ultimately, in this tale of discovery, destiny, and a love strong enough to outlast time, remembering the past just may prove to be the only way to change the future.

Review:

This book is an exciting story about a couple from opposing regions who have been reincarnated from a past King and Queen. There was a complex magic world, which included animal companions for each of the characters. I loved the main characters Kyra and Sebastian. They had well developed backstories, and they had some secrets in their past too. I’m so excited to continue reading this trilogy!

Reign Returned is a great beginning to this series!

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

Content warnings: death of parent, child abuse (off page), murder (off page)

Other books in the series:

Blood Divided (The Felserpent Chronicles #2)
Realm United (The Felserpent Chronicles #3)

Have you read Reign Returned? What did you think of it?

Review: Power Posey

Title: Power Posey
Author: Avra Davidoff
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Source: Author
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: April 9, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Get ready to meet Power Posey, a remarkable young girl with an indomitable spirit who teaches children the power of resilience, positive thinking, and the strength that lies within. In this inspiring children’s book, readers join Posey on a transformative journey of self-discovery as she faces challenges head-on and triumphs with boundless determination.

As children accompany Power Posey on her adventures, they learn valuable life lessons about perseverance, self-belief, and the importance of strong body language. By adopting Power Posey’s confidence-boosting techniques, children discover they have the power to conquer their fears, embrace challenges, and achieve their goals.

This engaging and empowering picture book is perfect for children aged 3-8. It encourages young readers to embrace their inner strength, instilling in them a sense of self-confidence and resilience. With relatable situations and characters, Power Posey inspires children to approach life’s hurdles with courage, positivity, and a determination to succeed.

Get ready to stand tall, strike a pose, and embark on an uplifting journey alongside Power Posey. Unleash your inner strength, embrace challenges, and discover the incredible power that lies within you!

Review:

This is a great children’s book! When Posey feels nervous, she strikes a pose with her hands on her hips and chest held high, which gives her confidence. When she does her power pose, she knows she can do anything. This is such an important lesson for kids, but especially girls, who are often put down and told they are less than boys.

Power Posey is a powerful picture book!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com and Avra Davidoff for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Power Posey? What did you think of it?

Review: The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily

Title: The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily
Author: Richard Ayoade, David Roberts (illustrator)
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

What if you could send fan mail to your fairy tale idols? And what if they wrote back? “Happily ever after” takes on a new meaning in this book from actor-comedian-author Richard Ayoade and best-selling illustrator David Roberts.

It’s once upon a time . . . as only the irreverently witty Richard Ayoade can tell it. In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious—and opinionated—fans. So if you’ve ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away. Multihyphenate Richard Ayoade, author of The Book That No One Wanted to Read, hilariously imagines what questions modern children would have for characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, and Little Red Riding Hood—and what they might have to say in return. Complete with clever, spoof-gothic illustrations from David Roberts, this wry storybook may have even the Brothers Grimm cackling in their graves.

Review:

This book is a collection of fan letters written to fairy tale characters, as well as their responses. It answers questions about what happened to them after the “happily ever after” of their tale. There were letters from Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and the Big Bad Wolf. These letters were quite funny. I liked seeing these characters tell their side of the classic fairy tale and what happened after the story was finished.

The Fairy Tale Fan Club is a fun book for all fans of fairy tales!

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

Have you read The Fairy Tale Fan Club? What did you think of it?

Review: Empire of Billions

Title: Empire of Billions
Author: E. Masson
Genre: Romance, Thriller
Publisher: Author E. Masson
Source: Bookinfluencers.com
Format: Ebook
Release Date: August 13, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Amazon Best Seller. Book Lovers would truly enjoy reading this Novel.
A Must Read Novel Today.

Revenge may be a dish best-served cold.
But love can melt the hardest heart.

The Roberts family are super rich. But everyone knows that money can’t buy happiness.
And they should know. Losing their parents at a young age meant they had to rely on each other.

The four boys and their little sister had been taught that rules keep you safe. And what the brothers say goes. But what if the heart wants something else?

Elizabeth may be the youngest but now she’s all grown up. And her heart yearns for Henry Kinkaid — a man her brothers hate.

This just makes her more determined for their forbidden love to flourish. Only when she learns her lover’s dark secret does her heart threaten to shatter.

But how long can she keep Henry out of her life? Especially as she’s carrying a piece of him with her.

The Roberts brothers have strict relationships Keep emotions out of it.

But will the patter of tiny feet melt their materialistic hearts?
And will they bury old wounds before it’s too late?

Review:

This book is about multiple generations of a wealthy American family. They leave a trail of murders and trauma throughout their family tree. The story was exciting and intense. I would have liked to see more action and more description of the characters. This was a fast paced story that kept me intrigued until the end!

Empire of Billions is a great family saga thriller!

Thank you Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a sponsored campaign!

Content warnings: death, death of parents, car accident, gun violence, domestic violence, murder

Have you read Empire of Billions? What did you think of it?

Review: The Reunion

Title: The Reunion
Author: Beth Reekles
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: W by Wattpad Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ten years after graduating, the class of 2014 are back at Tisdale Comprehensive for the reunion, packed into a school gym full of familiar faces – and plenty of new secrets.MOST LIKELY TO END UP TOGETHER – Shaun and Steph were each other’s first love. Now, they’re settled and planning the perfect wedding – to other people. Could reconnecting spark a new romance?MOST LIKELY TO BECOME FAMOUS – Bryony was supposed to travel the world, rule the West End, have a dazzling career as a TV actress… Now, she’s a drama teacher who’s exaggerated her whole life on Instagram, and is desperate to save face.MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED – Hayden was told he’d achieve great things, like be on the cover of TIME, win a Nobel prize… or, the accolade his daughters just awarded World’s Best Dad. Is it too late for him to turn things around, and more importantly, does he even want to?MOST LIKELY TO KILL EACH OTHER – Ashleigh was an A* student, and Ryan the star of the school rugby team. After years of putting each other down, they left school each convinced they would have the better life. Now, that old rivalry finds them drawn back together in a new, intoxicating way – one they’re both determined to hide.With an evening of power cuts, fire alarms, sneaking off to explore classrooms in the dark, stolen kisses and heated fights – it’s like they never left at all.

Review:

This story follows 6 friends at their 10 year high school reunion. They were each voted as a “Most Likely To…” at the end of high school, but none of them fit the person who they have become. It’s hard to believe in the moment during high school that we won’t be the same person 10 years later. We think we’ll be that same teenager once we’re an adult, but we change a lot. There were some funny and unexpected moments in this story that made it a fun read!

The Reunion is a great story!

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

Have you read The Reunion? What did you think of it?

Review: I Will Love You Forever

Title: I Will Love You Forever
Author: Katya Zolina
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The newest addition to the Love You Forever series, I Will Love You Forever delights the reader with a playful exploration of the relationship between mother and child that balances humor with heart-felt sentiment. “Mama, do you love me?” It asks . . . and answers, and the art invites the reader to linger on each page, to share in the emotion, and it succeeds on all fronts.

Review:

I Will Love You Forever is a cute board book. The baby bear asks his mom lots of questions like “Do you love me?” and “Why do you love me?”. The mother’s answers are given in rhyming verses. There were beautiful illustrations of different animals at the baby’s party, as well as places they will travel to when he grows up.

I Will Love You Forever is a cute board book for early readers!

Thank you Taffy Tales and Bookinfluencers.com for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read I Will Love You Forever? What did you think of it?

Review: The Queen’s Spade

Title: The Queen’s Spade
Author: Sarah Raughley
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: BookSparks
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this riveting historical thriller that’s loosely inspired by true life events, The Count of Monte Cristo meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England’s royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge . . .

The year is 1862, and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all else: revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial “humanitarianism,” which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she’s vowed to ruin all who’ve had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain’s mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.

Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen’s inner circle—even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London’s underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria’s own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally’s true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there’s one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it’s her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally’s vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she’s faced with the striking revelation that that the price for vengeance isn’t just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.

Loosely inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria’s African goddaughter, The Queen’s Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller perfect for fans of A Dowry of Blood and Grave Mercy.

Review:

The Queen’s Spade is a fast paced and suspenseful story. Sally, an African Princess who is now Queen Victoria’s goddaughter and ward, takes revenge on all the people who have wronged her. Sally was clever and strong, and she was underestimated by the people in power around her. This story showed a darker side to the monarchy than is usually presented. I know this will be one of my favourite books of the year!

The Queen’s Spade is a powerful story!

Thank you BookSparks for sending me a copy of this book as part of the Winter Reading Challenge 2025!

Content warnings: death of parents (off page), gun violence, drug use, racism, child abuse, drowning, slavery, stabbing

Have you read The Queen’s Spade What did you think of it?

Review: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound

Title: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound
Author: Brian Anderson
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Publisher: Marble Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.

Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?

Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

Review:

This is another adorable graphic novel about Sophie the chocolate lab and her human baby brother Doug. There were some new pets added to the family including two cats and foster dogs. The cats were hilarious. They were always plotting to take over the world. This book was even funnier than the first one.

Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound is a funny kids graphic novel!

Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Sophie: Jurassic Bark

Have you read Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound? What did you think of it?

Review: Dasher Gift Set

Title: Dasher Gift Set
Author: Matt Tavares
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Celebrate five years of Matt Tavares’s holiday classic with a beautifully designed gift set featuring four press-out keepsakes.

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart and whose life is forever changed when she meets a man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh. New York Timesbest-selling author-illustrator Matt Tavares channels the spirit of the season—and leaves us with a heroine to root for—in a pair of picture book odes to giving, kindness, and holiday magic. Included are two specially designed paper ornaments, two standees as well as two hardcover classics:

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever
Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas

Review:

This gift set had two hardcover picture books about the reindeer Dasher. In Dasher, she lives with her family in a traveling circus. Her mom has always told her stories about living at the North Pole, so when Dasher gets a chance, she runs away. Dasher meets Santa who is struggling to pull his sleigh with his horse, so Dasher helps him.

In Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, Dasher now lives with her family at the North Pole. She loves Christmas Eve, and one year she can’t wait for it to arrive, so she runs away the night before Christmas Eve to see the Christmas lights and hear carols. However, she gets lost and needs the help of a child to get home.

These are two beautiful Christmas picture books. I love that they are new origin stories about Santa’s reindeer, but they fit with the traditional story of Santa and his reindeer. This gift set also comes with some ornaments and decorations on a card that can be used for the holidays.

Dasher and Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas are beautiful books for the holidays!

Thank you @penguinrandomca and @tundrabooks for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada 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 Dasher or Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: How to Be a Color Wizard

Title: How to Be a Color Wizard
Author: Jason Logan
Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Art
Publisher: MIT Kids Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a bountiful book combining art and chemistry, a celebrated ink maker invites kids to become color wizards—by foraging and transforming natural materials to make their own paint and artistic creations.

In this book you will find secret recipes, magic formulas, and wild experiments that will delight your friends, intimidate your enemies, and turn you into a color wizard.

What colors might await in a leafy forest, a berry-stained back alley, a seaweedy beach, or even the dark corners of an ordinary fridge? With this book as a guide, curious young wizards can make natural confetti, unlock the hidden color power inside a leaf, and craft a paintbrush wand. They’ll brew magic potions from beets and acorn caps to produce their own colors, from the darkest black to the palest pink to invisible ink, then share their discoveries with friends, family, and the whole color-hungry human race. With whimsy and infectious enthusiasm, master ink maker Jason Logan explains the science of color while presenting “quests,” recipes, and hands-on activities using materials kids can find in their own homes and neighborhoods. Featuring both photographs and the author’s own gorgeous homemade-ink illustrations, How to Be a Color Wizard is an ideal blend of art and science—plus a little bit of magic.

Review:

This book teaches kids how to combine chemistry and art to create ink and paint. There are secret recipes and magical experiments for kids to complete and become a color wizard. Each experiment represents a “quest,” and when they’re completed, the wizard reader can level up.

I love the way this book combines science and fantasy to make foraging in nature a game. This book is simple to follow, since most of the materials used in the experiments can be found in the kitchen or outside. I would have loved this book when I was a kid, because most of the science books I had used expensive materials that I would have had to buy. This book is perfect for kids ages 10+.

How to Be a Color Wizard is a great science book for kids!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada 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 How to Be a Color Wizard? What did you think of it?