Summer is on the way!

Hello my fellow bookworms!

This month has been one wild ride. I have been busy non-stop and hope I can catch up on some relaxation in June! I apologize for the delay in book reviews.

In the meantime, I do have some book related news for you:

• Voyage is hosting a Young Adult First Chapters Contest, open until July 18, 2021. First prize is $3,000 plus an hour long literary consultation!
  

• Penguin House is hosting a "How-To: Make Your Life Better" series with a series of emails sent to your inbox containing tips on wellness, home, or food and drink. You choose which category you would like to start with. You can switch to a different category after a few weeks, if you choose. 
  

• Penguin House also has a literary horoscope, to which you can receive a novel based on your birthday. Try it here!
  

• Did you know John Steinbeck wrote a werewolf-themed mystery novel? No? Neither did I! But, I learned that he did this week and that his estate is not releasing the book to the public at the present. Fans are calling for its release, but don't expect to see it any time soon.
  

• Haven't been able to visit the museums yet? The Smithsonian recently posted HABITAT, an online exhibition that you can view here.
  

• Have you read Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard before? I really enjoyed this young adult trilogy. Royalty, magical abilities, love, betrayal - it is one dramatic series that will keep you reading until the end! It is set to have a drama on Peacock, with Elizabeth Banks to direct and play a supporting role. 
  

• Book Riot released a list of great online book clubs/podcasts for you to join, if you do not have any in your area. I cannot wait to check them out!
  

• If you need ideas for plans this summer, Barnes & Noble released a list of Summer Reading books to devour, reference, and find some fun ideas from!
  

What are your plans for summer? Any good books on the horizon that you can't wait to dive into?  

Until next time!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

Hello Fellow Bookworms,

Today I have a fantasy novel review for you! When I received the book in the mail, I was very excited! The author, D.E. Night, has a beautiful website to showcase her book, The Crowns of Croswald, with an equally intriguing story blurb. The book reminded me very much of Harry Potter, with some elements of Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella thrown in. If you are a fan of any of these stories, The Crowns of Croswald is definitely for you! Take a look at the book trailer here.

(c) Stories Untold Press, D.E. Night

We begin with a character named Derwin Edgar Night (Get it? D.E. Night?), who is a scrivenist - a type of person who has magic and writes down every discovery he or she discovers. This could be something new, history in the making, sketching, etc. A scrivenist is paired with a person of royal status, as the two are the only types of humans to hold magic, whether it be internally (scrivenists) or via crown stones (royals) - sorry for you muggles out there! Derwin is about to go meet his royal counterpart, when chaos unfolds and the readers are then thrown to the beginning of the main plot and character, of Ivy Lovely. Ivy Lovely works as a scaldrony maid, a type of maid who works with scaldrons, or dragons who bake food/desserts in their mouths for humans to then eat. We learn that Ivy has only one friend, a dwarf  named Rimbrick, and loves to daydream, sketch, and read. She longs to leave her life of being a maid and go with her friend Rimbrick back to his homeland that is filled with magic. Little does she know, her wish comes true when she is fired from her position, finds out that she herself has magic within her, and her friend Rimbrick is nowhere to be found! He provides her with instructions and money to start a journey out of her old life and into her new, and it is then that she is visited by a cab that brings her to a school where she can learn her full potential - a school for scrivenists! Here, she begins to become more of herself, growing, learning, and figuring out what lies ahead for herself. While she has a knack for trouble, she is even better at making good friends and finding new discoveries and adventures.

The book is recommended for ages 8 - 12, though I would go older than that and say it is more of a young adult book. The world building took a bit of time to become accustomed to, as I quite felt like Alice in a world I knew nothing about (similar to Ivy!). The language is a bit difficult for younger readers, as there were a few words even I had to look up as they are not common language. Even so, Ms. Night has a way with words that wraps you up into a new world of fantasy adventure that captures you! I really enjoyed the story and honestly did not put the book down until I was finished! There's magic, mystery, (a little) love, friendship, dragons, libraries, and a good ending to make way for part two. 

The Crowns of Croswald is a whimsical fantasy that will be sure to sweep you off your feet. I am going to go on a bookstore search this weekend and pick up myself a copy of the sequel, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow!

Until next time!

(c) D.E. Night

About the author, D.E. Night (visit her website here and her blog here)

D.E.  Night is compelled to write and discover the world of Croswald, much like any scrivenist! The magic of imagination propels her to sit down at her desk and write everyday. She loves dreaming up whimsical creatures and steampunk machines, but hates outlines. Currently at work on the third book in the Crowns of Croswald Series, Night recharges by taking trips to Disney World, taking long baths, and spending time with her family and friends. Fans can connect with D.E. Night on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

The Wrong Foot by Stephanie Burgis

(c) Stephanie Burgis and Daily Science Fiction

The Wrong Foot is a cute twist on Cinderella, and the perfect size for a quick winter read! 

Have you ever read the story of Cinderella and wondered just how the shoe could fit just one person out of the whole kingdom? No? Well, I have and this story plays into the scenario perfectly! Our heroine, Sophia, has come into the predicament of fitting the shoe that was lost at a ball at midnight. Her mother is ecstatic that her daughter will become royalty, the prince is thrilled to find his long-lost love, and Sophia is utterly...miserable. What is one to do, when one prefers reading and studying to the politics of court? Read The Wrong Foot to find out - you can find it online here!

Stephanie Burgis always has great stories lined up, which is why she is one of my favorite authors! If this short story tickles your fancy, I highly recommend her other works, such as Snowspelled, which is for older audiences. If more YA is to your taste, I definitely recommend the adorable, dragon-filled story, The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart, or the series that introduced me to Ms. Burgis, Kat, Incorrigible.

Photo: Stephanie Burgis (Press Kit)

About the Author (from her website):

Stephanie Burgis grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, but now lives in Wales with her husband and two sons, surrounded by mountains, castles and coffee shops. She writes fun MG fantasy adventures and has published five so far, including The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart (Bloomsbury 2017), The Girl with the Dragon Heart (Bloomsbury 2018) and the Kat, Incorrigible trilogy (published in the UK as The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson). She also writes wildly romantic adult historical fantasies, including Snowspelled (2017), Spellswept (2018) and Masks and Shadows and Congress of Secrets (Pyr Books 2016). She has published nearly forty short stories for adults and teens in various magazines and anthologies.

Storm Raven by K Hansen

Yo-ho-ho, how is it already the end of July? I love summer, but it calls for some exciting reads. I have been in a pirate mood lately (anyone for sailing?), so please read on for my latest book review.

Storm Raven by K. Hansen is a thrilling, action-packed pirate adventure! A mix of Pirates of the Caribbean, Les Miserables, and a bit of one of my favorite pirates series growing up, Bloody Jack! Storm Raven holds its own and will become a series to watch progress.

Neredya is most at home on a ship at sea. A young captain of the ship the Storm Raven, she her days stealing from the rich, only fighting if necessary. Unfortunately, Neredya bites off more than she can chew with one heist and ends up captured by the government, torn away from her crew, to navigate to the Shattered Sea. Her crew, on the other hand, gets sent to the mines, where they will toil away for the rest of their days. Here, the story splits between Neredya and her first mate Brynja, who seems a little more than bitter at not having the title "Captain." Neredya promises to save her crew, no matter what, and undergoes unexpected changes in doing so. Without spoiling the book, we are left at the end of a beginning of a war in which Neredya and her crew want to not be a part of, but in order to save the innocent people of their land and to escape Commander Erhan's constant following and promises to defeat them (Javert complex, anyone?), they may just have to battle it out in the upcoming sequel! 

Storm Raven was not what I expected. Once started, it grips you until the very end. The characters focus on two strong women, who can hold their own, no matter the circumstance. I was curious if there was going to be any romance, but there was none in this book. Only adventure, piracy, and a bit of the supernatural, which makes Storm Raven a really fun read. The level of detail and descriptions really add to the scenes. Add a bit of the Pirates of the Caribbean score and the beach, and you will feel right at home. I highly recommend reading this first book in the series--I know I cannot wait to read what happens next. I guess it is a pirate's life for me!

Photo: Emily Conroy At Love & Cupcakes LLC

About the Author (from his website):
K Hanson is the author of The Azrael Initiative, a thriller, and Storm Raven, a fantasy novel. He’s currently working on the second books for both series.

K lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he works as a software developer. In his spare time, when he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading, working out, playing video games, and spending time with his wonderful fiancee, Bobbi.

Some of his favorite authors are Tom Clancy, George R. R. Martin, and Sarah Maas.

The Underwater Ballroom Society

By: Stephanie Burgis, Ysabeau S. Wilce, Y. S. Lee, Iona Datt Sharma, Jenny Moss, Cassandra Khaw, Laura Anne Gilman, Shveta Thakrar, Patrick Samphire

A collection of stories by many fabulous and talented authors, The Underwater Ballroom Society focuses on one unifying theme: an underwater ballroom. From the dancing princesses, a martian female detective/spy, the fairy realm (in combination with some rock and roll, of course), to a creepy circus, you will find many fun and satisfying short reads. They will make you laugh, they will make you contemplative, and they will make you want to visit an underwater ballroom of your own. 

What sparked my interest in the book was a few things. First, I loved reading the series of books by two of the authors listed, namely Stephanie Burgis (Kat Incorrigible, The Dragon With a Chocolate Heart,  Snowspelled) and Y.S. Lee (The Agency Series). Second, how romantic and mysterious would plots be if they were to each feature an underwater ballroom? The stories are a must for those who love fantasy, mystery, romance, and adventure. I highly enjoyed reading The Underwater Ballroom Society and have now found new authors to enjoy! 

The Underwater Ballroom Society takes its name from the real life story of the Witley Park "underwater ballroom" (you can read more on this via Atlas Obscura here). Through a conversation between authors Tiffany Trent and Stephanie Burgis, they sparked an idea to create a collection of stories featuring an underwater ballroom. More authors joined in the conversation, each wanting to take part in such an endeavor, thus creating the masterpiece that is now available for your reading pleasure. 

If you would like to find out more about the authors, please visit them at their individual author sites below:
 
Ysabeau S. Wilce
Y.S. Lee
Iona Datt Sharma
Tiffany Trent
Jenny Moss
Cassandra Khaw
Stephanie Burgis
Laura Anne Gilman
Shveta Thakrar
Patrick Samphire
 

The Dark Calling (Arcana Chronicles Book #5) by Kresley Cole

The Arcana Chronicles is about a Louisiana girl named Evie who finds out she has the power to control plants. The end of the world occurs, but the end is only the beginning of a deadly game in which she will have to go against others with powers like her, all with titles and powers to match those on tarot cards. But, Evie doesn't want to be part of the game or understand why everyone hates her, especially Death, who she cannot seem to keep away from.

The Dark Calling is book five of The Arcana Chronicles, the latest installation that fans have been waiting on the edge of their seats for. In an effort to not ruin the story for others, this latest installment takes place after the last cliffhanger ending, with Jack possibly alive (!), Evie pregnant, Death still master of his castle, Lark and Finn finding time for romance, and Paul possibly a traitor (?!). A quick series of events occur at the beginning of the story, leading to Evie to find her way to fix things and deal with the fact that she is soon to become a mother. The story was fast-paced and well written. I ended up devouring the book it within a day.

The first book of The Arcana Chronicles, Poison Princess, is slated to become a TV show, which means there is a lot of action, romance, and drama that is sure to keep you at the edge of your seat. The author, Ms. Kresley Cole, had been in an accident, resulting in four broken bones in her leg. She had to undergo hours of surgery and months of recovery time. I am super happy she is doing better and that she is back to writing with a vengeance! I cannot wait until the next book, in which we will see if the characters find some sort of happy end to the game. Hail Tar Ro!

You can find out more about The Arcana Chronicles (and see the wicked awesome trailer for the second book, Endless Knight) here, and for Ms. Cole's other books, please visit her website here.

Love, Life, and the List by Kasie West

(c) Kasie West and HarperTeen

Let me start off by saying, I love to read books by Kasie West. She has the cutest love stories! I always make sure to read her latest novel. The only one I couldn't finish was "Lucky in Love," due to the main character's compulsion to spend money (something that irritates me in real life). I have not yet read Pivot Point or its sequel (but will!), but have read her other novels.

Love, Life, and the List is a story about growing up. Abby Turner's life is about painting, trying to get her mom out of the house to try and help her with her anxiety, trading sarcasm/witty remarks with her grandfather, and being with her three friends, including her best friend, Cooper. She works for an art curator, surrounding herself with other people's artwork every time she goes to work. She has her sights set on an exclusive art winter camp, but believes she is not good enough until she can sell one of her own paintings. Cue beginning of story!

Warning: the next paragraph may contain spoilers!
Abby is told that she does not have any heart in her paintings. So she creates a list to complete to "grow" her heart. She goes through the list with Cooper, who still doesn't realize Abby loves him (or refuses to believe it, which is more likely). (End Spoiler) As her experiences from the list begin to change her, Abby realizes she cannot keep running from her problems and begins to face each one head on.

I loved this book. It made me laugh (a lot). It made me cry (it did, really)! It reminded me of my own experiences of falling in love and growing up. I highly recommend this book, especially for YA readers, and those who need a little love in their life during this dreary winter season. :)