THE BEAST WITHIN By Serena Valentino

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE BEAST WITHIN By Serena ValentinoThe Beast Within by Serena Valentino
Series: Villains #2
Published by Disney Press on 7/22/14
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Retellings, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 164
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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A cursed prince sits alone in a secluded castle. Few have seen him, but those who claim they have say his hair is wild and nails are sharp--like a beast's! But how did this prince, once jovial and beloved by the people, come to be a reclusive and bitter monster? And is it possible that he can ever find true love and break the curse that has been placed upon him?

The Beast Within follows Prince Adams transformation into the beast and his quest to find true love. In the beginning we see that the prince is engaged to Circe but once he sees her covered in mud he decides that she’s no longer good for him. What the prince didn’t know is that Circe is a witch and she curses him and turns him into the beast. The prince needs to find love before time runs out. We see the prince try to fall in love with a girl but he was just trying to use her to break the curse which is why it didn’t work. In the story we also see Belle and how it takes time but eventually falls in love with the beast. What was also interesting was seeing more of the odd sisters and how they meddle in peoples affairs.

This was a good book, I’m interested in reading more about the villains and seeing how they became who they are.

THE CARNELIAN CROW By Colleen Gleason

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE CARNELIAN CROW By Colleen GleasonThe Carnelian Crow by Colleen Gleason
Series: Stoker & Holmes #4
Published by Avid Press on 7/11/17
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 282
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Ever since the debacle of the Chess Queen Enigma, Mina Holmes and Evaline Stoker have laid low, trying to settle back into their quiet lives as young ladies of London. But the Holmesian deductive abilities won't remain dormant for long, and when Mina receives a strange package from a winged, midnight visitor, she is catapulted into a new, dangerous adventure: the search for The Carnelian Crow.

Meanwhile, Evaline has received some very disturbing news--news that will change her life forever. Along with that unpleasant knowledge is the strange disappearance of her nemesis, the disreputable pickpocket Pix.

When it becomes clear the arch-villainess the Ankh has made her next move, it will take all of Mina's Holmesian ingenuity and Evaline's courage and determination to stop the criminal from executing her boldest and most dangerous plan yet!

Short and Sweet Review

Mina and Evaline are back. After what happened with the Chess Queen Enigma the girls have been laying low but after Mina receives a package she and Evaline are on the search for the Carnelian Crow.

In this book we see the girls try to figure out what the Carnelian Crow is and its importance. The Ankh is also back and is making her next book. Evaline’s family is having financial problems so her sister in law is trying to find her someone rich to marry. This book was pretty short and I don’t think there was a lot going on. The girls did more detective work on their own in this book and it was nice to see their investigation skills and how they got out of certain situations. We see characters from the past books and I liked seeing Mina and Grayling together. The ending was probably the best part because there was a lot of action, it did end on a cliffhanger so I’m interested to see how it all ends in the next book.

FAIREST OF ALL By Serena Valentino

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FAIREST OF ALL By Serena ValentinoFairest of All by Serena Valentino
Series: Villains #1
Published by Disney Press on 2/14/12
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Retellings, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 268
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Why exactly is the wicked Queen so nasty, particularly to Snow White? Perhaps it has something to do with the creepy-looking man in the magic mirror who's not just some random spooky visage...

Short and Sweet Review

Fairest of All tells the story of the Evil Queen before she became the Evil Queen. We see the queen earlier in life when she marries the king and becomes Snow Whites step mother. Snow White and the queen have a good relationship she tries to be a mother to Snow White while also trying not to replace memories of Snow Whites mom. The King goes off to war but before he leaves he gifts the queen with a mirror that ends up being enchanted. I feel like we all know what happens from here but the Queen begins talking to the mirror and that’s when her descent into the Evil Queen begins. The Evil Queen wants more power and beauty and eventually she becomes unrecognizable to those who she used to love the most.

This was a short book and easy to read. It was an interesting retelling and I liked seeing the beginning of her story and how she became the villain we know her as today.

A THOUSAND HEARTBEATS By Kiera Cass

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A THOUSAND HEARTBEATS By Kiera CassA Thousand Heartbeats by Kiera Cass
Published by HarperTeen on 11/29/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 576
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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Princess Annika has lived a life of comfort—but no amount of luxuries can change the fact that her life isn’t her own to control. The king, once her loving father, has gone cold, and Annika will soon be forced into a loveless marriage for political gain.

Miles away, small comforts are few and far between for Lennox. He has devoted his life to the Dahrainian army, hoping to one day help them reclaim the throne that was stolen from them. For Lennox, the idea of love is merely a distraction—nothing will stand in the way of fighting for his people.

But when love, against all odds, finds them both, they are bound by its call. They can’t possibly be together—but the irresistible thrum of a thousand heartbeats won’t let them stay apart.

Short and Sweet Review

Annika is the princess of a nice kingdom where she lives comfortably and doesn’t have much to worry about except for keeping her people, and that involves arranged marriages to people she has no feelings for.

Miles away Lennox lives with the Dahrainian people and they’ve been struggling, but what they really want the the kingdom back. Lennox is tasked with going on a mission to find out more information about the kingdom and ends up taking Annika hostage. After this he finds that he has feelings for her and lets her go but they both know in the end one of them has to die.

This was an interesting book in that it was very predictable and because of the predictability this book could have been at least 100 pages shorter. Annika and Lennox fall for each other even though they basically need to kill each other and I wasn’t really feeling their romance or connection it kind of felt forced. The fact that she feel for him after being kidnapped was a bit like Stockholm syndrome. Anyway Annika only had her brother Escalus and her maid Noemi that were really in her corner the other characters seemed to think less of her even though she was the princess. Lennox on the other hand was more of a leader than the one they actually had in Dahrain but he was also looked down upon. They both had that in common they were looked down upon and people didn’t really believe them until they were put on the spot and could show what they could do. This book was okay it wasn’t the most original thing I think Annika was a bit similar to other female characters we see in Cass’s books. I will say I liked how we got a dual POV and Cass did a good job writing from both POVs. The ending was good again it was predictable. I will say if you like Cass’s other books then you’ll enjoy A Thousand Heartbeats.

THE KINGDOM OF BACK By Marie Lu

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

THE KINGDOM OF BACK By Marie LuThe Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on 3/3/20
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Young Adult
Pages: 332
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Two siblings. Two brilliant talents. But only one Mozart.

Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish--to be remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she'll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age--her tyrannical father has made that much clear.

And as Nannerl's hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true--but his help may cost her everything.

Short and Sweet Review

Mozart had an older sister and her name was Nannerl. She was a musician but during the time that this book takes place being a musician is only proper for so long, eventually she needs to focus on getting married and having children. Nannerl wants more in life she wants to be a great musician and she doesn’t want to be forgotten. As years pass by Nannerl’s chances of becoming a musician dwindle but Mozart is starting to become a force to be reckoned with. A stranger from a magical land tells Nannerl he can help her dreams come true but in return she has to help him with a few quests.

This was an interesting book it was historical with some fantasy elements. I did like the bond between Nannerl and Mozart, she is a bit jealous but I think its more about the fact that as a girl she doesn’t get to have the same opportunities as Mozart. The whole idea of Kingdom of Back was different, the siblings meet Hyacinth and he’s from the Kingdom and he wants Nannerl and Mozart to help him. At a point the siblings start to get a weird vibe from Hyacinth and realize maybe he can’t do everything he’s promised to do.

Overall this was a good book. I liked the bond between Nannerl and Mozart they truly care for each other. I still think the whole Kingdom of Back thing was weird and I think this still could have been a good book without it.

A WILDERNESS OF STARS By Shea Ernshaw

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A WILDERNESS OF STARS By Shea ErnshawA Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 11/29/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 397
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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When all is lost, look to the stars.

Vega has lived in the valley her whole life—forbidden by her mother to leave the safety of its borders because of the unknown threats waiting for her in the wilds beyond. But when Vega sees an omen in the sky—one she cannot ignore—she is forced to leave the protective boundaries of the valley. Yet the outside world is much more terrifying than Vega could have ever imagined. People are gravely sick—they lose their eyesight and their hearing, just before they lose their lives.

But Vega has a secret: she is the Last Astronomer—a title carried from generation to generation—and she is the only one who understands the knowledge of the stars. Knowledge that could hold the key to a cure. So when locals spot the tattoo on Vega’s neck in the shape of a constellation—the mark of an astronomer—chaos erupts. Fearing for her life, Vega is rescued by a girl named Cricket who leads her to Noah, a boy marked by his own mysterious tattoos.

On the run from the men hunting her, Vega sets out across the plains with Cricket and Noah, in search of a fabled cure kept secret by the astronomers. But as the line between friends and protectors begins to blur, Vega must decide whether to safeguard the sacred knowledge of the astronomers…or if she will risk everything to try to save them all.

Short and Sweet Review

When Vega sees the twin stars she knows its a sign for her to leave the valley she’s grown up in and look for the last architect. The world outside of the valley is more dangerous than Vega ever thought, people are sick and dying and will do anything to find a cure. Vega is in danger because after her mom died she became the last astronomer the only one who can read the stars. Vega also has a tattoo of a constellation on her neck that people believe is the answer to where the cure is and these people will do anything to get to Vega. While trying to find the last architect Vega meets Cricket and Noah who travel across the plains to help her find what the twin stars were hinting at. 

This book started off slow but it starts to pick up once Vega leaves the valley and goes in search of the architect. There’s a group of men hunting Vega once they realize who she is and then it becomes a game of cat and mouse. It was crazy seeing how determined these men were to get her and they were only like a few steps behind her each time. Vega was a good character she was ready to follow the path that’s been set for her. Her one flaw to me was that she would always go against better judgement and each time she did that she put the group in more danger.

This was an interesting book and after we get past the first part and things really start to pick up, everything comes together and starts making sense. This book was so different the fact that Vega was the last one left who was able to read the stars, the sickness that has affected almost everyone, and the final destination that Vega has to reach to basically fulfill her quest. This book was captivating and will have you invested in Vega’s journey from the beginning to the end!

SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS By Jenna Evans Welch

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

SPELLS FOR LOST THINGS By Jenna Evans WelchSpells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on 9/27/22
Genres: Contemporary, Fantasy & Magic, Romance, Young Adult
Pages: 368
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.

There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?

Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Short and Sweet Review

Willow doesn’t feel like she belongs and she feels like the only way to find her place in the world is to travel. But things are put on hold when her mother takes her to Salem Massachusetts to settle her aunts estate, an aunt that Willow didn’t even know existed. Mason on the other hand has been in and out of foster homes and his main goal is to find his mom, Mason knows she can’t take care of him but he’s okay with the idea of taking care of her.

Willow’s mom is there but she’s not really there, so when they arrive in Salem Willow has a lot of questions about her moms past life which her mom just avoids answering most of the time. Willow discovers that she has aunts and family in Salem and she reconnects with her great aunts and learns that there’s a curse on her family and she has to find the letters her aunt Sage left behind to break it. Which is how she meets Mason he’s supposed to be the helper and help her find the other letters. Together these two learn a lot about themselves. Willow learns that she has family and that she doesn’t need to leave the states to find a place where she belongs because what she truly wanted was family and Mason learns that even if he doesn’t have his mom he can accept his foster family.

This was a cute book and I liked seeing how the characters realized how important family is whether or not its by blood. The witchy elements were also cute. I liked the ending and I appreciated Mason and Willows stories.

JACKABY By William Ritter

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

JACKABY By William RitterJackaby by William Ritter
Series: Jackaby #1
Published by Algonquin Young Readers on 9/16/14
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Mystery & Detective, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 321
Format: Hardcover
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary--including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local authorities--with the exception of a handsome young detective named Charlie Cane--seem adamant to deny.

Short and Sweet Review

Abigail Rook has just arrived in New Fiddleham and is in need of a job which is how she meets detective R.F. Jackaby. Jackaby isn’t a regular detective he specializes in the supernatural and the things that normal people can’t see. Jackaby isn’t sure that Abigail is the assistant that he’s looking for but her ability to point out the ordinary things that Jackaby misses is what makes this a dream team. There’s been a series of unexplained murders going on in the city and this is the first case that Jackaby and Abigail tackle together.

I loved that Jackaby isn’t a normal detective, her has a Sherlock Holmes thing going on and his ability to see the extraordinary is what makes him special. Abigail was a great character and she didn’t shy away from the challenge of being Jackaby’s assistant she took it all in stride. The mystery was great the supernatural aspect of it will have you trying to figure out what’s behind all of the mayhem being caused. The characters are what really make this book come to life, the interactions between them will have you engrossed in the world of New Fiddleham. This is the second time I’ve read Jackaby and I love it as much as I did the first time around and I can’t wait to read the next three books!

GALLANT By V.E. Schwab

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

GALLANT By V.E. SchwabGallant by V.E. Schwab
Published by Greenwillow Books on 3/1/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Gothic, Horror & Ghost Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 330
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Olivia Prior has grown up in Merilance School for Girls, and all she has of her past is her mother’s journal—which seems to unravel into madness. Then, a letter invites Olivia to come home to Gallant. Yet when Olivia arrives, no one is expecting her. But Olivia is not about to leave the first place that feels like home; it doesn’t matter if her cousin Matthew is hostile, or if she sees half-formed ghouls haunting the hallways.

Olivia knows that Gallant is hiding secrets, and she is determined to uncover them. When she crosses a ruined wall at just the right moment, Olivia finds herself in a place that is Gallant—but not. The manor is crumbling, the ghouls are solid, and a mysterious figure rules over all. Now Olivia sees what has unraveled generations of her family, and where her father may have come from.

Olivia has always wanted to belong somewhere, but will she take her place as a Prior, protecting our world against the Master of the House? Or will she take her place beside him?

Short and Sweet Review

Olivia lives at the Merilance School for Girls and the only thing she has from her past is her mothers journal. When a letter arrives at the school for Olivia from her Uncle inviting her to come home to Gallant, but when Olivia arrives there no one is expecting her to be there and her cousin Matthew wants nothing to do with her. Gallant has ghost wandering the hallways and there are a lot of secrets waiting to be uncovered. There’s also a place like Gallant but different where the ghost are solid and there who rules the place. Olivia just wants somewhere to fit in and she’s hoping it’s at Gallant.

This was such a weird book I don’t even know what to say in this review. Olivia is mute so she has to sign. The three people residing at Gallant weren’t expecting her and only two of them are welcoming. There’s ghost and then there’s other ghost in like a different dimension? Olivia wants to be apart of a family but there was no build up to a relationship between her, Edgar, Hannah, or Matthew. The strange figure who is the villain doesn’t appear until 60% through and I’m still not sure what his purpose was but to be evil in a different dimension.

I’m just not sure what I read at all. It was an okay book I just wish there was more to it. I feel like nothing really happened. I thought this book would be a good read especially because Halloween is right around the corner but there was nothing spooky or chilling about this book. I wish I liked this book more than I did but it just felt like it was missing a lot of substance.

ALMOST THERE By Farrah Rochon

I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

ALMOST THERE By Farrah RochonAlmost There by Farrah Rochon
Series: A Twisted Tale #13
Published by Disney-Hyperion on 9/6/22
Genres: Fantasy & Magic, Historical, Retellings, Young Adult
Pages: 464
Format: Ebook
Source: Reviewer Purchase
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Sometimes life in the Big Easy is tough. No one knows that better than Tiana, though she also believes that hard work can go a long way. But when the notorious Dr. Facilier backs her into a corner, she has no choice but to accept an offer that will alter the course of her life in an instant.

Soon Tiana finds herself in a new reality where all her deepest desires are realized: she finally gets her restaurant, her friends are safe and sound, and most miraculous of all, her beloved father is still alive. She's got everything she's ever wanted. . . .

But after a while, her hometown grows increasingly eerie, with new threats cropping up in unlikely places. Navigating through this strange new New Orleans, Tiana must work alongside Naveen and Charlotte to set things right―or risk losing everything she holds dear.

Short and Sweet Review

Almost There takes place where Tiana has the choice to make a deal with Dr. Facilier, where in the movie she didn’t. Now Tiana has her father back, has a restaurant, and Louis is human. The deal Tiana made has obviously ruined the balance of the universe and some its coming to collect to make things right.

Tiana is one of my favorite Disney princesses, but she was just off-putting in this book, I really didn’t like her which made me sad. Tiana makes the deal and we see her basically a year later living her dreams of owning her restaurant and having her dad by her side, but now that its been a year Dr. Facilier and his friends on the other side want Tiana to pay up, weird things start happening down in the Big Easy and only Tiana can fix it. Tiana has always been a hard worker she was like that in the movie too but now she really doesn’t take breaks and she was rude to Charlotte and Naveen, she even went as far as ducking them while they were dining in her restaurant. Charlotte, Naveen, and Louis just wanted to help Tiana but she just wanted to do everything on her own and she would snap at them. One part that annoyed me the most was when Tiana found someone that could help her but then she wanted to dismiss that person and say they couldn’t be trusted. Like Tiana is the last person who should be deciding who is trustworthy after making a deal with the shadow man. Another thing that upset me was the deal Tiana made not only did it bring her what she wanted but she affect other peoples lives without a second to consider what they wanted. The ending was okay I guess, I felt bad for some of the characters who were still affected by the choice Tiana made.

I think this book was just okay it wasn’t great and it wasn’t bad but it made me think about how much I really appreciated the movie and how Tiana was portrayed there.