The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Summary from Goodreads:

Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. The catch? Avery has no idea why -- or even who Tobias Hawthorne is.

To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into sprawling, secret passage-filled Hawthorne House, where every room bears the old man's touch -- and his love of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately for Avery, Hawthorne House is also occupied by the family that Tobias Hawthorne just dispossessed. This includes the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions. Heir apparent Grayson Hawthorne is convinced that Avery must be a conwoman, and he's determined to take her down. His brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's last hurrah: a twisted riddle, a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself just to survive.

Review:

I’ve seen a lot of hype for this book over the last couple of years, and I do tend to enjoy this author, but she’s never been a favorite. Her books tend to be more plot-oriented, less character driven. And sometimes I do like that. I do love a good, suspenseful mystery. However, my favorites are always character-driven stories. That being said, I read a review that drew me back to the book, and I’m glad I finally gave in….I ate this book up!

This was definitely more a suspense-driven mystery than character developed drama. However, the mystery was just so much fun, and such a dream, I couldn’t stop reading. Who doesn’t want to inherit billions of dollars from a total stranger for no apparent reason? And who doesn’t want to all of a sudden live amongst several attractive guys who are trying to solve the same mystery? And who doesn’t want to live in a mansion filled with secret passages and riddles?

This book is part “Knives Out,” mystery, part wish fulfillment, part love triangle, part “Gossip Girl.” I found myself up to 2:30am one work night, going why am I not sleeping??? And it’s rare that a book does this for me any more. There’s nothing ground-breaking here. A lot of the characters feel familiar, like characters almost based off of ones I’ve met before. But, the story was just so much fun, and I needed a good, fun story. The game of it kind of reminded of Escape from Mr Lemoncello’s Library, in a good way. I can’t wait to read more riddles.

All in all, the book will keep you guessing until the end. And I’m already itching to read book 2. I’m so glad the whole series is finished, so I can just binge it at my own pace. I give this a 9/10.

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Bouleley

Summary from Goodreads:

Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Debut Novel (2021), Winner for Best Young Adult Fiction (2021)
As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in—both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. When her family is struck by tragedy, Daunis puts her dreams on hold to care for her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother’s hockey team.

After Daunis witnesses a shocking murder that thrusts her into a criminal investigation, she agrees to go undercover. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home. How far will she go to protect her community if it means tearing apart the only world she’s ever known?

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this one. There were a couple of things I did not love, but overall, I had a hard time putting the book down. It was part Breaking Bad, part The Black List, part Nancy Drew, and part Veronica Mars all squished into one YA novel that also focused on an under-represented Ojibwe community in Northern Michigan. How could I not like this book?

I loved learning about the Ojibwe culture. I also found the Northern Michigan culture to be new and interesting. I even learned about hockey. It was awesome to read about a girl hockey player, or former hockey player. That all being said, this was a super dark book. Injustices against Native peoples are not sugarcoated. Daunis witnesses the violent death of her best friend. Drugs are slowly making their way through her community and more and more people appear to be dying as a result. This book has murder, drugs, sexual assault, kidnapping, and racial and social injustice. I can see young people eating this book up. I also loved how important tribal elders were in the book. She’s always driving them, and helping them. At one point they save Daunis’ life, and I found this intergenerational element to be so cool.

What didn’t I like? I didn’t love the romance. The FBI Agent is 22, and Daunis is 18…It just felt icky to me. And while I know she’s 18, her voice comes off as much younger…There’s a lot of things she doesn’t know. And I get that not all 18 year olds are in the know about the same things, it’s the way she phrases things like “secret squirrel” and “Call-Me-Grant” over and over that made me always visualize her as younger than 18, but maybe that was just me reacting now as an adult reader…

I was not too surprised by any of the “big” twists, but I’ve watched a lot of secret agent shows so I kind of feel like I know what to expect at this point. However, I still kept reading super fast, needing to know what would happen. So much happens in the last quarter of the book.  hope Boulley keeps writing more stories. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next. I give this one an 8/10.

The Stolen Heir by Holly Black

Summary from Goodreads:

A runaway queen. A reluctant prince. And a quest that may destroy them both.

Eight years have passed since the Battle of the Serpent. But in the icy north, Lady Nore of the Court of Teeth has reclaimed the Ice Needle Citadel. There, she is using an ancient relic to create monsters of stick and snow who will do her bidding and exact her revenge.

Suren, child queen of the Court of Teeth, and the one person with power over her mother, fled to the human world. There, she lives feral in the woods. Lonely, and still haunted by the merciless torments she endured in the Court of Teeth, she bides her time by releasing mortals from foolish bargains. She believes herself forgotten until the storm hag, Bogdana chases her through the night streets. Suren is saved by none other than Prince Oak, heir to Elfhame, to whom she was once promised in marriage and who she has resented for years.

Now seventeen, Oak is charming, beautiful, and manipulative. He’s on a mission that will lead him into the north, and he wants Suren’s help. But if she agrees, it will mean guarding her heart against the boy she once knew and a prince she cannot trust, as well as confronting all the horrors she thought she left behind.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black returns to the opulent world of Elfhame in the first book in a thrilling new duology, following Jude's brother Oak, and the changeling queen, Suren.

Review:

I lucked into a free Barnes and Noble gift card that someone did not want….My husband and I split it and I ended up purchasing this book. I have loved Holly Black since I was an actual teenager. And her latest series is probably my favorite. However, I have to admit it took me a little longer than expected to remember who all the key players were when I started the book. I even went online to look up a series recap. Not that you necessarily need to remember much about the previous trilogy to enjoy this book…but I wanted to remember things. I loved that trilogy so much, I wanted to remember why.

I didn’t immediately love this book. It kind of slowly earned my respect. I liked slowly getting to know Suren. She’s not exactly the typical main character -someone who chooses a life of exile in the woods…watching the human family she wishes she could go back to. I immediately felt bad for her, but I didn’t immediately love her. That okay though because I grew to love her once I saw how strong, resilient, and incredibly intelligent she was.

Oak on the other hand? He’s also not the typical love interest…He never tells the full truth and always seems to tricking Suren, and I never really grew to love him. Maybe part of this is because I keep seeing him as the child from the original books. But, also his character is maybe too flawed for me. And I tend to love flawed characters, so I’m not sure what this says. It’s definitely another character-driven story. But, it starts as a quest-type story. Quest tropes aren’t my favorite, so that’s also part of the reason it took me a little while to get into it. But, I’m glad I did not give up on this one. When the book picks up on the world building and character development, and dark twisty suspense plot elements, it’s un-putdown-able. And the ending? It definitely leaves you wanting more. I cannot wait for book 2.

All in all, it took me a while to get into my groove, reading this. But, when I did, I really did. I give this a 9/10.

Chain of Thorns by Cassandra Clare

Summary from Goodreads:

James and Cordelia must save London—and their marriage—in this conclusion to the Last Hours series from author Cassandra Clare.
Chain of Thorns is a Shadowhunters novel.

Cordelia Carstairs has lost everything that matters to her. In only a few short weeks, she has seen her father murdered, her plans to become parabatai with her best friend, Lucie, destroyed, and her marriage to James Herondale crumble before her eyes. Even worse, she is now bound to an ancient demon, Lilith, stripping her of her power as a Shadowhunter.

After fleeing to Paris with Matthew Fairchild, Cordelia hopes to forget her sorrows in the city’s glittering nightlife. But reality intrudes when shocking news comes from home: Tatiana Blackthorn has escaped the Adamant Citadel, and London is under new threat by the Prince of Hell, Belial.

Cordelia returns to a London riven by chaos and dissent. The long-kept secret that Belial is James and Lucie’s grandfather has been revealed by an unexpected enemy, and the Herondales find themselves under suspicion of dealings with demons. Cordelia longs to protect James but is torn between a love for James she has long believed hopeless, and the possibility of a new life with Matthew. Nor can her friends help—ripped apart by their own secrets, they seem destined to face what is coming alone.

For time is short, and Belial’s plan is about to crash into the Shadowhunters of London like a deadly wave, one that will separate Cordelia, Lucie, and the Merry Thieves from help of any kind. Left alone in a shadowy London, they must face Belial’s deadly army. If Cordelia and her friends are going to save their city—and their families—they will have to muster their courage, swallow their pride, and trust one another again. For if they fail, they may lose everything—even their souls.

Review:

I’ve had a weird relationship with this series. I didn’t love the first book in the series. But, then I did LOVE book 2. And I guess I should own up to being an avid Cassandra Clare fan. Until this book, I’ve purchased all of the books when they come out. I love the characters and the shippy romances. And I love the shadow world where supernatural creatures blend with humans.

Sadly, the plot of book 1 of this series felt so recycled to me that I almost stopped reading Clare’s books. It was literally half taken from City of Bones and half taken from Clockwork Angel….without a lot of new ideas. But, then I still went and read the sequel and I was glad I did. I needed to read something comforting at the beginning of 2021…Maybe it was a Covid security blanket? Maybe it was just a lot better. I don’t know. And the plot had a serial killer and the characters grew on me. There was a love story with a ghost….And lots of LGBT love happening.

And then this book happened. Maybe for the first time in all of my history of this author, I found myself skimming whole sections of the book….It did not need to be 778 pages (with bonus chapters after that). Again, all of the love stories felt old. The fight scenes felt old. It took what felt like hundreds of pages for James to find his sister and for anything to actually happen. I almost stopped reading because it felt like the book needed an editor.

When stuff finally did start happening, it felt more like a filler book (a book 2 between installments) and less like a finale. There was a death in here that felt unnecessary, almost like the author felt like someone had to go. Everything just felt forced, like Clare didn’t want to be writing it. Even the cameos of beloved characters from the past didn’t feel authentic. Their voices just didn’t ring true to me.

And again, normally I’m a huge fan. This is the first time I didn’t purchase the book (and I’m glad). Maybe this series just wasn’t for me. And maybe I’m just done with the universe for now. I don’t know. I still love this world. And I’ll always have my old favorite books to go back to. But, this one gets a 6/10.

Lockwood and Co 5: The Empty Grave by Jonathan stroud

Summary from Goodreads:

Five months after the events in THE CREEPING SHADOW, we join Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and their associate Quill Kipps on a perilous night mission: they have broken into the booby-trapped Fittes Mausoleum, where the body of the legendary psychic heroine Marissa Fittes lies. Or does it? This is just one of the many questions to be answered in Book 5 of the Lockwood & Co. series. Will Lockwood ever reveal more about his family's past to Lucy? Will their trip to the Other Side leave Lucy and Lockwood forever changed? Will Penelope Fittes succeed in shutting down their agency forever? The young agents must survive attacks from foes both spectral and human before they can take on their greatest enemy in a climactic and chaotic battle. And to prevail they will have to rely on help from some surprising--and shadowy--allies. Jonathan Stroud once again delivers a rousing adventure full of danger, laughs, twists, and frights. The revelations will send readers back to Book 1 to start the series all over again.

Review:

So, this is how a series is supposed to be end. I can’t really begin to put to words how epic this book was. It begins with grave digging in a booby trapped tomb. There’s visits to the realm of the dead, there’s HUGE battles with ghosts all over London. There’s teaming up with old enemies. There’s hints or romance, explosions, answered questions about this well thought out world, and one epic throw-down between Lucy and Ms. Fittes.

So much happens in this book, plot and suspense-wise, it’s hard to believe that the world-building and the character development continue to climb as well, but they do. Stroud is a master storyteller. He ties everything together, closes up loose strands of story you thought would go unnoticed, and circles back to concepts from book 1. To say I was impressed would be an understatement.

I felt like there were elements of the classic Children’s book heroes in here too.  I could almost see how Stroud was inspired by Philip Pullman, Rick Riordan, and CS Lewis. But, then he adds his own layer of darkness and creepiness that none of those others could do. This whole series has been a treat. The setting for these books has been so creepy and atmospheric. I’m glad Netflix picked up the story. And, the characters are just so real and believable, and flawed in just the right way.

I’m glad the finale didn’t sizzle out. It went out with a bang. I highly recommend these books to fans of YA, middle grade, fantasy and horror. They were fantastic. 10/10.

Lockwood and Co 4: The Creeping Shadow by Jonathan Stroud

Summary from Goodreads:

After leaving Lockwood & Co. at the end of The Hollow Boy, Lucy is a freelance operative, hiring herself out to agencies that value her ever-improving skills. One day she is pleasantly surprised by a visit from Lockwood, who tells her he needs a good Listener for a tough assignment. Penelope Fittes, the leader of the giant Fittes Agency wants them--and only them--to locate and remove the Source for the legendary Brixton Cannibal. They succeed in their very dangerous task, but tensions remain high between Lucy and the other agents. Even the skull in the jar talks to her like a jilted lover. What will it take to reunite the team? Black marketeers, an informant ghost, a Spirit Cape that transports the wearer, and mysteries involving Steve Rotwell and Penelope Fittes just may do the trick. But, in a shocking cliffhanger ending, the team learns that someone has been manipulating them all along. . . .

Review:

It’ been a while since I’ve written a book review. I’ve been focusing on my work and my art. But, considering how I’m moving again in just over a month, I need to get some reviews out, so I can start packing my books away again! It’ been a while since I read this book, so my mind is a tiny bit foggy on the finer details. I know I LOVED it. I honestly think this is one of my all time favorite middle grade series.

I remember being a little hesitant to start reading this book because Lucy branches out on her own…And so much of the magic in these books stems from the relationships between the characters.  However, this thankfully does not last long. And believe it or not the character with the most guilt trips for Lucy’s leaving is not Lockwood; it’s George! I love Lucy and George’s friendship so much. This book definitely had a strong focus on friendship and the bonds between all of the characters, and I was all for it. It reunites Lucy with her chosen family. It solidifies Holly as part of their team. And the skull becomes one of Lucy’s closest allies whether she wants to admit it or not.  Okay, I guess the details are mostly coming back to me…

I don’t remember a ton of the details about the ghost story/mystery plot. I do know the Fittes Agency got Lucy back involved with the team. And I remember the ending to this one. I wish I could say I was shocked by it, but I had my suspicions for a while about a whole bunch of things. Let’s just say I’m glad the characters are all more in the know by the end of this book, and it’s literally impossible not to jump from this book to the last one if you have them all in your possession.

This book was great for character development. It was was good for much needed answers. It was definitely great for setting up the plot for the final installment. I remember flying through this book despite being a little nervous about it. All in all I give it a 9/10.

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Summary from Goodreads:

n 2014, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, thought that a comic of reading statistics would be the last autobiographical comic e would ever write. At the time, it was the only thing e felt comfortable with strangers knowing about em. Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma of pap smears. Started as a way to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer is more than a personal story: it is a useful and touching guide on gender identity—what it means and how to think about it—for advocates, friends, and humans everywhere.

Review:

I’m so glad this book exists. I chose it for the February book in the Banned Books Book Club I started several months ago at my library. It’s currently the number 1 banned book in the country. So far, one member of the book club, which meets this Friday, came up to me and told me thank you for picking this book because she’d never have picked it up otherwise and now she feels like she understands some things a little bit better. Honestly,  feel like maybe I do too. I’m excited to talk about this book with a group of people from multiple generations.

There were things I related to. I remembered my first pap smear, and my first period. I remembered feeling like there were things everyone else seemed to know that I didn’t. And I remembered figuring things out about myself as I dated. This book has that ability to make you think back on your own experiences. And I can’t help but think how much harder my journey would have been if there were things I didn’t know about myself and my body, and I could’t find anyone like me in the books I was reading or the shows I was watching. I’m so glad Maia found eir tribe amongst what seemed to be really good, supportive friends.

One of my favorite parts of the book comes in the introduction of the version I was reading. ND Stevenson in November 2021 writes in the introduction, “At the time of writing this, parents in Texas and other states have pushed to have Gender Queer banned from school libraries. It’s not enough for them to rigorously restrict what their own children read, as my parent did; they insist that they have the right to make that choice for everyone. I understand -more,  I think, than they think I do -why they want this. It’s a last, desperate attempt to hammer an infinitely complex world into a small, unthreatening shape; to enforce a fantastical reality where challenging subjects simply don’t exist; to hole themselves up in a crumbling fortress as the the floods come in and let there own children pay the price.”

This book isn’t an instructional manual. It’s also not the typical graphic novel. It’s an autobiography of one person’s journey of self discovery. The book lets the world know that it’s okay to take time to figure out who you are, and it’s okay to be who you want to be. What better message is there?  I give this book a 10/10.