I received a copy from Adams Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After the Mediterranean diet was highly recommended by my nutritI received a copy from Adams Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After the Mediterranean diet was highly recommended by my nutritionist, I decided to start looking at some books and check it out. In this book, you will find 175 recipes that are perfect for when you’re cooking for just yourself. However, like most recipes, it’s extremely easy to adjust each recipe for when you find yourself cooking for more than just yourself.
The book is organized by type of recipe: breakfast, appetizers, vegetarian main dishes, poultry, dessert, soups, and so on. It’s easy to jump to what kind of recipe you’re looking for and find a variety of tasty sounding easy to follow recipes. I do wish there were more pictures to go with the recipes, but I don’t mind that it’s lacking in photos. However, I do think that a lot of people find the recipes more enticing when there’s a picture to go along with each one, so I think more pictures would’ve been a great addition to the book.
Each recipe is detailed and easy to follow. Some of the recipes are labor intensive, but if anyone finds that daunting or otherwise can’t commit to that much work in one go, the author recommends doing the prep work in advance. Actually, there are some pretty good tips in the opening of the book before we even get to the recipes. I really liked the section on how to plan ahead and stop wasting food. It’s easy to buy a little too much or have extra veggies and such leftovers from what one needed to make a meal. There are some pretty good tips on how to avoid buying too much but also what you can do with things such as leftover unused herbs so they don’t go to waste.
Overall, the recipes are clear and sound delicious. I actually already eat some variations of a portion of the recipes, but I think that makes the stuff I haven’t eaten before seem more promising. The book is clearly laid out, has excellent tips, and clear instructions for anyone new to cooking. I think it could’ve had more pictures of the finished foods, but otherwise, I think it’s an excellent recipe book that’s great for new and experienced cooks.
Merged review:
I received a copy from Adams Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After the Mediterranean diet was highly recommended by my nutritionist, I decided to start looking at some books and check it out. In this book, you will find 175 recipes that are perfect for when you’re cooking for just yourself. However, like most recipes, it’s extremely easy to adjust each recipe for when you find yourself cooking for more than just yourself.
The book is organized by type of recipe: breakfast, appetizers, vegetarian main dishes, poultry, dessert, soups, and so on. It’s easy to jump to what kind of recipe you’re looking for and find a variety of tasty sounding easy to follow recipes. I do wish there were more pictures to go with the recipes, but I don’t mind that it’s lacking in photos. However, I do think that a lot of people find the recipes more enticing when there’s a picture to go along with each one, so I think more pictures would’ve been a great addition to the book.
Each recipe is detailed and easy to follow. Some of the recipes are labor intensive, but if anyone finds that daunting or otherwise can’t commit to that much work in one go, the author recommends doing the prep work in advance. Actually, there are some pretty good tips in the opening of the book before we even get to the recipes. I really liked the section on how to plan ahead and stop wasting food. It’s easy to buy a little too much or have extra veggies and such leftovers from what one needed to make a meal. There are some pretty good tips on how to avoid buying too much but also what you can do with things such as leftover unused herbs so they don’t go to waste.
Overall, the recipes are clear and sound delicious. I actually already eat some variations of a portion of the recipes, but I think that makes the stuff I haven’t eaten before seem more promising. The book is clearly laid out, has excellent tips, and clear instructions for anyone new to cooking. I think it could’ve had more pictures of the finished foods, but otherwise, I think it’s an excellent recipe book that’s great for new and experienced cooks....more
In a world where the descendants of the Fates can inherit their abilities, that very same world is not very kind to the people blessed with powers. IoIn a world where the descendants of the Fates can inherit their abilities, that very same world is not very kind to the people blessed with powers. Io Ora is the youngest of her Fate-born sisters, and her ability is one that people fear. She’s a cutter, and people are terrified because her abilities could be deadly in the wrong hands. Io spends her days as a skilled private investigator, but her latest job is taking her out of her usual realm of work. There’s someone turning women into wraiths and using them to kill specific people. Now Io finds herself working for the Queen of the Silts to find who is behind the killings, which has her working closely with the fated mate that she’s been avoiding meeting for years.
I absolutely loved this book. We follow Io as her life is turned upside down by her latest investigation. Someone is turning women into wraiths and sending them out to do their bidding, and now she needs to figure out who is behind this and how to save whoever is turned into the next wraith. Insert the Mob Queen, aka Queen of the Silts, and her soulmate, and Io has a lot on her hands here. Did I mention that Edei Rhuna has no idea about their Fate-string that’s connected them as soulmates their whole lives? Or that her oldest sister has always told her to cut that strong? I wasn’t joking when I said that Io has a lot on her plate, and that includes guilt!
The first chapter was a little rough because we were given so much information in such a short period of time. However, it was setting up the world that Io lives in, it was just A LOT. If you can get past that first chapter, you are good to go because this is such a good story. We have a variety of interesting characters that are great to follow. There’s also so many layers to the story, and family is a big part of that.
I was a little confused about how Io didn’t notice a particular character was a red herring being thrown at her by the culprit, but then the story would’ve been shorter, so I guess I can’t complain. However, I didn’t figure out who the actual culprit was even though the signs were there. I really enjoyed reading this story and seeing the mystery slowly unravel. That ending was both crazy and sad, but it has me ready to start the next book ASAP!...more
I received a copy from WEBTOON Unscrolled through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Astaroth, a Great Duke of Hell, was minding his own businI received a copy from WEBTOON Unscrolled through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Astaroth, a Great Duke of Hell, was minding his own business when a teenage boy named Paul summoned him to the mortal realm. It’s a shame Paul has failed to notice that one does not just sell their soul to a demon to get a date! In six days, Astaroth will return to hell with Paul’s soul, but not before chaos ensues!
I knew this book was going to be funny when I started it, but I was not expecting to be laughing so hard at almost every turn. We follow Astaroth, Paul, and Paul’s sister Elena from the moment that Astaroth is summoned from hell to aid Paul in his romantic pursuits. One of the things I love about this story is that no one is on the same page, which adds to the absolute hilarity that ensues. The artwork is fun and really helps drive the humor home. The characters' facial expressions alone had me cracking up at times. However, even if the artwork didn’t help with that, I think the humor would stand up well on its own.
I don’t want to say too much and risk accidentally spoiling the story, but if this sounds like something you’d be interested in reading, I say do it. I was laughing so hard throughout each chapter. I’m actually debating on following the story’s original format on WEBTOON when I prefer published volumes in book format. That’s how much I enjoyed this book!...more
Dubbed an ugly cat, Fukumaru has been skipped over by potential adopters again and again. Everything changes when Mr. Kanda comes in and sees a friendDubbed an ugly cat, Fukumaru has been skipped over by potential adopters again and again. Everything changes when Mr. Kanda comes in and sees a friend in him, making Fukumaru his first cat! Together, they can face the world as they slowly heal some of each other’s old wounds.
I absolutely love this series. We follow Mr. Kanda and Fukumaru through their rotating perspectives, which allows us to see them in the present with glimpses into their individual pasts. It’s a slow moving slice of life story that is sweet and heartwarming while also slowly providing a lot of depth. I really love how the story starts out about Mr. Kanda and Fukumaru while slowly expanding to include the lives of the characters they’re connected to. We see everything from grief and loneliness to jealousy, humor, and beautiful companionship in this series.
So far, I’ve read the first three volumes and I can’t wait to continue the story. I think that this is a perfect read for anyone who loves Chi's Sweet Home. If you loved that series and are looking for more feel good stories but also want more layers and depth, this will be an excellent choice. I’m really enjoying the story so far and I can’t wait to see who will reconnect, what new friendships will form, and how Mr. Kanda and Fukumaru will continue to impact each other as well as others....more
I received a copy from HarperAlley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
George is enjoying life as much as they can with their two closeI received a copy from HarperAlley through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
George is enjoying life as much as they can with their two close friends, Eleanor and Charlotte. Things are good as long as they ignore the fact that they have to wear men’s clothing in secret and dodge their aunt’s attempts at finding them a husband. Meanwhile, Eleanor and Charlotte are excited at facing their marriage prospects, only Eleanor can’t picture falling in love with a man and most of Charlotte’s potential suitors see her as beneath them. As they all reach adulthood, they’re facing their friendships falling apart and learning that what’s considered proper isn’t always right.
I absolutely loved this and the Jane Austen and Little Women vibes it gave. We follow George, Eleanor, and Charlotte through their rotating perspectives, but we mainly follow George and Eleanor. It starts out as following a great friendship between the trio before the cracks start to appear as adulthood and the realities of the pressures of society begin to take their toll. I don’t want to say too much and accidentally spoil the story, but it was an excellent read. The storytelling is wonderful and I especially loved seeing how the characters grew as the story progressed.
The artwork is stunning and I loved seeing some of the concept art at the end of the book. It also includes a crash course in history at the end with some resources for readers to check out! I can’t wait to check out more of Hari Conner's other work because this was amazing....more
I received a copy from Walter Foster Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re a fan of the Hooky series and interested I received a copy from Walter Foster Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you’re a fan of the Hooky series and interested in learning how to draw the characters, then you’re going to be really excited to pick this book up! This isn’t a general how to draw book, so you might be disappointed if you pick this up and aren’t a fan of the series. It includes a lot of information about the characters, how they were developed, their color palettes, and general character information. However, it does include tips and general advice from the author for people who are interested in drawing a web series.
As a fan of the series, I really enjoyed reading this. I loved learning about the creation of the characters for this series as well as comments the author received while they were studying at a comics and visual art school. It was great to hear about how they also felt very passionate about drawing comics as well as how difficult they knew this path would be. All on all, this is an excellent read for fans of the series, especially for people who draw....more
When Cupid discovers that his punishment isn’t over yet, he never expected his heart to lead him to a married woman. While he’s not excited to have hiWhen Cupid discovers that his punishment isn’t over yet, he never expected his heart to lead him to a married woman. While he’s not excited to have his heart broken all over again, he’s a little confused about why he’s been led to Ruthie when she’s already married to her true love. Now Cupid gets to take a crash course in construction and other housework as he converts a nursery into a dream office for Ruthie while figuring out how to fix her marriage.
I’ve been enjoying this series and loved this book even more than the first! This time around, we follow Cupid, Pan, Ruthie, and occasionally Zach through their rotating perspectives. I really like how we get to learn more about Cupid and Pan this time around. It was so interesting to see how lonely Cupid has been and how much he’s realizing as much now that he’s been thrown into mortal life.
In fact, I enjoyed seeing how much character growth there was on Cupid’s end throughout this book. It was less hitting the town and getting laid and more settling in, getting to know people, and figuring out the harder sides of life. I loved how Ruthie played into this because the attraction was there, but she was determined to not cheat on her husband. Instead, they have a meeting of minds and life experiences. It took their almost romance on an unexpected but delightful journey that I wouldn’t say was an emotional affair, but it could’ve been if that was what Ruthie was interested in. It was great to see how this friendship of sorts led them to grow in ways they weren’t expecting.
The only thing that was weird was Zach’s alleged affair. It seemed like he was cheating but then we got to his chapters and saw things weren’t as they seemed. It was extremely confusing because it seemed like everyone, including Athena, knew what was going on only to discover even they didn’t know for sure. It was just really strange and didn’t quite add up.
That said, I really enjoyed reading this. While Cupid and Ruthie don’t have the romance he was hoping for when he met her, this was still a romance novel. We also see Pan continue his romance of the moment while Cupid romances a few older women. Plus, Ruthie and Zach’s marriage was an excellent plot that I wasn’t expecting to love as much as I did. Now I’m excited for the next book and seeing if Cupid and Pan will finally do something about their attraction toward each other!...more
In the final volume, Ichiro and Shiori get ready to spend the rest of their lives together as they plan their wedding. This was such an extremely sad In the final volume, Ichiro and Shiori get ready to spend the rest of their lives together as they plan their wedding. This was such an extremely sad read just because it was ending. It reminded me of when I watched the Barbie movie because I was so happy and sad at the same time! It was really lovely to watch the characters grow and really set into who they are as the series progressed. It’s sad to see it come to an end, but I’m excited to see what the author puts out next!
This volume isn’t all about the wedding, though. I loved that we got to follow all of the characters over several years and see where they’re headed. It’s so easy to see how they will each spend the rest of their lives. I also loved seeing Ichiro and Shiori’s family expand and see even them learn something new about the pact. It was fun to follow the different characters around in their own chapters.
It was truly the best volume yet and really ended on a series high. I’m so glad I discovered the series and will definitely return to it any time I need a pick-me-up. It’s such a positive series and while it was iffy on and off at first, it really came into its own and became something super positive and beautiful....more
When Shiori learns that her father had an accident, she finds herself returning home. However, this trip is different, as it’s become a family vacatioWhen Shiori learns that her father had an accident, she finds herself returning home. However, this trip is different, as it’s become a family vacation where she’s also decided to tell her mom her wishes. Plus, things are getting serious between Shiori and Ichiro, and they’ve begun to seriously think about the future together. Between her love life, new friendships, and budding career, Shiori has confirmed that she never wants to return to the island again. Too bad her mom keeps running away every time she tries to have a conversation with her!
I’ve been loving this series a lot more than I thought I would! Things are really picking up speed now that Shiori has confirmed what she always knew, which is that she doesn’t want to return to the island she grew up on. It’s been great to see her truly blossom now that she’s built a life for herself and she’s no longer lonely. I love seeing her make friends with ease, embrace new things, and continue her journey as an artist and storyteller.
It was really nice to learn more about Shiori’s past as well as the rest of the story behind the Star People. I loved learning more about everyone and seeing the dynamic between her parents when she’s not looking. I like that we see that there’s a chance at Shiori and her parents having a better relationship in the future even if her mom doesn’t necessarily like her decision to not embrace life as her heir.
It was fun to see Ichiro not be the leading character of the volume, so we got to see him loosen up and have a little more fun in ways that makes sense for him. I’m happy with the character growth and worldbuilding we’ve seen along the way as well as in this volume. While his story as well as the romance is predictable, it’s very cute and heartwarming, so I’m excited to see everyone’s happily ever after that’s coming up in the final volume....more
I received a copy from Isotopia Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Cupid sends one of his love-tipped arrows straight I received a copy from Isotopia Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Cupid sends one of his love-tipped arrows straight into the wrong booty, it’s the last straw. The God of Love is being banished into a mortal body and thrown down to Earth! He doesn’t know what the exact terms of his punishment is yet, but what he does know is that his best friend hasn’t really been dead for the last 2,000 years! Pan is ready to help his best bud complete his punishment and return home, but when it turns out that Cupid is doomed to experience his first love and first heartbreak all in one go, even Pan isn’t all that surprised. It’s even worse when Cupid has to find his first love’s Right Love match!
I absolutely loved reading this. We follow Cupid and Pan through their rotating perspectives as Cupid experiences his first love and his first heartbreak in a series of days! While we primarily follow Cupid and Pan, we also follow Cupid’s first love, Mia, as well as an occasional chapter following other characters. I particularly enjoyed reading Aphrodite’s perspective, which really expanded on the heart of the story.
While this is a fun read, I still wasn’t expecting a portion of the early chapters to be just two horny best friends hitting the town and getting laid. It makes sense for the story, but I just wasn’t expecting it when I first started the book. I really thought Cupid and Pan would be catching up on what they missed for the last 2k years. That said, it was really fun following the different characters on their adventures. I loved Mia and getting to see her find her happily ever after even though she’s confused about why Cupid is so determined to find her a love match that isn’t with himself.
The story itself was often hilarious, which I loved. I do think that Cupid and Pan had way more chemistry with each other than either had with any other character. I loved seeing how their friendship formed in this take on Greek mythology as well as seeing the different characters we all know and love. I’m excited to see where the story goes and who we’ll meet next!...more
If you’re looking for a cute book on how to draw kawaii characters, then this is the book for you! Inside, you will see Ilaria Ranauro define kawaii fIf you’re looking for a cute book on how to draw kawaii characters, then this is the book for you! Inside, you will see Ilaria Ranauro define kawaii for anyone who may not know what it means. You will also find a list of tools along with their personal preferences for each tool. Then we get into the drawing tutorials! One of the things I like about this book is that it’s very encouraging to artists of all levels. Plus, there’s a pretty good section on figuring out proportions and sketching out guidelines for facial features, which even my drawing classes in college didn’t go over.
There’s a lot of tips and tricks before we dive into a series of tutorials on how to draw a series of different characters ranging from human to animals and even objects. I think that this is the perfect book for anyone learning how to draw or looking to get serious about drawing in different styles. I love how encouraging the author is, which makes it feel like they’re happily guiding readers through the drawing process and letting them know that it takes time to find your personal style as well as see improvement in your work. We’re our own worst critics, and this book is like a pat on the shoulder while also working as our own personal hype squad....more
Now that Ichiro and Shiori’s marriage pact has been annulled, they continue to grow closer without the pressure that the marriage pact had once broughNow that Ichiro and Shiori’s marriage pact has been annulled, they continue to grow closer without the pressure that the marriage pact had once brought them. I love seeing how they continue to communicate and work through any problems that may arise, which also allows them both to further explore their feelings. One of the things that I like is that their determination to keep an open line of communication shows how important communication is, not only with romance, but with all platonic relationships.
It was also really nice to see Ichiro see different sides of the publishing world as an artist while Shiori experiences her first round of honest feedback. I love some of the feedback she received wasn’t amazing because that just wouldn’t be realistic. That said, I love that not only was it mentioned because it’s important to protect yourself from negative feedback, but to also give us a glimpse at Ichiro as a person. It gave us some insight into her life on the island as well as how it concerned her that her first response was to wish she could telepathically change minds, which is not something that she actually wanted to do.
I really love seeing how much all of the characters and their relationships have grown since the first volume. This is truly a light and fluffy “feel good” series. I’m going to be a little sad when I reach the end!...more
Meeting the parents of your significant other is enough to make one sweat. It’s even worse when their parents are royalty! It doesn’t help that ShioriMeeting the parents of your significant other is enough to make one sweat. It’s even worse when their parents are royalty! It doesn’t help that Shiori’s parents, especially her mom, want her to come back home. Now Shiori has to make her parents see that she’s not being swindled by some smarmy guy and that she’s making good progress not only in her artwork, but also in romance!
I really enjoyed reading this volume. While the family relationships are still the star of the series, we finally got to learn a little more about Shiori’s home life before the story started! We didn’t learn a whole lot, but we did learn enough to see why she’s so eager to make her mark away from home. I do wish that seeing her parents wasn’t as brief as it was, but it was enough to see why she is the way she is as well as why people always left her feeling isolated back on the island.
We also get to see Ichiro and Shiori grow as a couple, which was cute and fun to see. I love how much Ichiro’s siblings are involved and how Shiori truly loves bonding with them. It was also great to see just how deep Ichiro and his sibling’s bond run! While this isn’t a book I would recommend if you were just looking for a romance, I do highly recommend it if you’re looking for something cute and fluffy with some deeper storylines. It really is a mood booster. I can’t wait to get the next volume!...more
After Ichiro Kuga accidentally became engaged to Shiori Goshiki, it’s a good thing they developed feelings for each other! Now that they’re dating, thAfter Ichiro Kuga accidentally became engaged to Shiori Goshiki, it’s a good thing they developed feelings for each other! Now that they’re dating, they can strengthen their bond while pursuing their drawing dreams. While this cute slice of life romance is fun and heartwarming, I’m still not feeling it as a romance! Instead, its main selling point is the family bond between Ichiro and his siblings.
That said, I was delighted to find that Ichiro and Shiori have some chemistry in this volume. They’re cute and new to dating not only each other, but dating in general, so they’re putting their best foot forward and learning along the way. I really like how close Shiori is becoming with Kuga’s siblings, but it also keeps selling it as a family series rather than a cute romance! I feel like we keep learning more and more about Ichiro and his family while learning the bare minimum about Shiori. Sure, she’s new to this world and appears to be naive thanks to her lack of experience with friends in general, but I think we need some good character building on her side of the story to really sell it to me. I’m so interested in learning about her and the life she had before she met Ichiro, but we only get little glimpses here and there along the way.
All in all, this is turning out to be an adorable and heartwarming story about a family with a cute romance on the side. The story moves a little slowly, so if that’s not your thing, you should pass on this book. However, if you’re looking for a slice of life with strong family bonds, this is your series. In fact, I actually really love it for this reason even though I wish we’d learn more about the Star People, especially since Shiori is a princess!...more
I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Ichiro Kuga’s dad passed away, he took it upon himself I received a copy from Kodansha Comics through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Ichiro Kuga’s dad passed away, he took it upon himself to support his siblings and make sure they were always taken care of. Drawing the type of manga he wants to wasn’t earning him the money he needed to save up for his siblings to have the best possible futures, so he’s doing what earns him the most money. Now that he’s haunted by deadlines that leave him without enough time to complete things on his own, he’s hired a new assistant to help out. When Shiori Goshiki arrives, it’s like a dream come true until he tries to save her. Unfortunately, he accidentally binds himself to her, making him her fiancé!
This was such a cute read with pretty artwork and a great cast of characters. I really enjoyed seeing Ichiro Kuga’s family life and the strong bond he has with his siblings. I personally found how great the three of them are as characters as well as their strong bond to be the true star of the story. It was really heartwarming and believable.
However, this is meant to be a romance between Ichiro and Shiori Goshiki, so of course we have a case of insta love all thanks to an accident! Unfortunately, the pair don’t have any romantic chemistry, so it was a little hard to believe that they suddenly grew feelings for each other so fast. Plus, I was a bit confused because we didn’t get a whole lot of info about the Star People. We learned bits and pieces, but not enough to make some things make sense. For example, I’m still baffled by Shiori’s stinger that appears to be a tail of some sort.
While I enjoyed reading this, I’m having a hard time buying it as a romance at this point in the story. I was also hoping to learn more about the Star People than we actually did, so I’m hoping the author expands on this in the next volume. I’m planning on picking that up soon, but at this point in time, this felt a lot more like a novel about family over a romance between two people from different worlds....more
I received a copy from Harlequin Historical through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Loretta Linfield has spent her life trying to be the peI received a copy from Harlequin Historical through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Loretta Linfield has spent her life trying to be the perfect woman in society. When her dad sets his sights on the Duke of Colchester, she knows that will likely be her future husband. It’s the perfectly boring and safe life she was raised to embrace, which is why her lack of interest in that life has left her head spinning. However, meeting her potential sister-in-law, Charlotte Sterlington, has been the one shining light in her life. Loretta quickly finds herself sharing secret kisses with Charlotte that has ignited a fire she didn’t know existed. However it’s only a matter of time before she is faced with a marriage proposal from the wrong Sterlington…
I was excited to start this book because it was giving me serious sapphic Bridgerton vibes before I even read the first page. I’m excited to share that the book did not disappoint! We follow Loretta and Charlotte through their rotating perspectives. They have very different personalities, which leads them to clash early into Loretta and Arthur’s courtship. Once Loretta learns that Charlotte is trying to impress her rather than embarrass her, all bets are off.
The book has a great cast of characters, so I loved getting to learn more about many of them. There are a few characters who seemed on the edge of having a larger role than they ultimately had, but I was happy with the overall story by the time I made it to the end. I do wish we saw or learned more about a few characters, but it also makes sense that they didn’t have larger roles. I also really loved how we got to see Charlotte and Arthur’s relationship shift and grow as the story continued. I love strong sibling relationships in fiction, so it was wonderful to see them go from being at odds to slowly becoming friends as the story continued.
All in all, this was a really enjoyable read. There’s a lot of chemistry between Loretta and Charlotte, but their romance is a little on the slow side. Personally, I didn’t have a problem with that. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other as well as watching Loretta learn that there’s so much more than meets the eye. I don’t know if this is a stand alone or the first book to a series yet, but I would love it if it turns into a series. It would be great to see some of the characters get their own stories, so I’ll be back if a second book comes out in the future....more
I received a copy from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co. through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Hannah and herI received a copy from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Henry Holt and Co. through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Hannah and her friends decide to communicate with spirits with a coin, they never expected things to go wrong. For some reason, Hannah is the only one who has been cursed, and now she’s communicating with the evil spirit through her notebook. Now she’s determined to figure out how to break the curse before she finds herself dead all thanks to a game she wishes she never played!
This is such a perfect middle school read for any kid who loves scary stories. I was a huge fan of Goosbumps when I was growing up, so this is the type of book that I would’ve loved even more during that time of my life. We follow Hannah through a notebook that’s become her illustrated diary that she also uses to communicate with the evil spirit that’s cursed her. While I wish we got to know more about the evil spirit, I think it’s a perfect read for middle schoolers. I found myself sucked into the story after a few pages and a little grossed out by all the bugs! I’m excited to check out the author’s other work because this was such a great read....more
I received a copy from Random House Graphic through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Keladry dreams of being a knight. It’s why she’s scrambI received a copy from Random House Graphic through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Keladry dreams of being a knight. It’s why she’s scrambling to put the new rule that allows women to train to become knights to good use. Unfortunately, she faces a lot of pushback, and even her own training master wants her to fail. Kel is extremely determined, so she does her best to ignore all the hazing and lack of support from the other people in training. When everything is unfairly stacked against her, she’s determined to do her best and help anyone she can along the way.
I’ve never read anything from Tamora Pierce before, so I went into the story without any expectations based on the original work. Now that I’ve read and enjoyed this illustrated adaptation, I’m looking forward to checking out the original story. I loved following Kel as she faces unfair rules and expectations. She knows that it’s unfair, but she’s also determined to show everyone just how wrong they are. It was great to see how many characters were on her side to begin with and who starts to join them as the story progresses.
The artwork was amazing and really brought the story to life. I can’t compare this to the original work, so I can’t tell you if it’s an adaptation that stays true to the story. However, I do think it was an excellent read and that there are a lot of people who will enjoy it. I know for me, it’s made me want to go and check out Tamora Pierce’s work, which I’ve surprisingly never read before....more
I received a copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up because it’s a look into one persI received a copy from Andrews McMeel Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up because it’s a look into one person’s neurodivergent experience with life, mental health, and burnout. As a neurodivergent person, I thought it was an excellent book to pick up. It was great to see Bex Ollerton (aka @Schnumn on Instagram) share their experiences with Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. I could feel their emotions coming through the pages, which is quite bleak at times. I think that this is an important read because it’s very enlightening and relatable for many, but I think that you’ll be okay if you don’t go in expecting a light and fluffy read.
The artwork is beautiful. I also really like that they used art as their way to share their experiences. Reading about Bex’s feelings and experiences spiked my anxiety at times, but I think it’s an excellent read. I don’t know if I would say this was uplifting like it was mentioned in the summary, but it certainly is relatable. If you’re looking for a light pick-me-up read, this is not the book for you. It’s not all bleak, but Bex shares a lot about their struggles with their mental health, which isn’t always always something bright and happy....more
I received a copy from Marketing Chair Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Roland Percy’s father dies in a drunken accident,I received a copy from Marketing Chair Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Roland Percy’s father dies in a drunken accident, he’s forced to leave the military and return home. Under his grandfather’s threats, he must marry and produce an heir as soon as possible. Roland is set on courting the diamond of the season, Charity Cresswell, but things go awry when she goes missing. Everyone thinks she’s run away to elope with a secret lover, but Grace Tilbury knows her best friend must have been abducted. Now it’s up to Grace and Roland to find Charity before her virtue is destroyed in the eyes of society. As Grace and Roland grow closer, their romantic candle has been lit, leaving a whole new set of problems on their hands.
When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. A regency era romance turned cozy mystery? Sign me up! If you’re looking for a book that’s heavy in the romance department, this may not be the book for you because it’s a very slow burn. However, it really works for the story. I think that when the romance gets kicked into full gear in book two, all the work put into the romance’s beginning is going to pay off in a huge way. What a scandal that will be, though! Phew. I’m already ready for book two.
That said, this was a super fun read. I really enjoyed all of the characters. Even the evil characters were interesting and well-written! We are introduced to many characters, but it’s done slowly and never feels overwhelming. One of the things I really like is that no matter how briefly we see a character, they are really well planned out and it feels almost like we’re meeting and talking to them ourselves. It was also fun to see Roland learn that not only are women just as capable as men, but also see how much society holds women back as he gets to know Grace.
The mystery itself was fun to follow. Who abducted Charity, or did she really sneak away with a secret lover to elope? We see all the angles and see a lot of fun interactions as Grace and Roland investigate things. There are Bridgerton vibes mainly because Queen Charlotte gets involved thanks to Charity being her carefully selected diamond of the season, which does add to the story. I did figure out who did what because it made the most sense given the circumstances, but it was still really fun to see how it played out.
All in all, this was such a great read. My only real issue with the story is how it ends. It was so abrupt that I actually thought the advanced copy I received had accidentally cut off the ending! I actually said, that’s it?! It does leave off on a small cliffhanger of sorts, so I’m sitting on the edge of my seat while waiting for the next installment. It’ll be interesting to see how the next book plays out and what mystery will be thrown into the mix since this is listed as a regency mystery series. I just hope that the ending of the next book will be less abrupt....more
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