The River She Became by Emily Varga

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Dual hidden identities!

Yaseema is a scholar secretly searching for the ancient Fae Queens’s crown. Kiyan, a captain of the cruel regime, is secretly searching for the same crown Yaseema wants. Kiyan is a rebel who has magic that causes plants to grow and follow his orders. Yaseema has magic she can use to find lost items. Yaseema ends up in fae territory and is saved by Kiyan when a wolf comes after her. The two have no idea how much they will interfere with each other’s plans and survival.

Likes/dislikes: Told in alternating points of view between Yaseema and Kiyan. Intriguing world building and I was invested by the end of the first chapter. I enjoyed the unraveling of many levels in Kiyan’s and Yaseema’s individual backgrounds.

Language: R for 18 swears and 14 f-words.
Mature content: PG-13 for nondescript sex.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Mixed.

Thornbird by E. Kennedy

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Twisty YA debut!

Ryan’s moving in with her cousins who reside in Starling, Tennessee. Her true identity is Gabriel Thorn but she hides who she is to protect her family from the media and community anger over what her father was arrested for a decade ago, killing six women. He’s known as the Starling Slayer. Ryan has lived out of the area since the arrest but needs a place to live and complete her high school education since her grandmother can no longer care for her. Things start to implode when Ryan receives anonymous notes from someone claiming to know who she really is. She’s also being followed. The Starling Slayer isn’t the only one hiding dark secrets.

Likes/dislikes: Thornbird is the author’s debut in the young adult thriller genre and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Flowing prose and a great character-driven story. A shocking past event left me chilled.
Mature content: PG-13 for passionate kiss, off page sex, and teens drinking and smoking.
Language: R for 170 swears and 25 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 – man buries his wife alive; Ryan’s father hung himself in prison; mention of Ryan’s father killing women; Ryan’s dad shot her mother, puddle of blood is mentioned.
Ethnicity: Predominantly falls to white with an Asian student office aide, and a dark skinned friend of Connor’s. Ryan and her family are white.

House of Gardenias by Isabel Canas

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History and folklore intertwine in this YA gothic fiction book!

When Minerva’s brothers left her behind with their abusive father and hateful stepmother, Minerva knows she has to save herself. She finds a job with a rich older woman, Senora Encarcion, who grumbles about the president and current politics. After the president is killed in the rebellion, Minerva and her employer move to a manor called the House of Gardenias. Minerva doesn’t feel safe though. She feels something ominous around her and knows in her heart that something dark has happened in this huge house. After she sees a dark figure take the life from Senora, Minerva is terrified.

Likes/dislikes: The prose flows beautifully through its descriptions of the background of Minerva’s daily life. Senora Encarnacion imparts wisdom on Minerva with patience and kindness to help her become stronger and smarter in the ways of life. Ygnacio’s story intrigued me and I enjoyed reading about his background. Told in two points of view by Minerva and Ygnacio. I enjoyed the spooky atmosphere the author created.
Language: R for 14 swears and 8 f-words.
Mature content: PG for off page trysts.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Minerva has brown skin. The viceroy and the rich family Minerva works for have pale skin.

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter

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Cute fall YA romance!

Julia Lowell, brand new resident of New York meets lifetime resident, Damion Rutledge, and it’s loathe at first sight. Damion believes that the Lowell family swindled his great uncle Remington out of his home. The Lowell family can’t believe that their elderly friend Lou left them his house in his will. There’s confusion and mixed emotions all around as Julia and Damion sort out what’s happening with the house situation. On top of that, Julia is mercilessly bullied by rich teens at her school, since she’s obviously an outsider. Damion ends up tutoring Julia to get her math scores up and he uses that excuse to dig deeper into how the Lowell’s ended up with Uncle Remi’s house. Julia is unsure of Damion because sometimes he’s rude but other times, he sticks up for her when she’s being taunted and she has no idea if he can be trusted.

Likes/dislikes: I love the line from page 136, talking about reading, “Because there was just something about getting lost in another experience, in forgetting all about your life while riding along on someone else’s journey, that was the sweetest escape.” Also, this statement from Damion on page 163, “When it comes to film and books and the arts in general, you’re rewarded when they make you feel…” This is such a fun book! I love the descriptions of New York and Julia’s hometown in Nebraska, as seen through the eyes of the two main characters, Damion and Julia.

Language: R for 300 swears and 60 f-words.
Mature Content: PG-13 for teens drinking and smoking cigars, passionate kissing.
Violence: PG for fighting and bullying.
Ethnicity: falls to white.

Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson

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New sci-fi set in Skyward world!

Arturo is building a flight crew for a covert mission to Blightfall. He and his crew have been assigned to explore this planet and guard diplomats as they try to reach settlements and make contact. Before they land, the crew is attacked and some perish. Those left are terrified that they might never find cooperation or be able to return home. When they do land they discover that the planet is as inhospitable as their welcome was.

Likes/dislikes: I like the wise quote on page 273, “If one is offended by questions, one might be revealing the weakness in one’s own rhetorical position.” The awkwardness between Arturo and Alanik is adorable! They like each other but are unsure if the other one likes them. Cute humor throughout the book. Fun sci-fi adventure with a bit of a mystery.

Language: PG-13 for 16 swears and no f-words.
Mature Content: PG for hand holding and chaste kiss.
Violence: PG for spaceships being shot down and people dying. Alien shot down, bloody injury.
Ethnicity: Crew member Nedd has pale skin. Admiral Jorgen has dark skin. Siblings Gilaf and Alanik have purple skin. FM has fair skin.

The Killing Rules by Bree Despain

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Twisty! A perfect October read!

Harper enjoys most parts of her life. She’s a cheerleader and has good friends but she suffers from the Blood Bound curse which changes her, every three months, into a killing monster. Harper uses this curse to rid the world of evil, harmful people but she hates that she ends people’s lives and struggles with constant guilt. Harper really likes Grayson and the feeling is mutual but her Nana insists she stay away from him, as part of the set of rules to keep Harper safe from hunters and to keep her curse a secret. Grayson’s father was Harper’s first victim but his death is a mystery to Grayson. He’s actively investigating his father’s death and he keeps getting closer and closer to the truth.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed the humor, mystery, and character development! Harper’s internal struggle gave her character depth and maturity. The twists were great and the story kept me hooked!
Language: R for 123 swears, no f-words.
Mature Content: PG for passionate kiss.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths and child abuse.
Ethnicity: Mixed.

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss

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Will Alicia’s murder be avenged?

Season five of The Escape Game is beginning, even though season four ended with the murder of a contestant, Alicia Angelos. Alicia’s sister, Sierra, is a current contestant and her goal is to solve the mystery of her sister’s death. The contestants are a diverse group with varied backgrounds and skills. The more she learns about the others involved in the contest, Sierra realizes that they all have something to hide. Will she be able to get justice for her sister’s death?

Likes/dislikes: The character development is strong. A wonderful character driven mystery. I love the teamwork that pushes the story along and I enjoyed the puzzle concept.
Language: R for 149 swears and 9 f-words.
Mature content: PG for gentle, brief kiss.
Violence: PG-13 for off page abuse of a child, stabbing and gunshot wounds, and a bloody death.
Ethnicity: Sierra and Alicia have pale skin. The rest of the characters are a mix of ethnicities with olive, brown and black skin.

Gingerbread Bones by Lindsay Lovise

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A spooky Hansel and Gretel remix!

A group of eleven delinquent teens is sent to a remote area to learn survival skills and improve their behavior. A counselor, psychologist and two cameramen accompany them to keep them safe and film the transformation to make a documentary for an influencer. The influencer is Ashley, the toxic stepmother of Georgie and Hamish. Georgie and Hamish are in the group and know they have to rely on each other to get through the camp together because they are cut off from the rest of the world, unplugged. Soon the adults go missing and strange things start to happen. When they discover a dismembered, bloody hand of one of the supervising adults, they wonder if any of them will survive?

Likes/dislikes: The Hansel and Gretel retelling makes the tale even creepier. Great character development. The characters have different but interesting backgrounds. I appreciate the content warning before the story begins. Social media posts or emails start each chapter, giving readers information and insight to what’s happening elsewhere.

Language: R for 228 swears and 111 f-words.
Mature Content: PG-13 for a passionate kiss.
Violence: PG-13 Bloody injuries and off-page stabbing death.
Ethnicity: Ava is Korean American. Talia has frizzy hair and freckles. Madison has brown skin. Alicia is white. Georgie and Hamish are white. One of the cameramen is Latino.

Our Strange Duet by Erin A. Craig

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Retold Phantom of the Opera!

Christine’s love of music was inspired by her deceased musical father who promised that she would be visited by the angel of music. She believes the angel has come to her to build her singing voice and help her become a great and famous singer. She’s never seen her teacher and only hears his voice as he gives her instructions. Her dreams seem to be coming true when the lead vocalist loses her voice and Christine is thrust into the leading role. Strange, dangerous things start to happen in the opera and Christine begins to doubt whether or not her teacher is truly an angel.

Likes/dislikes: The Rosa Josephine is the signature rose of the Phantom. The Phantom tells the story of Josephine creating the rose to emulate her love for Napoleon, which is interesting.
I like how Raoul stands up to his mother when she belittles Christine. Beautiful confectionary-like descriptions of costumes. When Madame Giry tells the story of helping a young Erik run away from the carnival, my heart went out to him and I feel like she was very brave to help. I especially like this retelling of The Phantom of the Opera because of the thorough descriptions of Christine’s thought process helping her to make the choices she made.

Language:PG-13 for 12 swears, no f-words.

Mature Content: PG for imaginary beau and passionate kissing in a daydream of Christine’s.
Off page sex in a dream. Stagehand running his hands unabashedly over the clothing covered breasts of two chorus girls. Sweet kiss with Raoul. Passionate kissing with Raoul.

Violence: PG for off page deaths.

Ethnicity: Predominantly white. Italian lead singers.

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy

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Serial killer or curse?

Fliss and Izzy are attending an artist retreat to delve deeper into their personal interests. They meet other teens who love different types of artistic expression and enjoy the social interaction until everything comes to a halt, when a murder occurs. Immediately, Fliss uses her sleuthing skills to find the suspect and to understand the connection between now and the 1911 murders that revolved around four paintings the killer created to immortalize his victims. He also created a self portrait that shows up at an estate sale after being lost for decades. Rumors about a curse being released when the painting was found are rampant and causing people to panic. Will Fliss be able to stop the murders before history repeats itself?

Likes/dislikes: Such a fascinating premise! I enjoyed this mystery and I didn’t want the book to end. The writing and background building pulled me in and made this story extremely interesting! Fliss is a natural detective and her friendship with Izzy balances them both out. The debate over whether or not the painting is cursed added a nice touch of supernatural spookiness.

Language: R for 53 swears (god, damn, hell) and 2 f-words.
Mature Content: PG-13 for teens smoking joints and being drugged unknowingly in their drinks.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Mixed ethnicity includes white, Irish, British-Korean, and Italian. Noah has olive skin and Fliss is white.