Chasing Eternity by Alyson Noel

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Follow your destiny!

Natasha and Elodie travel back to 1998 to meet Natasha’s dad before she was born. Natasha is able to convince her father that she’s really his daughter from the future. He shows her the generations’ old Timekeeper rooms that take up a floor in the building where he resides as a struggling college student to hide who he truly is. He also trains her as much as he can in the short time they’re together so she can handle her Timekeeper abilities and use them to stay safe and continue the mission of her ancestors. Natasha realizes why Arthur is determined to remake the world- he lost the love of his life. Arthur will do everything it takes, including murder, to get what he wants and Natasha will do whatever it takes to stop him.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed the quotes from historical intellectuals. The character development is well done. I enjoyed learning about real artists and their work throughout history. The story kept my attention and it is action packed.
Mature content: R for on page sex.
Language: R for 56 swears and 18 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody hitting and bloody death.
Ethnicity: Mason, Natasha’s best friend, is Black. Natasha is white.

Ruling Destiny by Alyson Noel

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Time travel to Italy’s Bonfire of the Vanities, 1497!

Natasha has been planning on visiting Renaissance Italy with Braxton but when she gets to the portal, Arthur shows her she’ll be tripping with Killian; Natasha is angry but Killian is thrilled. Braxton seems to be keeping something from Natasha and Killian keeps making remarks alluding that Braxton is hiding a terrible secret from her. She has strong feelings for Braxton but she doesn’t know if she can trust anyone. When Mason is recruited to Gray Wolf, she’s happy to see him, her trusted best friend, but worried that he’s blaming her for taking him away from his life. She’s struggling to understand her new life but now she’s even more worried on Mason’s behalf.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed learning about the true history mixed in with the time traveling events, like the Italian Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497. The quotes from Shakespeare and other intellectuals and historical figures are awesome. The author notes at the beginning of the book that all artwork and ancient artifacts mentioned in the novel are real piqued my interest.
Mature content: PG-13 for implied sex, off page, and underage drinking.
Language: R for 83 swears, 25 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody fight.
Ethnicity: mostly white. Mason, Natasha’s best friend, is Black.

The Shadows Rule All by Abigail Owen

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Great ending to this fantasy trilogy!

Meren has been overcome by shadows that left Reven, her bondmate, and now they’re torturing her. The shadows take over her mind and appearance if she gets too stressed or they get upset. Reven has completely forgotten Meren and he has no memory of them being in love. Meren has collected most of the amulets needed to stop the king. She needs one more plus the help of her dedicated companions to save their kingdom. She’s determined to help save the kingdom and Reven’s memory, even if she has to sacrifice herself to do it.

Likes/dislikes: I like that the characters are complex and diverse. The characters are each flawed in their own way, which makes them interesting. The mythology created by the author is imaginative. This book is the third in the trilogy and it’s much better than the second book.
Mature content: PG-13 for implied sex, on page.
Language: R for 93 swears and 10 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody fighting, deaths, and a bloody death.
Ethnicity: mixed.

The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow

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Reality can be harsh…

Bella is fifteen and she tells herself she needs alcohol to handle her arguing, demanding parents, school stress and her recent breakup. Her friends see her going downhill and her best friend Amber tries everything she can think of to help Bella. Bella has a job, works hard in school and helps her parents with pretty much everything and the breakup has pushed her over the edge. She tells herself that she just needs this drink to get through the day but one drink ends up being many and when Bella is dropped off and left for dead (overdosed) at 2 AM by people she was at a party with, the addiction comes out in the open. The nurse tells her she’s damaged her liver and that she fell on her porch cracking her cheekbone. Bella is in pain, on an IV and being prepared for rehab. She has a struggle ahead of her and she has to deal with it on her own.

Likes/dislikes: The author’s note and resources, at the end of the book, are insightful and helpful. This story helped me to understand what addicts go through, especially when they’re truly trying to recover and make a better life for themselves. I grew to love Bella and my heart broke for her and opened up to her as the story was told. Other characters’ experiences broadened the scope of addiction and included how their caregivers treated them which helped Bella realize that she can ask for help because we can’t get through struggles all alone. She also learned that she has to protect herself because no one else will be there to do it for her, as we all need to know.
Mature content: PG-13 for drug use and underage drinking.
Language: R for 190 swears and 28 f-words.
Violence: PG for fighting.
Ethnicity: falls to white.

Ruin Road by Lamar Giles

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Clever imagery in this intense YA horror!

Cade is a smart, kind young man who’s working towards an NFL career. He has received a scholarship to a prep school that will help him with his goals. He’s tall, muscled and Black and people seem to always be afraid of him even when he’s just trying to help. One night he gets off of the subway after being accused of trying to steal a lady’s purse when he was only trying to keep her from falling over when the subway lurched. He ends up in a random neighborhood where he’s watched with suspicion by a couple walking their dog and police officers driving by. He enters a pawn shop to get off the street, purchases a $5 Superbowl ring replica and as he’s leaving, he states that he wishes people weren’t scared of him. Little does he know, he made a wish that will come true that will cause tragic consequences.

Likes/dislikes: Cade and his family have integrity and humility even though they’ve done well. The family unit is represented as an important part of life throughout the book. The nuggets of wisdom from Cade’s father were refreshing. The struggle through Cade’s father’s terminal cancer is handled respectfully, honestly and tactfully. I enjoyed this mysterious and interesting YA horror story.
Mature content: G for parents kissing.
Language: PG for 5 swears, no f-words.
Violence: R for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Black and white.

Starling’s Weave by L.E. Sterling

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Delightful fantasy read!

Nieve has no magic and is treated as useless by the community. A supply ship arrives in the harbor and Nieve is assigned as host to the captain, Keir Manseray. Nieve has no idea that Keir is a pirate who is on a mission that has nothing to do with delivering supplies. When Nieve’s best friend Nina and Liet, Nieve’s grandma and guardian, return from helping care for another village, they die from the sickness they brought back with them. Nieve sets out to find the magic that will help heal the village from the sickness and she’s hoping it will also give her the magic she’s wanted her entire life. She unknowingly becomes part of Keir Manseray’s mysterious mission.

Likes/dislikes: This book was a delightful and fun read. I enjoyed the variety of characters and reading about the conflicts they dealt with. The humor was cute. I would read it again!
Language: R for 22 swears and 2 f-words.
Mature Content: PG-13 for kissing.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody death.
Ethnicity: predominantly white.

Soul of the Stone by Sharina Harris

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Egyptian mythology and vampires!

Raven, now known as Texas, is dealing with a powerful stone full of one hundred souls. These souls talk to Texas and drive her slightly crazy. Her mission is to get the tablet which will help end the evil Alexander once and for all. The souls want to help her with her mission but she gets pulled into the Underworld and has to face Egyptian Gods who will weigh her heart. If she’s found worthy she may just survive.

Likes/dislikes: I like the fact that there’s much less swearing in this sequel so there’s more room for character development and world building. I enjoyed the main conflict with Egyptian mythology. I found the Underworld very interesting.
Mature Content: PG-13 for sex.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody stabbing.
Language: R for 122 swears and 4 f-words.
Ethnicity: Khamari is Jamaican. Predominantly Black.

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen

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Excellent telling of the Titanic tragedy!

Hazel is traveling to New York to work at a garment factory with her aunt. Her mother is sending her there to help earn money for the family. She’s in awe of the decadence and size of the Titanic and she has many questions that she wants to answer, so she can write about the ship when she arrives at her destination. Hazel dreams of becoming a journalist and the more she learns about the Titanic, the more questions she has. She makes friends, learns about her own priorities and also discovers a theft in progress.

Likes/dislikes: Excellent Titanic story. I enjoyed the insight into life and social classes of 1912. The book departs many wise anecdotes throughout the telling of the story. Hazel has a lot of curiosity and asks intelligent, interesting and helpful questions. The mystery and suspense make the book even better.
Mature content: G
Language: G for no swears and no f-words.
Violence: PG for bullying.
Ethnicity: mixed.

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig

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I enjoyed every page!

Hazel is the thirteenth child in her family and treated like she’s not wanted by anyone except her brother Bertie who is one year older. When Hazel is twelve, her godfather takes her so she can train to become a great healer while Bertie is sold to a temple to pay off their father’s debts. Hazel learns that her duties as a healer also include helping people pass onto their deaths as gently as possible. She feels that this is a curse and not a blessing. When she’s nineteen, Hazel has become the healer of the royal family after she saved the king’s life from a plague; she was supposed to move him onto death but didn’t want his children to be orphans. Now that the king feels well, he is becoming an unpredictable, angry tyrant and Hazel knows she made the wrong choice by healing him. Will she be able to make this right before he destroys the kingdom?

Likes/dislikes: I loved every bit of this story! Amazing character development and wonderful world building. Hazel is strong and kindhearted.
Mature content: PG-13 for fondling (only two sentences out of the 512 page book).
Language: PG-13 for 14 swears and no f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody deaths.
Ethnicity: Hazel and her family are white. Merrick, Hazel’s godfather is obsidian skinned. Hazel’s friend Kieron has chestnut skin.

Masquerade of the Heart by Katy Rose Pool

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Will love prevail?

Marlow watches as Adrius announces his engagement and her heart breaks. She knows that Adrius has to marry someone from a rich and powerful family to appease his own family but it hurts all the same. Marlow wants to stop the person who cursed Adrius because that person is wanting to control everyone and everything in Caraza, just as Adrius was controlled by the curse. Marlow gets help from Adrius and a few of their most trusted and clever acquaintances. Together they work together to hopefully put a stop to the tyrant before he takes over.

Likes/dislikes: I enjoyed the intensity of the conflict between good and evil. The curse and the story behind it are so interesting. I love the ending!
Mature content: PG-13 for kissing.
Language: R for 39 swears and 8 f-words.
Violence: PG-13 for bloody death.
Ethnicity: falls to white. Adrius has warm brown skin. Corrine has dark skin.