Category: ARC

ARC, Horror, middle grade, mystery, two star book

Monster on the Moors ARC Review

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  • Title: Monster on the Moors
  • Author: J.M. Kelly
  • Publisher: Top Publications, Ltd.
  • Publish Date: October 31, 2019
  • Book Form: E-ARC
  • Pages: 280
  • Genre: Mystery, Horror, MG
  • Dates Read: Sept 27 – Oct 29
  • Rating: ★★

Monster On The Moors is an MG-YA horror thriller that takes place in the eerie North York Moors of England. Clairvoyant Bobby Holmes, his American cousin Brenda Watson, and their friends, wise guy Stevie and Michael (who is challenged by Asperger Syndrome), are drawn into a deadly mystery. They are hunted by an ancient wolf creature controlled by evil witches of British lore. When one of their friends is captured, they must rely on the investigations of a librarian who is more than he seems, the mystical gifts of a gypsy king, a mysterious stranger at the center of it all, and their own wits in a desperate race to save their friend and come out alive.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sheesh. Okay. So, I got this book because I thought it would be a good Halloween read. I was mistaken.

Okay, and I know it took me almost a month to read. I started it, then had to put it down because it was taking so long to finish. 280 pages felt like forever. So I started, put it down, picked it back up. Again. And again.

When I got Monster on the Moor, I thought it was YA. I was so confused because the writing and dialogue was just… childish. I then did some research and discovered it was MG. Okay, that makes more sense. But Bobby and his band of friends go off investigating and in the woods on their own. I know I wouldn’t let my MG-aged child do half of what these guys did in the book. The character’s actions and thoughts were very YA-aged, but the dialogue was MG-aged, so I was just confused. I really spent most of the book trying to figure out their ages.

Another thing that made this book hard for me were the descriptions. They were very wordy, and I lost track of what we were describing. It ultimately made the book very hard for me to get into.

Now for some positives. There was autism rep in this book, which is always nice to see. This is also part of a series, but JM Kelly did a great job of giving enough backstory where you didn’t have to read the first book.

Would I recommend this book? I hate to say, I would not. The actions/voices of the characters didn’t match and it was just too hard to get into.

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, mystery, thriller, ya

The Last to Die ARC Review

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It all started out as a game.

Just a way to have fun. We figured as long as we had rules, it wouldn’t be a problem.

RULE #1: Only break into one another’s houses.

RULE #2: Only take stuff that can be replaced.

It worked for a while. Whoever’s turn it was to break in got a rush, and the rest of us laughed over the trophies they brought back. But then someone went too far. Lives got ruined. Someone is dead.

And I might be next.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I liked:

This was a great YA mystery! I’ve read a few others in the past and I was not impressed. The Last to Die really kept me on my feet and engrossed in the story. I even figured out whodunnit! I wasn’t 100% sure, but I had my suspicions. Honestly, I was skeptical of everyone at some point.

It was a really fast read. I read this in a day – a day I worked for 10 hours and had a sick two year old at home. That just shows you how much I needed to know what happened next!

What I didn’t like:

Nothing really comes to mind. The book was faced paced and a great fall read!

Would I recommend?

I would! This book is being republished under Sourcebooks Fire on November 5. Go check it out!

Until next time…

ARC, Four Star Book, Memoir

Toil & Trouble ARC Review

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“Here’s a partial list of things I don’t believe in: God. The Devil. Heaven. Hell. Bigfoot. Ancient Aliens. Past lives. Life after death. Vampires. Zombies. Reiki. Homeopathy. Rolfing. Reflexology. Note that ‘witches’ and ‘witchcraft’ are absent from this list. The thing is, I wouldn’t believe in them, and I would privately ridicule any idiot who did, except for one thing: I am a witch.”

For as long as Augusten Burroughs could remember, he knew things he shouldn’t have known. He manifested things that shouldn’t have come to pass. And he told exactly no one about this, save one person: his mother. His mother reassured him that it was all perfectly normal, that he was descended from a long line of witches, going back to the days of the early American colonies. And that this family tree was filled with witches. It was a bond that he and his mother shared–until the day she left him in the care of her psychiatrist to be raised in his family (but that’s a whole other story). After that, Augusten was on his own. On his own to navigate the world of this tricky power; on his own to either use or misuse this gift.

From the hilarious to the terrifying, Toil & Trouble is a chronicle of one man’s journey to understand himself, to reconcile the powers he can wield with things with which he is helpless. There are very few things that are coincidences, as you will learn in Toil & Trouble. Ghosts are real, trees can want to kill you, beavers are the spawn of Satan, houses are alive, and in the end, love is the most powerful magic of all.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love reading about Augusten’s life. I’ve been a fan since Running with Scissors and this new novel did not disappoint.

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

As I said, I’ve loved Augusten for a while now. His life is so interesting, but I guess it’s always interesting when someone other than you is facing grief and trauma. Not all of Augusten’s life has been sad, but he’s seen some shit.

I loved getting to learn about him being a witch, the way he can just know when things are going to happen, the spells he casts. He takes you through what it’s like to be an actual witch. It’s super interesting.

The story goes present to past and back again. We get to learn about him learning he’s a witch, the people who taught him how to harness his abilities. We get to see the present day life of he and his spouse, Christopher. We get to see how he uses his powers now. Honestly, I’m a little bit jealous.

What I didn’t like:

Nothing! This book was just as good as his past ones.

Would I recommend?

Yes! This is a perfect book for Halloween. Its such a fast read that pulls you in. I loved it!

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Four Star Book, middle grade

BLOG TOUR! The Dark Lord Clementine ARC Review

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The new face of big evil is a little . . . small.

Dastardly deeds aren’t exactly the first things that come to mind when one hears the name “Clementine,” but as the sole heir of the infamous Dark Lord Elithor, twelve-year-old Clementine Morcerous has been groomed since birth to be the best (worst?) Evil Overlord she can be. But everything changes the day the Dark Lord Elithor is cursed by a mysterious rival.

Now, Clementine must not only search for a way to break the curse, but also take on the full responsibilities of the Dark Lord. As Clementine forms her first friendships, discovers more about her own magic than she ever dared to explore, and is called upon to break her father’s code of good and evil, she starts to question the very life she’s been fighting for. What if the Dark Lord Clementine doesn’t want to be dark after all?

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also thanks for inviting me on the blog tour! All views and opinions are my own.

This book was so adorable! And it has…

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

The Dark Lord Clementine is such an adorable Middle Grade novel about coming of age, choosing your path, and stickin’ to your guns!

Clementine has been training since she was born to be the next Dark Lord. But Clem has some secrets. She takes care of animals, grows flowers instead of poisons, and maybe, just maybe, she doesn’t want to be so dark.

Clementine has to make some tough choices that will shape her entire life. She handles it with such grace, especially for a 12 year old girl! She’s such a good example of being unsure of yourself, but making a decision and sticking to it.

I feel like she is such a strong role model for young girls. She is trained to be bad, but shows that goodness always wins.

What I didn’t like:

The start was a little slow for me. I wasn’t interested until about 30% in, but then I couldn’t put it down!

Would I recommend?

Oh, for sure! Such a great read, especially for young girls! I’ve already recommended it to my friend, Sarah!

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Historical Fiction, three star book, ya

The Lady Rogue ARC Review

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The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck arrives from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler—more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon Pulse for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I started this book I was like, this is gonna be a 4.5 star! Then it was just like….

Thanks, giphy!

What I Liked:

So, I understand this is not the normal genre for Jenn Bennett. It is the first book I’ve read by her, but I would give her contemporaries a change.

The beginning of this book was SO GOOD. I was instantly thrust into this old world, old way of travel. The main character, Theodora, was likeable and her companion, Huck, even more so. I was so enthralled by this adventure they were going on. I liked probably 70% of the book. The adventure was interesting, looking for Vlad the Impaler’s ring was interesting, the side characters were interesting!

What I didn’t like:

The last 30%? I felt like there was about to be resolution, then there would be issue. After issue. After issue. I felt like the ending just drug on and on, which made this book feel much longer than it’s 384 pages. I think I spent a week reading this novel. I was just so ready for it to end but couldn’t find the umph to keep going. I did finish. I was glad I did. The characters were still likeable and interesting, but the plot just kind of never resolved for me. It was quite disappointing since I was raving about the book at the start.

Would I recommend?

Eh, I don’t know. I would probably warn people the end didn’t live up to the start. I don’t know that it’s completely worth it to read.

Until next time…

ARC, fantasy, Five Star Book, ya

The Babysitter’s Coven ARC Review

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Adventures in Babysitting meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this funny, action-packed novel about a coven of witchy babysitters who realize their calling to protect the innocent and save the world from an onslaught of evil.

Seventeen-year-old Esme Pearl has a babysitters club. She knows it’s kinda lame, but what else is she supposed to do? Get a job? Gross. Besides, Esme likes babysitting, and she’s good at it.

And lately Esme needs all the cash she can get, because it seems like destruction follows her wherever she goes. Let’s just say she owes some people a new tree.

Enter Cassandra Heaven. She’s Instagram-model hot, dresses like she found her clothes in a dumpster, and has a rebellious streak as gnarly as the cafeteria food. So why is Cassandra willing to do anything, even take on a potty-training two-year-old, to join Esme’s babysitters club?

The answer lies in a mysterious note Cassandra’s mother left her: “Find the babysitters. Love, Mom.”

Turns out, Esme and Cassandra have more in common than they think, and they’re about to discover what being a babysitter really means: a heroic lineage of superpowers, magic rituals, and saving the innocent from seriously terrifying evil. And all before the parents get home.

– GOodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so excited to get an arc of this book, and man. It did not disappoint!

Thanks, Giphy!

What I liked:

This was such a fast, intriguing debut novel. Esme and her bff, Janis, are fashion queens. I loved the descriptions of their outfits and the names for them. They’re just trying to get through high school then make their way out of their small town. Then something crazy happens. Esme learns she has telekenesis and things.get.cray. I was a babysitter when I was younger, so I loved that so much of the book revolved around that. I loved the magic and spells. Cassandra was iffy at times, but in the end I really liked her! The friendship between Janis and Esme reminded me of me and my highschool friends. We still talk to this day, and I feel like that’s the relation ship they have!

What I didn’t like:

Like I said, Cassandra, a fellow witch, was annoying at times but in the end turned out great!

Would I recommend?

Yes, yes, yes! This is a perfect fall/Halloween book! Curl up with it, a PSL, and a nice blanket and you’re in for a good time! This was a super fast read that kept me intrigued the whole way through. I can’t wait to see what happens to our Sitters in book 2! (Coming fall 2020. SO FAR AWAY!)

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Five Star Book, ya

WWW Wednesday!

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I’ve seen this post floating around a lot of the book blogs I follow, so I figured I’d join in on the fun!

The three W’s are:
– What are you currently reading?
– What did you recently finish reading?
– What do you think you’ll read next?

What am I currently Reading?

Second in Command by Sandi Van

This is a story told in verse about a kid who gets put in charge of his two younger siblings when his mom gets deployed and his dad works long hours. It’s an ARC!

What did I recently finish reading?

The Babysitter’s Coven by Kate Williams

Five star read! Perfect for Halloween coming up! Review tomorrow!

What will I read next?

The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena

This cover drew me in! I love all the artwork. This is also an ARC and I’m trying to get all caught up. I’m super behind, I know.

What are your three W’s? Do you have any thoughts on mine? Let me know below!

Until next time…

ARC, contemporary, Four Star Book, ya

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine ARC Review

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Co-written by sisters Maika and Maritza Moulite, and told in epistolary style through letters, articles, emails, and diary entries, this exceptional debut novel captures a sparkling new voice and irrepressible heroine in a celebration of storytelling sure to thrill fans of Nicola Yoon, Ibi Zoboi and Jenna Evans Welch!

When a school presentation goes very wrong, Alaine Beauparlant finds herself suspended, shipped off to Haiti and writing the report of a lifetime…

You might ask the obvious question: What do I, a seventeen-year-old Haitian American from Miami with way too little life experience, have to say about anything?

Actually, a lot.

Thanks to “the incident” (don’t ask), I’m spending the next two months doing what my school is calling a “spring volunteer immersion project.” It’s definitely no vacation. I’m toiling away under the ever-watchful eyes of Tati Estelle at her new nonprofit. And my lean-in queen of a mother is even here to make sure I do things right. Or she might just be lying low to dodge the media sharks after a much more public incident of her own…and to hide a rather devastating secret.

All things considered, there are some pretty nice perks…like flirting with Tati’s distractingly cute intern, getting actual face time with my mom and experiencing Haiti for the first time. I’m even exploring my family’s history—which happens to be loaded with betrayals, superstitions and possibly even a family curse.

You know, typical drama. But it’s nothing I can’t handle.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I instantly fell in love with this epistolary style novel full of magic and spells!

Thanks, Giphy!

What I liked:

As I said, I love epistolary style novels! It’s such an intriguing way to convey a story. Once I realized the novel was written in that way, I was all in.

I loved the setting being Haiti. I’ve never read a book based in Haiti or written by someone of Haitian descent. I loved learning about the land and the way of life of those who live there. It was so interesting. I also loved the use of French and Creole language! I love with languages other than English are featured in a book.

The story was interesting and easy to follow. I enjoyed the mix of magic in with reality. It made you believe that magic is real! And maybe it is! Who knows? I also appreciated that her mom was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and that it was a central theme to the story. My grandpa was also diagnosed early and succumbed to the disease, so it’s nice to have that representation.

What I didn’t like:

I felt the ending was rushed. There was so much going on and it all wrapped up at once. I felt the story could have benefited from an extra 50 or so pages. It’s already at 432, but the story went by so fast It didn’t feel that long!

Would I recommend?

Yes! I love reading about places I’ve never been. The magic and setting were amazing!

Until next time….

ARC, fantasy, Five Star Book, ya

Tiger Queen ARC Review

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  • Title: Tiger Queen
  • Author: Annie Sullivan
  • Publisher: Blink
  • Publish Date: September 10, 2019
  • Pages: 320
  • Book Form: Physical/E-ARC
  • Genre: Fantasy, YA
  • Rating: ★★★★★

In the mythical desert kingdom of Achra, an ancient law forces sixteen-year-old Princess Kateri to fight in the arena to prove her right to rule. For Kateri, winning also means fulfilling a promise to her late mother that she would protect her people, who are struggling through windstorms and drought. The situation is worsened by the gang of Desert Boys that frequently raids the city wells, forcing the king to ration what little water is left. The punishment for stealing water is a choice between two doors: behind one lies freedom, and behind the other is a tiger.

But when Kateri’s final opponent is announced, she knows she cannot win. In desperation, she turns to the desert and the one person she never thought she’d side with. What Kateri discovers twists her world—and her heart—upside down. Her future is now behind two doors—only she’s not sure which holds the key to keeping her kingdom and which releases the tiger.

– GOodreads

Thank you to Blink and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVE Annie Sullivan! She is super sweet. Her second novel did not disappoint. It was an amazing retelling of The Lady, Or the Tiger.

Thanks, Giphy!

What I liked:

This was such a fierce novel! I loved the training and fight scenes. I felt like I was watching it happen! I love a strong female lead! I also liked the setting was the desert. It’s not something I have read before and I loved being transported there!

The back and forth with the romance was amazing! As always, Annie’s books are clean, so this is perfect for a younger teen!

The story was intriguing and hooked me right from the beginning. I have never read The Lady, Or the Tiger, but I definitely want to now! I’d love to see where Annie drew her inspiration.

At about 30% in, I thought I knew what the outcome was going to be. I was so wrong, and I loved the ending!

Also – myself and my fellow Words and Whimsy modmins are in the acknowledgements. I am so so thankful and grateful to Annie for that! She is the sweetest person, and I love supporting someone like that!

What I didn’t like:

I can’t think of anything I didn’t like! The story was interesting, the pacing was great, the characters were likable. I loved it all!

Would I recommend?

Yes! This is a story anyone can enjoy. It’s also great for younger teens since it is a clean read!

Until next time…

ARC, Horror, LGBT, mystery, three star book, ya

Wilder Girls ARC Review

Courtney/Enchanted.to.Read.You

It’s been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty’s life out from under her.

It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don’t dare wander outside the school’s fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.

But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there’s more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.

– Goodreads

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unpopular opinion: I really enjoyed this book.
….until the last two – three chapters.

Thanks, giphy!

What I liked:

So I had heard pretty meh reviews about this book. It was good until about halfway in, or the ending was bad, or whatever. I still went in with a pretty open mind, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book until the end.

It’s a medical mystery, which I love. There’s something making the Raxter island sick, and no one can figure out what it is. There’s a doomed boarding school on the island. They’ve been cut off for a year and a half. The Navy sends supplies periodically. The girls learn to survive. I absolutely loved that aspect.

The first chapter grabbed my attention and I did not want to put this book down. I was mad when I had to work and couldn’t read. I was right there along side the girls trying to figure out what was making the whole island sick. It was a fast paced story and I read it in about 4.5 hours total.

On another note, I think this would make a super cool movie if they revised the ending!

What I didn’t like:

The chapters were long. I like to stop reading at the end of the chapter, so sometimes I was struggling to stay awake and find an ending point. That’s just a personal preference.

They described wounds the girls got.. and it was gross. Even for me as a nurse.

There was, what felt like to me, a weird random romance that didn’t really make sense.

Some of the characters seemed super petty, but they are also teenage girls so i guess that’s to be expected? It was just a turn off for me.

And then the ending. It just seemed like there was no resolution. You figure out what was making everyone sick, but you never saw the aftermath. I want to know what happened after they found out! And I want to know other things which I won’t say here because ~spoilers~. It just left me wanting.

Would I recommend?

Ugh, what a tough question. I guess I would, but I would tell them that the ending was not what you want. Like, it was a super good book up until the last few chapters. The last few chapters is why I gave a 3.5 star rating instead of four. Just sooo disappointing.

Until next time…