Book Review: Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: gore, death, sexual assault, gun violence, slavery, kidnapping  

As a Stormsinger, a woman whose voice can control the weather, Mary Firth has a limited number of options: be forced into service with the military, or servitude on a pirate ship. When a notorious pirate seeks out Mary, she must side with his nemesis to protect herself and hopefully find the mother she lost years ago. Following Mary is Samuel Rosser, a broken Sooth with a connection to the Dark Water,  the magical world beneath theirs, desperate to regain his honour along with a talisman Mary stole from him. Their paths will take them across the Winter Sea and force them to confront forces more powerful than the mortals who seek to enslave them: Samuel wrestles with his growing powers, and Mary struggles to understand her connection to ghistings which are spectral creatures connected to the Dark Water and who protect the ships that sail the Winter Sea.

Why is it always so much harder to review a book that you love than one that you hate? I think it’s because it’s very hard to put inhuman screeches of love into words, but I will do my best. I’ve been a fan of H.M. Long since her debut novel, but I think this is my favourite of her books so far. Dark Water Daughter is rich, cold, fast paced, and incredibly immersive. Mary and Samuel jump off the page, the world feels real and gritty, and the magic system is one of the most unique and interesting that I’ve ever seen.

Trying to summarize this book was incredibly challenging because , even though bound copies look nice and tiny, so much happens in this story. There are feuds, warring pirates, hidden treasure, a host of magical creatures, dark magical forces, an old mystery, and more. I won’t go into too much detail because I want to avoid spoiling anything, but I will say that all these pieces come together in a way that is incredibly satisfying and gripping to read. Long’s writing is cinematic and fast-paced, she crafts flawed and realistic characters, is able to explore a multitude of dynamics and relationships in a fairly short page count, and is able to write both gripping and visceral fight scenes as well as slower character moments effortlessly.

Both Mary and Samuel are well-crafted, distinct characters who leap off the page and feel real enough to touch. They each have their own journeys and character growth throughout this book, and the connection and pull they feel towards each other had me kicking my feet with anticipation, but Long doesn’t sacrifice other character relationships in support of Mary and Samuel’s connections. The large cast of side characters all feel fleshed out and compelling, and both Mary and Samuel have a variety of interactions and relationships throughout this book that all feel equally real and authentic. Even the story’s villain, with a relatively low page count, is distinct and his goals are explained and explored, though never justified.

This story’s plot wraps up in a satisfying way while still having enough seeds hidden throughout that it’s clear there is so much more to come. This is a unique magic that I feel each of H.M. Long’s books possess, and which makes her one of my favourite fantasy writers. The fact that she can craft such immersive worlds that even without a cliffhanger you know that you have to go back, is such a testament to her skill at both character work and worldbuilding.

Okay, enough trying to be eloquent. The book is amazing, and I can’t think of a single criticism I have for it. It’s pirates in a northern setting with spirit magic, and singing to control storms,  and an old mystery, and so much more. I highly recommend it. Go read it. Right now.

Book Review: The Night in Question by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: physical abuse, violence, blood, child abuse, domestic abuse, death, confinement, pregnancy, bullying

Several months after solving the murder of her former best friend, Alice Ogilvie is happy to stick to investigating older mysteries—like the death of a movie starlet in Levy Castle back in the 1920s. Unfortunately, while snooping around the castle at a school dance, Alice stumbles onto a chilling scene: one of her classmates, Rebecca Kennedy, lying in a pool of her own blood, and another, Helen Park, standing over her with a bloody knife. Castle Cove’s inept police department thinks it’s an open-and-shut case, but even though Alice saw Helen with the knife, she and Iris can’t help but think something else is afoot. Something that just might tie into the death of that movie starlet Alice finds so fascinating.

I went into this book super excited to watch Alice and Iris tackle another mystery, but unfortunately, this one didn’t grip me quite as much as The Agathas. While I enjoyed the blending of the past and present, how Alice stood out as a character, and some of the fun reveals, the pacing of this book was a little bit off and stretched my suspension of disbelief a little further than it can go for a contemporary teen mystery. It was still a fun time, but it wasn’t as compelling a read as the first book.

The highlight of The Agathas was the relationship between Alice and Iris, the friendship that developed between them, and the ways they played off of each other. While I didn’t always feel like their voices were super distinct, I loved their dynamic. In this book, both Alice and Iris are dealing with personal struggles that put a strain on their friendship. While those struggles made sense for where each character was at in their lives, the book didn’t delve deeply enough into how they were feeling and dealing with those struggles.  It felt more like those plot points were just there to keep the girls apart. I trust they’ll be addressed in the next book, but it pulled me out of the story to see these things mentioned once and then completely ignored. Likewise, there were several seeds planted in the first book that only existed in the background of this book. There’s another murder that Iris is casually investigating that I assume will be the major focus of the third book, but there are also issues of character relationships, crushes, and evolving friendships that were established in the previous book and mentioned several times in this book, but go nowhere, which was a bit frustrating.

The actual mystery is fun, if a little ridiculous—Alice and Iris commit several crimes in this book that are a little hard to overlook, and when I found myself siding with the inept, sexist police officer telling the girls to stop or risk jail time, I knew that my suspension of disbelief had been pushed to the breaking point. I did find some of the foreshadowing really fun and was excited when I caught onto little hints the authors were laying for the reader but, unlike in the first book, those clues resolved the mystery too quickly and I found myself getting impatient with the girls for not figuring things out faster. I also found that, unlike the first book, I wasn’t emotionally invested in the outcome of either mystery so the stakes didn’t feel as high.

Overall, this book just fell a little short compared to the first. The stakes weren’t as high, the hijinks got a little too ridiculous, and the core dynamic of the book, the relationship between Alice and Iris, was underutilized. I still think it was a fun read and I’ll be checking out the third book when it comes out, but I wouldn’t recommend this one as much as I do the first.

Book Review: The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: domestic abuse, murder, child abuse, physical abuse, bullying, death of a parent

Last summer, Alice Ogilvie’s boyfriend dumped her, and she disappeared. Five days later she returned, seemingly unscathed but refusing to talk about what happened. Now Alice’s best friend (who happens to be dating Alice’s ex) has vanished, and even though Alice knows in her bones that it’s not the same, no one is taking Brooke’s disappearance seriously. Well, no one except Iris, Alice’s tutor, who has her own motives for wanting to find Brooke. Between the two of them, and with a little help from Agatha Christie, Alice’s literary hero and queen of the whodunit, they’re confident they can find Brooke. But it quickly becomes clear that this isn’t a game, and that someone they know could very well be a killer.

The Agathas follows two girls who live very different lives, brought together by circumstance and the desire to get justice for a missing girl. The writing style is quick and immersive. Alice and Iris are compelling characters, and I wasn’t able to put the book down until the mystery was solved.

I mean it. I picked this book up while at home sick, and I didn’t put it down again until I finished it, five hours later. Because of that, I can’t really speak to pacing, but I will say the writing style and the way the clues rolled out was enough to keep me turning the pages for hours, so the authors definitely did something right. I loved the way the mystery unfolded; I’m one of those people who suspects absolutely everyone when reading a whodunit, and this book really leans into that, providing lots of suspects and motives that the characters and the reader have to work through. The book also does a great job exploring the whydunit, a.k.a. really diving into the possible motives of each character to figure out not just what happened to Brooke, but why. I was really invested in the investigation and got swept up in the mystery, to the point that when I figured out a clue before the characters did, I tried to yell at my book to warn them.

This book is, of course, a mystery, but it’s also an exploration of the two characters Alice and Iris, and the ways in which their differences and similarities push them into an unlikely friendship. While overall Alice and Iris felt like distinct, fleshed out characters, I did find that occasionally their speech patterns would change from one chapter to the next. I think this might be the result of having two writers building a story together for the first time, and I’m sure that will be ironed out in later books. It was a slight distraction but ultimately didn’t take away from my reading experience. I really loved following both Alice and Iris. I felt like I could see a bit of my teenage self in each of them and I think lots of teen readers will be able to identify with one or both of them while reading this book. I also loved the side characters that show up in this book, and I hope we can see more of them in the sequels.

Overall, I loved this mystery and these two main characters, and with all the little hints this book drops about older mysteries that haunt this lakeside town, I couldn’t resist running out to pick up book two as soon as I finished this one. If you’re a fan of teen mysteries and whodunits, I think there’s a lot to love about this book, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Book Review: The Witch King by H.E. Edgmon

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: death, fire, fire injury, violence, transphobia, deadnaming, sexual assault, child abuse, body horror, genocide, cannibalism, racism, animal cruelty

H.E. Edgmon’s Witch King duology follows Wyatt, a trans witch desperate to be free of the expectations and prejudices of fae society. Two years after fleeing into the human world, Eymr, Wyatt’s mate and prince of one of the fae kingdoms, finally catches up with him. With people questioning Emyr’s right to rule and fae society trying to slip back into the old ways, Emyr needs his mate if he has any hope of keeping the kingdom together. But Wyatt knows what it’s like to be a witch in one of the fae kingdoms, and he knows that this world is rotten at its core. Now Wyatt has to decide whether to protect himself and his freedom or face his past and work to make the fae world a better place.

This duology is spectacular. It’s been on my radar for years, but I finally got the chance to read both books for the Trans Rights Readathon in March, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since. I struggle with fae books because the concept of fated mates isn’t my particular cup of tea, and I find fae books can fall into tropes I don’t prefer, but this book turned everything I expected about a fae book on its head and gave me a story about tearing down corrupt systems, fighting for equality, finding queer community, and developing healthy relationships with the people you love. I need to say it again—I’m obsessed.

Wyatt is an incredible main character. He’s snarky and self-deprecating, self-aware, and struggles with trauma and PTSD, and H.E. Edgmon is so gentle with him. Wyatt deals with so much in this book, he makes bad decisions and is put into incredibly challenging positions, and we couldn’t have this story from anyone else’s perspective. Wyatt’s unique voice keeps the book moving and sheds the perfect light on fae society, the choices other characters make, and Wyatt’s own actions.

The side characters in this book all feel fleshed out and real, and two months later, I can still visualize each of them clearly and hear their distinct voices. These characters leap off the page and make you love them (or hate them, the villains in this book suuuuck in the best way), and the community these characters build with each other has a grip on my heart that will stay with me for a long time.

I can’t go into too much detail about the actual plot as this review covers both books in the duology, but I will say that these books deal with corrupt systems, long-hidden mysteries and legacies, oppressed communities, and the weight on young people to change the world. Each of these points are hit so well, and I feel like the pacing of the duology is spectacular. Things keep building and building, while still having moments to allow the characters to breathe, and I was so invested in the mysteries and the work these characters were doing to tear down this mess of a system and rebuild something better. It deconstructs things like the fated mates trope and explores the concepts of love and destiny from a queer lens, which brought me to tears several times.

This duology is one of the best stories I’ve read so far this year, and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re a fan of fantasy, queer fiction, or revolutionary stories with snarky main characters. It is so good.

Book Review: Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: cancer, emotional abuse, toxic relationships, alcohol, grief, death of a parent, homophobia, infidelity 

Raised by a demanding mother and holding herself to an impossible standard, Astrid’s last chance at the life she’s supposed to have is by designing a sleek, modern upgrade for a historic inn on a home improvement show. Unfortunately for Astrid, Jordan, the owner’s granddaughter and the head carpenter on the project, doesn’t like sleek and modern at all, and fights her on every design decision she pitches. After a bit of interior design sabotage, and no small amount of attraction, Astrid and Jordan strike a deal that will help them both get what they want. But as feelings develop between the two, the line between what’s right and what they want starts to blur, and it seems like what they both might be looking for is each other.

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail is the second book in the Bright Falls series. Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. The characters felt incredibly real, the plot was interesting, I enjoyed all the home renovation shenanigans, and the romance was powerful and moving. This book is a great addition to the Bright Falls series, bringing back all the girls I met and loved in Delilah Green Doesn’t Care, and it will stick with me for a long time.

Astrid could have been a really difficult character to connect with, but Delilah Green did a really good job of setting her up as a complex, three-dimensional character, and this book’s exploration of her character felt natural. Her growth and personal journey away from this cold, unfeeling character into a woman who pursues the things she loves and fights for the things that make her happy was really powerful. Seeing her explore her bisexuality was also really beautiful to read about. I absolutely loved Astrid, and I think I loved Jordan even more. Her journey, her particular relationship fears and the ways she needs to learn to trust while also fighting for her voice in a relationship really hit home for me. Honestly, everything about this book hit home for me.

On a less personal note, I enjoyed the home renovation plot of this book. I’ve always loved home renovation shows (I mean, who hasn’t found themselves sucked into six hours of Love It or List It?), and I feel like the book did a really good job of translating that type of TV to book format. The camera crews added a fun tension, and the stakes for both Astrid and Jordan felt real. There was a valid reason for each of them to need the show to succeed, and they make decisions that they both feel are in their best interest even as they start to realize they may want different things, and it was a really interesting way to add tension to the story without falling into the miscommunication trope. Each character grew into themselves on both their romantic and interior design journeys and overall, I feel like the plot was really strong and strengthened and complicated the romance between Astrid and Jordan.

Overall, this book wowed me. It will stick with me for a long time, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading a powerful romance with an interesting and unique plot and an amazing cast of characters.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: ableism, child abuse, violence

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason is the third book in India Holton’s Dangerous Damsels series. Alice, a.k.a. Agent A, works for an elite secret government run by the servants of England. When a dastardly plot to assassinate the queen is discovered, Alice must go undercover within the Wisteria Society to find the secret weapon and save England. Unfortunately, scandalous pirates are the least of Alice’s concerns as she is forced to go undercover with Agent B, a.k.a. Daniel Bixby, her professional rival, and the sexiest, most tidy man she has ever met. Now the two must pretend to be married, and worse, they must pretend to be improper in order to save the world.

While the first book parodies the gothic novel, and the second pokes fun at the conventions of Jane Austen, this book parodies the spy novel while still paying homage to the inspirations of the other two. It’s full of dry, witty humour, dry, not-too-witty characters, hijinks, sexual innuendo, and dangerous touches. I loved every minute of it.

Daniel and Alice are very different from the main characters of the previous two books as they adhere rigidly to propriety and are agents of order and tidiness. I was worried that these traits might make them a little harder to connect with, but both Alice and Daniel jumped off the page. They each felt vibrant and real right away, and it was impossible not to root for the two of them as they tidied their way through dens of crazy pirates, various explosions and assassination attempts, and their rather professional attempts at seducing each other. I also loved how they complimented each other, able to read each other’s moods and emotions in a way no one else in the narrative could. The two of them had my heart immediately, and I was rooting for them from the very first page.

The supporting cast is just as colourful and outrageous as you would expect from a Dangerous Damsels novel. I loved the reappearance of several beloved characters, and enjoyed all the new faces that popped up through the book. Continuing the tradition of meddling aunts, A.U.N.T. was an interesting and ominous presence in the background of the novel, and I love the concept of a secret government where the servants of England control things behind the scenes (though I certainly understand how Alice and Bixby may yearn for something more, especially after the freedom and chaos of the Wisteria Society).

The actual plot of this book is so fun, and I feel like it does a good job of blending historical romance conventions with the tropes and story beats of a spy thriller. While I’m not sure the full stakes of the assassination plot ever feel quite as real as it could have—because Alice and Bixby’s competence and confidence had me certain no harm would come to the queen—I was still happily turning pages and eager to dive back into the book every time I had to put it down. The comedy of manners in this novel as well as Alice’s innocent and explicit innuendos had me giggling at least once a page.

India Holton is one of my favourite writers, and the Dangerous Damsels have been some of my favourite novels of the past few years. The Secret Service of Tea and Treason had a lot to live up to, and I am so happy to say that it absolutely did. It made me laugh, moved me, made me want to be a pirate, and if I could climb into this world, hijack a flying house, and sail away, I would do it in an instant. I highly recommend this entire series, and I am thrilled to say that this book is the perfect conclusion to the trilogy. If you’re a fan of satire, historical romance, outrageous plots and a tiny bit of magic, then these books are a must-read.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: toxic relationships, bullying, death, emotional abuse, panic attacks/disorders, violence, cursing, domestic abuse

Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers follows Vera, an older woman whose vigorous routines and diligent internet snooping keep her young at heart—though neither her son nor her potential customers seem interested in that. With so little to keep her superior mind occupied, who can blame Vera when, after finding a dead body in her tea shop, she decides to steal a little bit of evidence and investigate the murder herself? The police think it was an accident, but Vera knows that if she just waits long enough, the guilty party will show up and make her a hero. Unfortunately, not one but four young people with their own motives and ties to the dead man turn up in Vera’s shop. Now it's up to Vera to uncover the truth even as her snooping brings all her suspects together in a way that just might be exactly what they all need.

This book is both hilarious (which I was expecting) and very heartwarming (which I was not). I knew that Jesse Q. Sutanto could pull off the humour of writing a meddling mother while still creating a well-rounded and loveable character, and Vera is exactly that. She is outrageous and arrogant while also being smart, caring, and so full of love—and all of that makes her delightful to follow. What I did not expect was for Sutanto to also introduce four complicated characters with their own traumas and have this group help heal each other in a really beautiful way. The book is split between Vera’s point of view and the perspectives of each of her four suspects, which really elevated the story. Each POV has their own individual arcs and connections to the mystery, and they each grow and provide something for the others, culminating in a found family that I did not know I needed in my life.

The actual mystery was really interesting.  It took a lot of twists and turns that I did not expect while still giving enough hints and clues to solve the mystery along with Vera. Vera’s snooping and aggressive motherly interrogations divulge in equal parts real, important clues as well as ridiculous theories that had me giggling while still providing helpful character insights. The pacing of the mystery may unfold a little bit inconsistently but that makes sense for the plot of this story, and I was never bored.

This book had me laughing constantly, and while I was worried that I would end up laughing at Vera, this book never feels malicious. Yes, you definitely do laugh at her as she can be a bit ridiculous at times and while the book pokes fun at her, she has so much heart that you fall in love with her and her ridiculousness.  The other characters in this book all fear and want to please her in equal parts, which helps this book feel like it is gently teasing rather than outright mocking. I’m just so pleasantly surprised by how this book blended comedy with real emotional connection, with each character feeling grounded and real in a way that makes you miss them once the book is over.

If you’re looking for a funny mystery full of complex, loveable characters with a heartwarming found family and so many descriptions of food that will have your mouth watering, I would highly recommend this book. I picked it up when I needed something light and fun, and it made me laugh and cry and fall in love with these characters. I had a great time with it.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: animal death, bullying, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, violence, fire, fire injury, alcohol, injury, injury detail.

In A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon, a prophecy claims that Mariel will be the most powerful witch seen in centuries. She’s happy to just use nature magic, but her overbearing mother will not stop until Mariel does magic “worthy” of the family name, which is how Mariel ends up accidentally summoning a demon who can’t leave her side until they strike a soul bargain. Ozroth the Ruthless’ reputation has taken a bit of a hit, and Mariel’s soul is the only thing that can save him and his people. In a crazy attempt to hide her latest magical mistake, Mariel tells her family that he’s her boyfriend, and now it’s only a matter of time before one of them gives in—either Mariel will lose her soul, or both of them might lose their hearts.

This is such a fun witchy rom-com with a delightful romance, a beautiful magical town, and a great nature conservation plot. Mariel is a fantastic main character, she’s kind and compassionate even in the face of a toxic family and a town of people who judge her for her lack of magical ability. Ozroth is a grumpy, disgruntled demon with a heart of gold and so many emotions. The two of them make a perfect pair, and their relationship develops so naturally. While things do move a bit quickly, I really appreciated how this book explored Ozroth and Mariel’s growing relationship. In many grumpy/sunshine books I find the grumpy character can be a bit toxic, but in this book, Ozroth does very little manipulating for a manipulative demon trying to trick someone into giving up their soul. I thought that the two of them complimented each other really well, and I was invested in their relationship. I also loved both characters’ personal journeys and how the development of their romance complemented their growth. 

The plot of this book is also super entertaining. The whole premise of a witch and demon having to fake date while the demon tries to steal the witch’s soul is fun enough on its own, but this book also deals with how the town’s magic is connected to nature. I loved reading about Mariel’s plant magic, and her fight to protect the magical hot springs was fun and impactful to read. I’m a big advocate of having lots of magic in my witchy romcoms, and this book delivered with Mariel’s fight to protect the magic of the town by fighting for the hot springs.

The side characters in this book felt well-developed, the pacing was good, and I loved how this book blended magical shenanigans with sweet romantic moments. I laughed a lot, but I was also emotionally invested in both Mariel and Ozroth’s individual journeys and their fight to protect Glimmer Falls’ magic. I was also really impressed with the worldbuilding this book sets up, both for Glimmer Falls and its magic, and for the demon plane. I will definitely be checking out the next book in this series (which, based on the preview we get at the back of this book, is going to be a doozy!). If you’re a fan of witchy romcoms with lots of magic and fun, a really sweet romance, I would highly recommend checking this book out.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: sexual violence, misogyny, rape, sexual assault, suicide, child abuse, child trafficking, toxic relationships, death of a parent

The Wild Ones is a lyrical story following a group of girls who call themselves the Wild Ones. Many years ago, Paheli, the first Wild One, was betrayed by her mother.  After escaping the man she was sold to, she met a boy with stars in his eyes who tossed her a box of stars and disappeared. The stars give Paheli access to the Between and unlock a hidden world of magic layered over her own. Paheli uses the stars to help other girls like her, and together they use the Between to travel the world and work through their traumas. When the boy with stars in his eyes reappears, the Wild Ones will need to fight to protect his freedom and their own.

This book is beautifully written, with a lyrical voice and several different points of view. The majority of the chapters are told from the collective perspective of the Wild Ones. By using we instead of I or they, this book invites the reader to become one of the Wild Ones and speaks directly to the reader about the universal dangers girls and women face. There are also chapters from Paheli’s point of view that give us insight into the mind of the first Wild One, a girl who has tasked herself with protecting as many people as she can while struggling to let any of them close, as well as pages with poetry that capture the experiences of each of the Wild Ones.

The book deals with heavy subject matter and has a plot steeped with overcoming abuse and reclaiming your body and sense of self, as well as exploring class differences and the pressures from different cultures on girls.

It is also full of magic, beautiful descriptions of different cities around the world, and a sisterhood of girls who protect and provide for each other. The story moves slowly, but the lyrical and unique writing style is really beautiful and helped keep me engaged. I did find the magic system a bit confusing, and this was not a book I could read super quickly, but every time I picked it up, I connected with the story again and was very emotionally invested in the characters and their journey.

The relationship between Paheli and Taraana, the boy with stars in his eyes, is particularly compelling and complex. I also loved the relationships between the Wild Ones,  the ways they support each other, and the ways they connect with Taraana. The book doesn’t shy away from the traumas each of these girls has experienced, but it also puts power back in their hands and shows them embracing safety, comfort, and community as they walk together through cities they know and love, eat and laugh together, and keep each other safe when threats emerge.

The plot of the book is interesting but definitely takes a backseat to the atmosphere and character work that happens in this story. I did enjoy the plot, but the main reason I picked the book up every day was because of the characters and the writing style, which I found to be impactful.

If you’re a fan of lyrical and uniquely written, character-driven, feminist stories that examine trauma and are full of girls who embrace their wildness and are willing to fight for their freedom, I would suggest checking this one out. It’s slow, but very impactful and vastly different from anything else I’ve ever read.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: body horror, death, child death, sexual assault (off page), childhood sexual assault (off page), child abuse, emotional abuse, animal death, torture

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury follows two Black girls separated by ten years as they try to discover the secrets of a dark house in Northern Canada. Daisy has always felt trapped by her mother and her life, so when they finally get the chance for stability in the form of a house given to them by a mysterious relative, Daisy hopes this can mean a fresh start for her mother and a chance at freedom for herself. But there is something wrong with the house, something connected to the ghosts Daisy has seen her whole life, and to the past her mother has kept secret from her.

Ten years later, Brittney is desperate to bring justice to forgotten Black girls, starting with the girl who died in the house. She will stop at nothing to unravel Daisy’s story, even as the things she uncovers connect painfully to her own past and relationship with her own mother.

While I like a good paranormal story as much as the next person, I am an absolute coward and not great at horror or psychological thrillers. When I read the concept of this book I was intrigued but scared to read something outside of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I pushed myself because once I started this book it was impossible to put down. This book has so many secrets, so many twists and turns and people hiding things, and I absolutely had to get to the bottom of it.

The writing style is tense and eerie, and the plot unfolds slowly while revealing just enough in each chapter to make the reader uneasy and desperate for more crumbs of information. The balance of paranormal happenings with psychological and real-world threats was really well done, and the way the story explored the dangers of both supernatural and human evil was riveting.

Both Daisy and Brittney are wonderful characters, flawed and complex and scarred from their respective pasts and traumas, and they both feel so real and grounded. Daisy makes a lot of mistakes, but you never question why. Her actions all make sense, and as the story begins to escalate it becomes clear that she has no good options, which is so frustrating to read in the very best way. Brittney is sometimes abrasive, harsh, or untrusting, and she feels so deeply for the story she is trying to uncover. Both these girls were absolutely fantastic to follow, and I loved the way the story wove their two narratives together.

This book does deal with a lot of heavy subject matter, and I highly recommend checking content warnings before reading. My copy of the book included an author’s note from Sambury that details the subject matter, which is thorough and which I really appreciated before diving into this story. Yes, it’s heavy. It is dark and twisting and deals with layers of abuse and trauma. But it also explores hope, and coming out the other side of that trauma, which I found very powerful.

Lastly, I will say that it never fails to bring me joy to read a book set in Canada. Seeing my home town mentioned put a smile on my face, and I adored the references to Tim Hortons and all-dressed chips, and Thunder Bay gets mentioned!

This book is absolutely incredible, and while I do think it’s best to go into it informed, I highly recommend checking out this story if you’re interested in ghosts, cursed houses, generational trauma, or the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. I could not put this book down, and I cannot wait to see what Sambury writes next.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: colonization, animal death, violence, grief, torture, war, threat of sexual assault, addiction, death

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim is a YA fantasy novel following Imani, a Shield in the thriving, hidden desert city of Qalia. Her people were chosen by the gods to protect the world from monsters in exchange for misra, a spice that, when consumed as tea, gives the Shields magical affinities. Imani’s family is one of the most prestigious in Qalia, but a year ago her brother disgraced her family and disappeared. Now there is news that her brother may be alive and fighting in the kingdoms outside of Qalia. Imani will do whatever it takes to save him, including allying herself with a boy she hates, and a djinn she cannot trust.

Spice Road had a really interesting premise and magic system. I found the idea compelling, and the further I got into the book, the more the complexities of the plot spoke to me. This book is all about colonization and the ways in which people could overcome social divides in order to help each other, and the second half of the book explored those well. 

Unfortunately, the first half of the book was really difficult for me to get through. I struggled with the writing style that is very flowery with overused metaphors, which made it hard for me to get into the story. I also found the beginning rather jarring, which led to some difficulties later in the book. A major part of the plot is the supposed and real differences between Qalia and Alqibah, the outside world, but because Qalia isn’t described in any great detail, the full emotional impact of those differences doesn’t have the same weight it could have had. That being said, I did find the descriptions of Alqibah and the struggles of its people to be really powerful and impactful.

Likewise, Imani’s relationship with her family, particularly her brother, is told to the reader rather than shown. While the latter half of the book does a good job of exploring Imani’s relationship with her sister, who, in my opinion, is the most fleshed-out and interesting character, the bond Imani feels towards her brother felt shallow. Imani’s love for her brother is the driving force of this book and leads Imani’s growth and character development, and that falling flat took away from the impact of the rest of the story for me. We see all the characters through Imani’s eyes in this book, and while I appreciate that the story shows her as an unreliable narrator, we still get the story through her lens and that took away from my ability to connect to any of the other characters in this book.

Imani’s own character development also falls a bit flat; we didn’t learn enough about why she was who she was at the beginning of the story, so the changes she experiences towards the end don’t have the impact they could have. I think this is my biggest issue with this story. Aside from the writing style being a bit overwritten for my tastes, the beginning of the story doesn’t explore the most important things to this plot, particularly the settings and character dynamics that drive the rest of the story. While the second half of the book is much more interesting and deals with some complex and emotional themes, this book lacks the foundations it needed to really give those things the full impact they could have had.

Overall, this book fell flat for me. I do think the story is heading in a promising direction, I found the second half of the book much more interesting and entertaining to read, and I enjoyed what the book was trying to do, but the writing style and weakness of the first half impacted my reading experience.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: injury, injury detail, blood, self-harm, animal death, confinement, violence, kidnapping, psychological torture

Emily Wilde’s novel Encyclopaedia of Faeries is about a Cambridge professor and dryadologist’s first-hand account of her experiences studying a rare and elusive group of northern faeries while compiling the first complete encyclopedia of faeries. Unfortunately, the Hidden Ones, fae made of ice and cold that live in the north, are considered little more than myth, and Emily’s attempts to complete her research in a small northern town are complicated by struggles with the locals and a meddlesome fellow scholar. This story is told through Emily’s field notes as she recounts her experiences getting to know the northern locals, her encounters with several species of northern fae,  her attempts at managing her meddlesome Cambridge colleague, Wendell Bambleby, and her own nagging desire to learn more about the mysterious faeries of the north.

Emily is a delightful character to follow; she’s blunt, harsh, and prefers books and research to people, and I really enjoyed being in her mind throughout this story. Bambleby acts as her perfect opposite, ridiculous, extravagant and affectionate, and the two of them make an excellent pair. I adored the way their relationship developed and how their personalities contrasted. All the side characters were also interesting and fleshed out, which could have been challenging with the story being told from Emily’s perspective, but Fawcett handled it expertly. The small northern town felt grounded and real, and I was invested in the people and their struggles, while also feeling a strong connection to Emily. This book, and our narrator, don’t shy away from the fact that Emily’s main motivation is academia. Most of her actions are motivated by her fascination with the fae, but Fawcett also does an excellent job of showing Emily’s concern for the locals of the area without Emily herself realizing just how involved she’s gotten in the lives of her research subjects. I admire how Fawcett captured the complexity of Emily’s character (and I also loved how Bambleby was there, seeing that complexity in her all along. He was delightful and melodramatic and fully reflected my love for Emily while reading).

I also adored the way the fae were presented in this book and seeing them through Emily’s eyes was captivating. Emily is a woman who is fascinated by faeries, and she depicts them in all their complexity and unpredictability. Some fae were helpful and generous, while others were ruthless and cruel, and even those who were friends followed a logic that humans can’t always understand. I really enjoyed how the fae were connected to stories and found the whole fae aspect of the story fascinating and delightful to read. The pacing of this book is slower, but that suited the field guide style and allowed a short read to feel full and complex, alluding to a much wider field of faerie studies that I wish existed.

I am a huge lover of the “memoir/research notes of a scientist studying a magical phenomenon” fantasy subgenre, so this book was perfect for me. The exploration of northern faeries was fascinating, the villagers were wonderful, and Emily and Bambleby were an absolute delight to read about. If you’re a fan of A Natural History of Dragons, or want to read a narrative book with the same spirit as the field guide in The Spiderwick Chronicles, I would definitely recommend checking this book out.

Book Review: Witcha Gonna Do? by Avery Flynn

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: emotional abuse, confinement, forced imprisonment

Witcha Gonna Do? is a fourth wall-breaking witchy romcom following Tilda, a woman from a powerful line of witches with no magic of her own, and Gil, a magical history scholar with dark secrets. After Gil and Tilda are set up on their fourth blind date in a row and Tilda humiliates herself and embarrasses her family one too many times, her insecurities are at an all-time high. Then, while trying to film a video for her family’s social media, Tilda accidentally ruins her sister’s spell and freezes her whole family. Now it’s up to Tilda, Gil, and a team of magical misfits to save her family. Oh, and there’s a secret shadow organization bent on Tilda’s family’s destruction that they have to watch out for too.

I’ll be honest, I really struggled with the beginning of this book. It’s told in first person, dual point of view, and is full of fourth wall breaks with the two main characters speaking directly to the reader. Because Gil’s character is a bit more reserved, I didn’t find his chapters quite so jarring, but Tilda is sassy and snarky, and her fourth wall breaks took some getting used to. I think this writing style will be really tough for anyone who isn’t a fan of this type of informal writing, but once the story got going, I was able to get used to it.

I really enjoyed Gil and Tilda’s characters, and I mostly enjoyed the progression of their romance. I definitely liked how this book handled communication—while the characters do keep secrets from each other, the book did a good job of avoiding any major miscommunication drama (which I appreciate). The side characters were interesting, particularly Tilda’s fellow magical misfits. I understand that this is the first book in the series, so I do wish we had gotten to know Tilda’s family and sisters more, because the book painted a bit of an inconsistent picture of her parents in particular. Overall, the book’s primary characters were fun to read about.

The description of the world in this book also felt a bit incomplete. I enjoyed how magic was so pervasive, but I have a hard time understanding where exactly the book is set—does it take place in a completely magical world, or in our world with a hidden magical community? Things like the Council and the Resistance, two major organizations that affect Gil’s actions within the book and supposedly pose major threats to Tilda and her family, are also vaguely explained. While I understand that this is at its core a romance, I found the idea of these two shadow organizations to be fascinating and was a bit disappointed not to see them explored in more detail. I wanted a more exciting climax as well, since the big bad was set up to be so, you guessed it, big and bad (did you like that? It’s a bit more informal than what I usually put in these reviews. If you didn’t, this book probably isn’t for you. If you did, hi, and also, I think you’d have fun with Witcha Gonna Do?).

Criticisms aside, overall, I did have fun with the book. The world felt magical, Tilda was a fun and relatable main character, Gil was an interesting and well fleshed out male lead, and the pacing of the book was pretty good. I was intrigued by each plot element even though I feel like certain things could have been explored better, and I enjoyed the development of Gil and Tilda’s relationship. Overall, the book is a fun, quick read, and while I may have wanted a bit more in the world-building department, I still had a good time reading it.

If you’re a fan of witchy romcoms, enjoy a really (like really really) informal writing style, and don’t need too much world-building, I think you’ll have fun with Witcha Gonna Do?.

Book Review: The Wolf Suit by Sid Sharp

By Meghan Mazzaferro

The Wolf Suit is a graphic novel that follows Bellwether, an anxious sheep who just wants to live comfortably in his house doing crafts and enjoying his own company. But every once and a while he needs to brave the forest in search of food, and after one too many close calls where Bellwether’s quest for lunch almost winds up with him becoming lunch, he decides he is done living in fear and puts his crafting skills to the test to build himself a wolf suit. Unfortunately for Bellwether, pretending to be a wolf isn’t easy, and he just might run into some real wolves on his travels.

This graphic novel chapter book is suitable for children six and up and is absolutely delightful. The story follows timid Bellwether as he pushes himself to be brave and leave the comforts of home in spite of the potential dangers. The plot takes a fun twist on the sheep versus wolf dynamic, and I enjoyed how Sharp took the time to let the story breathe. Bellwether is fleshed out as a character and each step of his journey feels well explored while still having a quick pace and a simple story to keep young readers entertained. This book would be great to read as a family, but the pages are also well organized, and the words are easy to read if the young reader in your life wants to dive into the story on their own. The book is also divided into short chapters, which means you can read the story as quickly, or slowly, as you want.

On top of the fun and exciting plot, the art style of this book stands out. It is relatively simple and not too cluttered with enough detail to keep the reader visually engaged. I particularly loved the contrast between the indoor and outdoor spaces and enjoyed how the visuals in the story contradict the narrator at times—while Bellwether feels safest inside, the minimalist and dark space seems so empty once the reader is introduced to the vibrance of the rest of the forest. The simple designs also highlight the important plot devices visually—particularly Bellwether’s window—which I loved.

I also found the character designs absolutely wonderful. Bellwether is a delight to look at, and there were several times when I had to pause and admire a particular expression (typically ones where Bellwether is especially stressed out or flustered because they were just too relatable). Likewise, I found the wolf characters both fun and scary to look at. It felt like we were seeing the wolves the way Bellwether would, and I found the claws in particular to be really well done. I appreciated how the art was interesting enough to hold readers of all ages’ attention while still being designed to not be too scary for the target audience. The art does an excellent job of complementing the writing and telling a complete story, and you can’t have one without the other.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and the story it told. It does a great job of exploring a character type that most readers are familiar with while telling a fresh story in a fun and visually stimulating way, and I really appreciated the book’s overall message. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good graphic novel no matter their age, though I definitely think it would be especially fun to read as a family.

 Thank you to Annick Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Temple of No God by H.M. Long

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: murder, violence, gore, child death, rape

Temple of No God is the second novel in H. M. Long’s Hall of Smoke series of standalone fantasy books, and follows Hessa, now a High Priestess of the god of the north. After bringing tentative peace to the north, Hessa discovers a new god in the south with a frightening power, and she is recruited to back one of the three heirs vying to unite the Arpa empire. While marching her army south, Hessa must navigate the rising threat of the Arpa empire and shifting loyalties within her own camp, all while journeying to unlock a buried magic that will bring the new Emperor unimaginable power. But even Hessa herself does not know what she will do once she reaches the heart of the empire: crown a new emperor, or destroy Arpa from within its heart.

Hall of Smoke is a fantastic novel, and I was curious to see how a sequel following the same main character and set in the main world, but which could be read as a standalone, would play out. While I definitely recommend reading Hall of Smoke first, I do appreciate how Temple of No God can be read on its own. This book has its own worldbuilding and explains enough of the events of book one for a new reader to understand what’s happening, while also crafting a new plot unrelated to the first one.

Hessa is an incredibly complex and compelling character, and I enjoyed following her in this story. She is a fierce barbarian queen while also being a wise priestess, and I enjoyed the way Long balances Hessa’s status as a legend in her world, grounded in several fight scenes where we get to see how Hessa has earned her reputation, and with a deeper look into the character’s psyche, wants, and insecurities. I found her magic in this book really interesting, and I loved the way the fight scenes were written. These books have cinematic action scenes; they’re intense and visceral, and absolutely suck you into the story. They’re also an interesting tool to develop the characters, particularly Hessa—she is a warrior priestess with the power of the gods in her veins, but she is also mortal, and watching her fight in different settings demonstrates both her powers and her limitations in an interesting way.

Most of the other characters are also well developed, and I particularly liked Uspa, an outcast Eangen whom Hessa takes under her wing and who worms her way into Hessa’s affections. The only character I wish I knew more about is Imnir, Hessa’s estranged husband. He is crucial to the plot and to Hessa’s character, but I found him difficult to connect to and a bit underdeveloped. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters in this book, and it was through them that I got invested in the plot.

This story has a new setting, and I enjoyed the journey through the Arpa empire. I could visualize the scenes and felt immersed in the world. I also found the plot interesting, and the new god, their priests, and dark magic were frightening and intense. I enjoyed the mystery and background scheming, and while I do feel like the mystery progressed a bit slowly and the reveals were a little rushed, the novel was still well paced, and I was invested the entire time. I found the climax really interesting, and it had me on the edge of my seat. Long does an excellent job of developing the power and skill imbalances between mortal and immortal warriors, and that imbalance and Hessa’s disadvantage were particularly interesting in the final battle.

Overall, while it didn’t quite captivate me as much as Hall of Smoke did, I found the story really enjoyable and intense, and I would definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of Viking-inspired fantasy and intense, standalone stories.

Book Review: Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: grief, animal death, child abuse, confinement, sexual violence, death of a parent

Seasparrow is the fifth book in Kristin Cashore’s Graceling series. It follows Hava as she, Bitterblue, and the Monsean delegation sail home from Winterkeep through dangerous northern storms. Hava is working hard to translate top secret information that will govern the fate of the entire world, and after discovering a conspiracy on board and realizing that the ship is further north than it should be, Hava and the crew have to contend with the dangers of the North as they struggle to get home. Faced with new dangers outside of anything she’s ever experienced, Hava is forced for the first time to figure out who she is and what she wants outside of her Grace and her identity as Bitterblue’s spy.

Unlike previous books in the series, this book focuses less on the complex politics of the Graceling universe and more on Hava’s individual struggle for identity. While slightly different in tone, Seasparrow still fits seamlessly into the established world. Cashore has a unique writing style that is immersive and feels timeless and complex; and yet she also has the ability to alter her writing style to suit each story she tells while still maintaining a consistent voice that allows the expansion of the Graceling universe to feel connected and unified. It’s such a difficult skill, and I can’t think of any other series that has such a varied writing style while still feeling so cohesive. This is also the first book in the series told in first person, bringing the reader into Hava’s mind and really allowing us to explore how this incredibly closed off character thinks.

Hava is one of the most interesting characters in the Graceling series and getting to be inside her mind was a delight. Her whole life has been based around her ability to disappear, so I really appreciated how this book’s plot was more simplistic, allowing the focus to be on Hava’s personal journey. That being said, I did find myself looking for a bit of a more complex story at the beginning of the book, but once I settled into the story I really enjoyed the plot we were given and loved how it complemented Hava’s journey. While there is an undercurrent of political scheming, the main premise of this book is the journey Hava and the crew take to return home from Winterkeep, and the struggles they face as they get trapped in the North and have to survive. I really enjoyed the way this plot let not just Hava but all of the characters in this story breathe and stand out. The foxes in particular were vivid and interesting to read, and they added both stakes and humour to the story. 

Seasparrow is the third book in the Graceling series that I have read, and each book so far has stood out for me in a different way. That is part of what makes this series so appealing to me, and why I love reviewing these books. With Seasparrow, long-time fans of the series will love returning to this world, exploring Hava’s past, and getting insight into her character. New readers who enjoy character-driven stories will really enjoy the exploration into the complicated psyche of a girl who was raised to disappear. I would definitely recommend this book to existing Graceling fans and fans of character-driven stories alike.

Book Review: Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

by Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: substance abuse, gambling addiction, infidelity, emotional abuse, police corruption, family abandonment, physical violence, mentions of suicide, murder

Blackmail and Bibingka is the third book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series following Lila as she struggles to juggle her new business, a new relationship, and preparations for the town’s Winter Bash. To top it all off, Lila’s shady cousin is back in town with some mysterious business partners and a scheme that Lila doesn’t trust for a second. When Ronnie becomes a murder suspect, Lila knows she has to investigate. Tita Rosie may be ready to welcome back her prodigal son, but Lila will not let Ronnie, or anyone else, hurt her family.

This series continues to be cozy, full of powerful female friendships, beautiful family bonds, and so much good food. Lila is a fantastic main character, and this mystery is different from the others in this series; Lila herself observes that while the previous two mysteries were motivated by passion and emotion, this new case is premeditated and seems to be driven only by greed, making the culprit much less sympathetic in her eyes.

Each of the new characters introduced in this book is flawed, and I appreciated the way Lila was both pragmatic and compassionate. She was suspicious and not overly naive, but she was still understanding of the struggles of the people she was investigating. Each of the characters in this world feels so fleshed out and real, and it could have been easy to have these new additions feel hollow or underdeveloped with their flaws and selfish motives, but Manansala did an excellent job of making them feel grounded and well developed even when they weren’t always likeable.

I enjoyed how the clues were laid out in this book, though I did find the mystery a bit predictable. The puzzle pieces were clear to me very early in the book; however, I did still enjoy the way Lila’s investigation played out, and I was pleased with the way the mystery wrapped up. The clues gave me a good grasp of what would unfold, but there were a few pieces I didn’t put together until the big reveal.

Where these books really stand out to me are the character relationships and dynamics, and this book doesn’t disappoint. Lila’s friends and family are all so vivid and fun, and I love reading about the ways they push and support each other. I will say that the characters all act so real and fleshed out that it sometimes makes the dialogue feel a bit clunky and unnatural, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.

I also enjoyed the way this book treated the previous two mysteries; while it felt like the first two books needed to be read in order, because of the way book one’s resolution affects Lila’s mental state in book two, this book was very vague about the previous two mysteries. While I still recommend reading the books in order, I appreciate the work this book put into being able to be read on its own.

Overall, while I found the mystery a bit predictable, there is something about these books that I find so cozy and delightful to read. Lila is a wonderful main character surrounded by an excellent supporting cast, and her investigation kept me interested the entire time. And where the mystery may have fallen a bit short, I got to enjoy this series’ countless descriptions of delicious food, which, as always, left me hungry and satisfied. I would definitely recommend the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series as a fun and cozy read, and this book is an enjoyable installment.

Thank you too Penguin RandomHouse for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: racism, violence, forced institutionalization, rape (off page), slavery, sexism, death of a parent, animal cruelty 

Bloodmarked is the second book in the Legendborn Cycle, and it follows Bree Matthews as she struggles to deal with the consequences of battle. The Table is awakened, but separated, the Regents are coming, and Bree has to wrestle with the heavy weight of everything she’s learned while preparing for the battle to come. This book starts a few weeks after the first book ends, and it takes Bree to new locations and reveals a much wider world of magic users and monsters.

It’s difficult to talk about a sequel without discussing the events of book one, especially for a book as incredibly written as Legendborn, which weaves together several magic systems and mysteries beautifully, and which tells an incredibly complex and powerful story. I’ll avoid discussing book one in this review, but please know that Legendborn is an absolute masterpiece, and if you haven’t read it yet, you definitely should.

Bloodmarked has very big shoes to fill, and overall, I feel like it is a worthy successor. While I do feel like the pacing is a bit off and there is a lot of exposition and information given in this book, I really appreciate the ways in which the world is expanded. Bree and the other characters are forced to explore not only new locations but new types of magic, and they realize that the laws the Order lives under are not universal. I enjoyed all the new information we got. It feels like the world was expanded, and I’m intrigued by how this opens up future books to a lot more characters and different types of magic.

The characterization in this book is excellent, and Bree is one of the best YA protagonists I’ve ever read. She is strong and powerful while also being vulnerable and emotional, and she feels real and grounded in a way that’s difficult to achieve. This book takes some of the characters from book one and really focuses on them, so we don’t get to spend time with all our favourites from the first book, but I enjoyed each of the characters that were featured, and the book introduced some new characters that I found really interesting to follow as well.

The plot of this book is definitely different from the first one. Where the first story had a lot of mystery components, this book felt much more political, and while I did enjoy the political elements, that tonal change made the book a little hard to get into and connect with at first. I think the biggest criticism I have with this book is that it is so different from the first and that it feels a bit jarring at times, but I think that knowing there is that difference going into the story will improve your reading experience. I really enjoy where the story seems to be going and I was definitely emotionally invested in the political scheming and manipulations that went on.

While I do feel like this book is very exposition-heavy and the pacing was a bit off, every piece of information we got felt necessary and I appreciate the time that was taken to develop this world. Lots of character work and foreshadowing sets the stage for something that I’m confident will be explosive in book three. Overall, the Legendborn Cycle is, in my opinion, one of the best series coming out in YA at the moment, and the second book cannot be missed.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is not the finished copy of the book, and the final copy may be slightly changed.

Book Review: Go Hex Yourself by Jessica Clare

Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: child abuse, emotional abuse, sexism, stalking, death of a parent

In Jessica Clare’s Go Hex Yourself, Reggie Johnson’s controlling nature makes it a little hard to keep a job. But when she answers an ad in the newspaper that she thinks is for a position at her favourite card game, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to impress her new boss. Unfortunately for Reggie, she ends up getting hired as a real witch’s familiar, and impressing her new boss means learning spells, acting as a conduit for her kooky witch’s magic, and believing that magic is real. Plus, she’s stuck dealing with her boss’s nephew. Angry, brooding Ben Magnus goes out of his way to show Reggie she doesn’t belong there, but when dark spells start targeting the house, Ben and Reggie need to work together to keep each other safe and find the culprit.

Go Hex Yourself is perfect for fall; it’s a fun, witchy rom-com with an enemies-to-lovers romance, witty banter, a fun plot, and a touch of magic. I had a lot of fun reading it and once I got started, I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed our main characters and the way their romance progressed, I had fun with the plot, and it had me invested and excited to see what was coming.

This book is, at its heart, a romance. Enemies-to-lovers is a difficult thing to pull off in a way that leads to a healthy relationship, but I feel like this book did a really good job. Reggie is an interesting and complex character, and Ben complemented and challenged her so well. Both sides of the romance were developed and explored, and each of our main characters' psyches and histories were explored in a way that highlighted how they would work well together. The book balances the immediate attraction between the two characters with a slower development of feelings really well. Even during the “enemies” phase of their romance, each person’s behaviour is explained and makes sense. And they communicate! That sounds like a silly thing to praise, but I love a couple who talk through their differences in a healthy and constructive way.

I also really enjoyed the side characters, particularly Dru, Reggie’s boss and Ben’s aunt. She is really funny and fun to read about, and her character helped me get invested in the overall stakes and plot of the book. The book does a good job of developing the side characters and their relationships with the main couple in a way that makes each of our main characters feel more real and grounded, and which in turn helps deepen the romance by making the characters feel three dimensional.

I do feel like the pacing of the book is a bit off, and a decent chunk of the beginning is spent developing the relationship between Dru and Ben and Dru and Reggie rather than between the main couple. While I appreciate them taking that time, I do feel like the second half of the book suffers a bit because of how slowly things move in the beginning. Likewise, I found that the mystery regarding who is attacking the family was definitely rushed, and the conclusion of that mystery was slightly disappointing to me. It made sense and was well explained, I was just hoping for a bit more. However, the relationship and bond between the characters is developed so well that I was satisfied with how they reacted to the mystery’s resolution, even if I didn’t love the resolution itself.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. Yes, I have some critiques, but it did everything I needed it to do. It was fun, magical, spicy, and had a memorable cast of characters that I really liked spending time with. I think it really succeeded as an enemies-to-lovers romance and has excellent fall vibes. If you’re looking for witchy rom-coms to read this fall, I would definitely check this one out.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings: death, child death

Kiki Kallira used to be a bright, sunshine girl, but in the last year, her brain has turned against her. She’s anxious all the time, terrified of worst-case scenarios, and the only thing that seems to help is escaping into a fantasy world inspired by the Indian myths and legends her mother tells her. She pours countless hours into creating a fictional version of Mysore city in her sketchbook and crafts a team of kid rebels fighting to defeat Mahishasura, a demon that has taken over the kingdom—in more ways than one. When one of Kiki’s characters, and the monster she’s fighting, come flying out of her sketchbook, she learns that Mahishasura has brought her Mysore to life, and she’s the only one who can banish him before he escapes into the real world.

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom is an absolute delight. It balances fantasy, emotion, magic, and real discussions about anxiety while having a fun and unique plot. Kiki is a fantastic main character, and right from the first page, I knew that I was going to love following her. She is a brave, creative, kind kid whose struggles with anxiety were almost painful to read, and it was beautiful to watch her come into her power and learn to face her monsters in both worlds. The fictional Mysore that Kiki created is also wonderful, and middle-grade and adult readers alike will love to see this world through Kiki’s eyes—described vividly and featuring just enough whimsy and magic to make Kiki’s Mysore feel like it’s straight out of a child’s mind, Mandanna did an excellent job of making this imaginary Mysore a place that readers will want to see saved.

Likewise, Kiki’s cast of rebel kids are unique, vivid, and so vibrant they almost leap off the page (get it? Because they’re drawings come to life?). Each kid had a unique voice, interesting motivations, and they all taught Kiki something she needed to know either about her fictional world or about herself. The kids all feel fleshed out and real, and their vibrancy makes the stakes of the book feel so much higher. The adult characters have a similar vividness, all except Mahishasura, who is the only character in this book who fell a little bit flat for me. He read very much as a middle-grade book villain, but I appreciated how the book was able to balance more serious subject matter with a villain who was age appropriate, while still maintaining high enough stakes that I, an adult, stayed super engaged with the story.

This book is perfect for both middle-grade readers and older readers who enjoy middle-grade fantasy. Kiki and all the kids feel like children, but the story doesn’t shy away from the heavier costs of living in a world like Kiki’s Mysore, and Kiki and the reader are asked to consider the cost of waging war with demons. Likewise, the book presents the realities of struggling with anxiety in a way that readers young and old can relate to, but though Mandanna explores these heavier themes, she never forgets her audience. This type of book shows the power of the middle-grade genre and how middle-grade stories, and the kids who read them, can handle tough topics.

This book is, of course, a fantasy story where kids can learn that there are many different ways to fight for the things you love. It is also a story about anxiety, fear, and the ways that you can be stronger and braver for facing your monsters. I was blown away by this book, and I can’t wait for readers of all ages to see Kiki as the hero she is.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.