Furyborn by Claire Legrand

Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.

This book was a fun read. The plot and characters were outstanding. The world building was amazing! Two kingdoms, over a thousand year apart, and the story flows seamlessly! I was enthralled with the magical structure and the methods the author used to bind these two women together. As the story unravels, you begin to see how the characters are intertwined and its outstanding. The romance in this book is more of a back story for each of the ladies. However it is within these stories that this novel has its major flaw. The sexual scenes in this novel boarder on pornographic. They are not appropriate for the young adult audience this book is intended for. I felt slightly uncomfortable with the sexual explicitness contained in this book. It was a shame too, because the story line was strong and enthralling. There was no need to add this high level of sexuality into this story. There were also hints of bisexuality and homosexuality within this book. A skilled author and a good story, but these negatives will probably prevent me from continuing the series. I do not like watching porn, I do not want to read in in what is suppose to be Young adult fiction either. I caution any parents or educators, I do not recommended for teens. 
A quick note about the audio version of this book. If you decide to listen to this book, the narrator does an excellent job switching between the two story-lines, but because the book does constantly switch between two different women and their lives, you will have to devote more than the usual amount of attention to this audiobook. 
I give Furyborn 2.5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio version of this book 4 out of 5 stars

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Sweet, Southern, Sassy, and of course magical powers!?!?  Living in the south and loving magical based novels, I had to give this book a try. I was not let down. The historical and mystical magical world of the Paladins combines with the charming etiquette of a southern belle and creates something that has never been done before. Yes this is a Young adult novel, so it revolves around teenagers, but they do include adults in their saving ventures and even so who can fault a high school teacher for enjoying a bit of YA every once and a while.  This book "is a pearl" and the best part is there are sequels.

I give Rebel Belle 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio book 5 out of 5 stars   

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard The Witchlands #1

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.
Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.
Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

Unique magic structure, amazing world building, beautiful characters, add a pinch of romance and a lot of adventure and you have Truthwitch. I am not a fan of reading books just because they are all hyped up, but after lots of positive reviews I gave this one a shot, and WOW! I  was not disappointed. This book is beautiful, from the cover to every line inside. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting world or someone coming off a book hangover. You will not regret it if you take the time to read this gem!

I give Truthwitch 4.5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to burn books, which are forbidden, being the source of all discord and unhappiness. Even so, Montag is unhappy; there is discord in his marriage. Are books hidden in his house? The Mechanical Hound of the Fire Department, armed with a lethal hypodermic, escorted by helicopters, is ready to track down those dissidents who defy society to preserve and read books.

This classic dystpoian novel is based on the terrifying premise that books are illegal because they are the source of unrest both politically and socially. Bradbury is dealing with multiple underlying themes. The fun part of being a teacher is having students read this book and after they understand the literal plot, helping them to uncover metaphorical meanings. Students never cease to amaze me. We are all different and the real life applications of this book are innumerable. READ this book, and determine what warnings Bradbury is presenting to you. Burning books, destroying knowledge, limiting what can be passed on, what stands out to us as we read will differ as we observe this book through the lens of our own personal experiences. I have even known students who were so caught up in firemen starting fires rather than putting them out that entire discussions were held on this premise. When you read this book you are reading a story, but you are also reading a metaphor, one that your own personal experiences will mold and shape. Good luck and enjoy. 

I give Fahrenheit 451 5 out of 5 stars for educational use
I give Fahrenheit 451 5 out of 5 stars 
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim.

This summary is so inadequate when describing all the elements within the pages of this book!!! Do not let that dissuade you! If you enjoy dystopian fiction/post-apocalyptic fiction then you will want to read this novel. 
 There are dual point of views used within this novel, however the author makes it clear which character is speaking and switches between voices are done at times when it benefits the storyline. The focus of this story is the characters more than the world building. This means the characters delivered are exceptionally well defined and realistic. However, the world building is not weakly done. It is just not the focus of the author. The reader gets a good idea of the political system, the breakdown between the two distinct groups of peoples and their cultures up to this point, and what is happening to the world at this point in time. To really appreciate this story one needs to combine all the elements of the plot and immerse themselves in the pages of the novel. I have read this book multiple times. I enjoyed all three novels in this trilogy and would highly recommend reading Under The Never Sky and its sequels. Just do not start it if you have to get up early in the morning, you might lose sleep over this one! 
I also find this book appropriate for high school aged students. It has a few scenes that would make it too mature for younger students, but most high school students would watch much worse on TV and movie screens. There are some political undercurrents that could be addressed or of course a teacher could just recommend this book as a pleasure read.

I give Under the Never Sky 4 out of 5 Stars
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars!

Fire (Graceling book #2) by Kristin Cashore

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom

This book had a lot to live up to. Book one in the Graceling series was a beautiful adventure and I absolutely loved the book. It is important to note that although this is the second book written in this series it is actually a prequel to Graceling. You can however read them in any order and still fully comprehend both books.  It is always stressful starting a sequel, will it be a wonderful continuation or a let down? Fire is written in the same world, but about a completely different set of characters, and I was not disappointed. It was an amazing tale. The world building was expertly continued from book 1, but with additions and more background information added from another part of this magical land. The characters were woven with details that made them seem real and almost palpable. None were too perfect, each one had struggles and issues to contend with, good and bad struggling within and they had to decide which would dominate. The royal family was realistic even in this fantasy setting and the entire plot was believable as well as exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed re-entering this world and could not wait to read the third installment Bitterblue. Again my major problem with this series is the authors casual approach to sex and negative view on traditional marriage as constricting and confining. This theme was most prevalent in book 1, but there was some evidence of it in this book as well. 

I give Fire 3 out of 5 stars
I give the audio Performance 5 0ut of 5 stars

Special Offers by M.L. Ryan

Meet Hailey — possessed by an other-worldly being from another dimension who was previously trapped in her Kindle

Yep, you read that right, Hailey purchases a Kindle and ends up possessed by a being from another dimension, and that is just one of her problems. Ironically I read this book on my new kindle. It has an interesting story line and hey it is about a book hoarder so how can it possibly be a bad book, right? It is original for sure and as crazy as it sounds, the story becomes very, very interesting.  Detectives, inter-dimensional mysteries, sarcasm, wit, and of course magic made this book a light but fun read. I had a blast reading this book, in fact I finished it in one afternoon and downloaded the sequels. They just continued to get better. Buy the book, or download it, you won't be disappointed, but alas your download probably won't come with a handsome inter-dimensional prince so there is that. 

I give Special Offers 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio Performance 5 out of 5 stars  

The Book Jumper by Mechthild Gläser

Amy Lennox doesn't know quite what to expect when she and her mother pick up and leave Germany for Scotland, heading to her mother's childhood home of Lennox House on the island of Stormsay.
Amy's grandmother, Lady Mairead, insists that Amy must read while she resides at Lennox House—but not in the usual way. It turns out that Amy is a book jumper, able to leap into a story and interact with the world inside. As thrilling as Amy's new power is, it also brings danger: someone is stealing from the books she visits, and that person may be after her life. Teaming up with fellow book jumper Will, Amy vows to get to the bottom of the thefts—at whatever cost.

This book has one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen! It is also based on a premise that I am in love with, and what bibliophile would not be, the ability to jump into books and interact with worlds and characters sounds amazing. However, sadly this book had so much potential left untapped. The characters were not well developed and the plot never seemed to go anywhere specific. There were a few times I felt the story was gaining momentum, but then it just fizzled out. Then the ending felt unfinished, like no real final decisions were made. I had hoped for more from such a lovely book based on such a fascinating concept, but it just proves the old adage you can't judge a book by its cover. 

I give The Book Jumper 2 out of 5 Stars
I give the Audio performance 4 out of 5 stars

Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw

Meet Greta Helsing, fast-talking doctor to the undead. Keeping the supernatural community not-alive and well in London has been her family's specialty for generations. Greta Helsing inherited the family's highly specialized, and highly peculiar, medical practice. In her consulting rooms, Dr. Helsing treats the undead for a host of ills - vocal strain in banshees, arthritis in barrow-wights, and entropy in mummies. Although barely making ends meet, this is just the quiet, supernatural-adjacent life Greta's been groomed for since childhood.
Until a sect of murderous monks emerges, killing human and undead Londoners alike. As terror takes hold of the city, Greta must use her unusual skills to stop the cult if she hopes to save her practice, and her life.

This book was delightful.  It was a completely different view on the supernatural realm. Who is going to to treat sicknesses in the supernatural world? Dr. Greta Helsing, and she takes her practice very seriously. The book is charming. It is so unique! There is a mystery and even a dark cultist murder, but there is also humor and several sweet moments in the book. Romance does not really enter this book. there is a bit of a casual interest, but it is casual interest at best.  This book's characters have issues, each have things that need focusing on and none have the time to deal with romantic affairs at the moment, I mean crazy cultists are trying to kill them.  If you are looking for a twist on the normal version of the paranormal this is a great book. I highly recommend the book. The characters are endearing and you may even decide you want a ghoul family to move into your basement!

4.5 out of 5 stars for Strange Practice

5 out of 5 stars for the audio book  

The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco

In The Bone Witch, Tea mastered resurrection―now she's after revenge...

No one knows death like Tea. A bone witch who can resurrect the dead, she has the power to take life...and return it. And she is done with her self-imposed exile. Her heart is set on vengeance, and she now possesses all she needs to command the mighty daeva. With the help of these terrifying beasts, she can finally enact revenge against the royals who wronged her―and took the life of her one true love.

But there are those who plot against her, those who would use Tea's dark power for their own nefarious ends. Because you can't kill someone who can never die...

War is brewing among the kingdoms, and when dark magic is at play, no one is safe

This book is one of those rare sequels that is better than the first installment in a series! The writing was better and the storyline was soooo much better. More exciting and Tea seemed more mature. It is almost like the first book set the stage, and now the author felt we were ready for the real story. The character relationships are so dynamic, and I am not one who enjoys dark heroes, but somehow I find myself loving Tea. I am enthralled with her passion and feel compelled to support her. She has been through a lot, grown so much, and is making the tough decisions to protect those she cares for, and even as she does things she is not proud of, she is trying to hurt as few as possible, all while being in control of herself and her davea.  An awesome book and I cannot wait for the next installment to be released!!!!

I give The Heart Forger 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio content 5 out of 5 stars

Note: if you are having difficulty with the switching perspectives (past to present) the audio version of this book uses different male and female voices for the Bard and Tea helping sort out the different time perspectives and greatly enhancing the book. 

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.
Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.
Think you have read all the books and tired story lines there are out there when it comes to dragons. WRONG! This book does an excellent job of creating a new world, with new rules for dragons. It is amazing!! Dragons can take on human shape, and with that comes messy human emotions. Needless to say inter-species relationships with humans and dragons are forbidden, enter our protagonist. She has so many issues to juggle and she has to do it from her new post working at the palace. She has extraordinary gifts, but has to be wary or her origins may be discovered.
This YA Fantasy has it all Mystery, intrigue, magic, romance, and of course dragons!

I give Seraphina 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever..

This book is WOW! It has so many themes in it!  Ultimately this novel is a coming of age story, but set in the future. Young adults are always obsessed with how they look on the outside, in this book Westerfield forces his protagonist to deal with hard decisions beyond hair style and what party to go to. She had to make choices that impacted not only the rest of her life, but the lives of others. Reality check, I think so. Some of the writing was simplistic, but this book was for a younger audience. Overall I enjoyed the world building and the character development in this novel. 

4 out of 5 stars for Uglies
4 out of 5 stars for the audio performance 

Zeroes by Scott Westerfield, Margo Langan, and Deborah Biancotti

Don't call them heroes, but each of these 6 teens has a power that ordinary people just do not have. That sets them apart, but it can also get them into a lot of dangerous situations because every power has its price.

I found this book interesting. It mixed up the normal Young Adult writing, none of the normal powers here. These kids have powers you have probably never even considered before. Originality meets creativity! What a way to write a book! Whats more these kids have no big plans, they are just there for each other. No get rich schemes, no world domination, they just want to learn more about themselves and be there for each other in the process. Isn't that what we all want? To know ourselves and friends to be with us along this  journey called life. Excellent writing and world building. Awesome, Terrific, Fantastic,  character development.  Great book, and there is a sequel.

I give Zeroes 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio contend 4 out of 5 stars

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. What she does not expect is to fall in love with the handsome prince Po.

This book is one of my favorite high fantasy books. Katsa has a lot of self-loathing in the beginning of the novel, but as the book progresses, she begins to find out more about herself and her grace. There is so much more to her and her gift than she originally gave herself credit for. Watching as the heroine grows and blooms into a stronger and more independent woman was an exciting experience. Enter the handsome Prince, the fun romance, and the very well developed magical system and you have the recipe for an enchanting magical experience. 

The world building for Graceling was excellent, Characters were very well developed and complex. If you ever want to enjoy a really excellent audio book this novel is read by several actors, with multiple voices for the various characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. 

Spoiler Alert :....................My only negative about this book was that personally I wish Katsa had been willing to marry Prince Po. I am very traditional and I like happy marriages. Even if they had to travel and be apart at times, I think the book could have been better if the brave heroine had not been so afraid of the permanence associated with actual marriage. They both determined they wanted a relationship, and that relationship is beautiful, so why not make it legitimate?  Guess I am old fashioned.

4 out of 5 stars for Graceling
5 out of 5 stars for the audio book

Freek the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

A hulking "retard" and a brilliant, crippled boy become strong as they undertake imaginary quests and fight all-too-real criminals. The only thing they can't conquer is time.

This is one of the most emotionally gripping novels I have read in years. The book is written for middle school aged students and does contain some mature content, but I assure none of it is more graphic, or violent than what they play on video games or see on a PG-13 movie, but in this case a lesson is being taught. One character has a learning disability and is extremely large, many are frightened of him because his father murdered his mother and is now in prison. The second boy in this friendship is a genius who has severe physical handicaps. The unlikely pair form an unbreakable bond, and life lessons are taught. I have encountered this book taught in a seventh grade classroom. The students could not get enough. They laughed and cried. I was amazed, as we passed out the books they groaned about having to "read another novel" but by the time we started chapter three many had already completed the book. They could not put this book down. This is not a book you read without being changed. No matter what your age you will be moved. You will laugh, get angry, and I guarantee there will be times you will shed a tear. Students who hate reading, love this book. There are so many aspects of this book they identify with, bullies, living in non-nuclear families, dealing with disabilities, struggling in school, wanting acceptance, and so much more. There is also an opportunity for cross-curricular tie-ins for science as you find out more about the characters disabilities and illness and interest in science. 

Even if you are not in a school setting, keep in mind this was written for school aged students, and pick up the book. I have read all types of fiction, but this is one book that makes me take a hard look at my own values every time I crack open its pages. 

Freek The Mighty 5 out of 5 Stars 

Freek the mighty 5 out of 5 stars for audiobook performance

Educational Content 5++ out of 5 stars

The Gender Games by Bella Forest

A toxic river divides nineteen-year-old Violet Bates's world by gender. 
Women rule the East. Men rule the West. 
Welcome to the lands of Matrus and Patrus.

This book is taking the dystopian fiction world by storm. I liked it better than Hunger Games and Divergent Series, but fans of these series will want to indulge in this series. My major issue with this series was when reading it becomes difficult to eat, sleep, and work because all you want to do is find out what is going to happen next! There is so much action, suspense, and yes even a little love mixed in this series, but this first book sets the stage. The world-building is awesome. It is different from anything done before and yet it is well thought out  and seamlessly complete!! Praises for originality, character depth, and creativity!

5 out of 5 stars for The Gender Game
4 out of 5 stars for the audiobook 

The Rose and The Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad is forced from the arms of her beloved husband, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once thought Khalid a monster—a merciless killer of wives, responsible for immeasurable heartache and pain—but as she unraveled his secrets, she found instead an extraordinary man and a love she could not deny. Still, a curse threatens to keep Shazi and Khalid apart forever.

This book is a solid and satisfying sequel to The Wrath and the Dawn. The set is a duology. The sequel is majestically and skillfully written! All loose ends are tied up, but not until every heartstring has been tugged, no yanked, from your chest. Think you can predict every contingency, think again. There will be surprises, conspiracies, revelations, and finally just when you cannot stand it anymore, resolution does occur, but what type of resolution, you will have to read to find out. I can tell you the magical element is a bit more predominant in The Rose and The Dagger than it was in its predecessor. However, it was not overdone. The world and cultural elements were still just as strong and elegant. The moments between the protagonists were brief, but heart wrenching. This is not your sappy romance or your cliche love triangle, this is the story of strong individuals, fighting against the world in an attempt to try to be together, with absolutely no guarantee of success and every reason to expect failure. 

I give the Rose and the Dagger 4 out of 5 Stars
Audio content 3 out of 5 stars

The Wrath and The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

This is a breath-taking book! I was afraid at first this was going to be a sicking case of Stockholm's Syndrome, but it was not. Shazi was so much stronger and so much deeper than I expected. I was hooked from the very beginning of this book.  I am not a big romance reader. I like a good love story, but i do not want it to dominate the book. Well this book is centered around a love story, but it is no cliche, sweet, love story. These are two strong and damaged individuals, both with reasons not to become attached to the other. They have absolutely no intention, or desire, to become entangled in a real relationship, and even as the love begins to grow, they both fight it. Not out of stupidity, or blindness, but these characters have real, tangible reasons not to want each others. The magical element in this book was woven into the background. it had quite a bit of influence over the story's plot, without permeating every move made. The world building was exceptional and the characters were well-developed.  I liked the blend of culture, magic, and wills as they collide to present the reader with this elegant, silky, young adult novel.   

I give the Wrath and the Dawn 5 out of 5 Stars
Audio Content 3 out of 5 stars

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

NARNIA...the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy...the place where the adventure begins. Lucy is the first to find the secret of the wardrobe in the professor's mysterious old house. 

This is my favorite book of all time. This book was introduced to me by my 5th grade teacher and I have literally reread it every year since I was in the 5th grade. I now read this book with my own three children who love Narnia almost as much as I do. If you are an educator and you want to draw your older elementary students into the world of books this book has it all, magic, good and evil, action, adventure, mystery, myth, legend, and so much more! The book lends itself so well to teaching so many different aspects of literature. It can be used to teach figurative language, allegory, myths, and even history. It is a beautiful little novel and in my opinion one every family and classroom needs a copy of. Yes, I recommend the entire series, but if you do not want to commit to that much reading then please do your child's imagination a favor, turn off the tv, unplug the playstation, and step into the wardrobe. 

I give The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio performance 5 out of 5 stars

Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own.

If you enjoyed the story behind Caraval, The Night Circus, and Freeks, you might enjoy this book. I had a lot of likes within the pages of this book. I liked the murder mystery and the magic system that formed. I always enjoy reading a good magic system. Yes I know they are not real, and no I do not practice witchcraft, but I love to read and have a big imagination, and books are meant to be an escape from reality. I did not care for the romance in this story. I do not enjoy Mushy or drown out, complex romance among youth and this book was saturated in it. I also do not support/like reading books with homosexual relationships in them. I acknowledge many of today's books have these themes, but I personally do not support them.   There seemed to be some of those suggestions made in this book. Before you tar and feather me, this is my site and my review, I have the right not to enjoy reading about things I do not support. I did not trash anyone and was not hateful, so I would appreciate the same courtesy.  

I give Daughter of the Burning City 2.5 out of 5 Stars
I give the audio performance for this book 4 out of 5 stars