Month: June 2023

Pumpkin the Cat / Jonathan Yavin

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Pumpkin the Cat
By: Jonathan Yavin, Gilad Soffer (Illustrator)
Genre: Children's
Number of Pages: 32
Published: July 18, 2023 (1st Published 2005)
Publisher: Gefen Publishing House
Dates Read: June 25, 2023
Format: eBook

When a father brings home a kitten to his young son, at first the boy wants nothing to do with it, he hates cats! But the orange kitten quickly wins over the boy’s heart and changes everyone’s mind.

I’m a sucker for cat books – especially children cat books. Just look at the illustration of Pumpkin on the cover! How could you not?

This was an adorable children’s book about a boy, who was once scratched by a cat, and got over his fear to welcome home the new orange kitten his father brought.

The text is simple and easy for children to follow.

The illustrations are adorable and there are a ton of hidden easter eggs in the background, especially with the boy’s toys.

I don’t have any younger children to read this too, but once I do, I’ll be reading them this. But also – adults will enjoy this story as well – it’s just too cute!

*Thank you Gefen Publishing House and LibraryThing for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Forbidden Spell (Mark of a Caster #1) / Kaely Rose

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The Forbidden Spell (Mark of a Caster #1)
By: Kaely Rose
Genre: Fantasy
Number of Pages: 244
Published: October 9, 2022
Publisher: Self Published
Dates Read: June 15, 2023 - June 24, 2023
Format: eBook

Due to a curse put on him at birth, Senrind’s been forced to live stuck as a werewolf, unable to change into a human. With the help of his friend, Quinn, they go to a fortune teller who introduces them to a shapeshifting cat named Carithway.

Carithway can help him break the curse, but Senrind in return, must help Carithway out at his shop. Sentrind agrees and is thus thrown into a world of witches, spells, potions, and magic. As Sentrind tries to find answers to his past, he undercovers secrets from his father as well as something Carithway is hiding too. Was Senrind safer in his wolf form and now that he’s human – what can he do to help?

I’m not sure what it is with me stumbling upon cozy fantasies with found family tropes but I’m here for it and absolutely love it. The characters of this book are all so lovely and I’m a sucker for cats with magic, so Carithway could always make me smile.

With a lot of books, the main character gets everything bad thrown at them. But with this book, though there are trials and learning paths, Senrind seems to be doing well and it wasn’t filled with suspense and danger around every corner – hence why I’m calling it cozy fantasy. Sometimes that’s just what you need though.

There is a little romance in this book – but it’s just beginning, which I love because it seems very much more authentic and not rushed into in a few pages. This novel is marked as being #1 in the series, so I’m excited to see this relationship grow as well as the rest of the storyline continue.

This is a cozy read that would be perfect to snuggle up with in the fall – or honestly, you can be like me and read it right at the beginning of Summer and dream about the fall weather that’s mentioned in the book!

*Thank you Kaely Rose and The StoryGraph for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Order of Things / Kaija Langley

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The Order of Things
By: Kaija Langley
Genre: Middle Grade, Novel-In-Verse
Number of Pages: 288
Published: June 6, 2023
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Dates Read: June 13, 2023 - June 14, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

11-year-old April has been best friends with Zee since they were born only a month apart. They live across the hallway from each other in their apartment building and together, along with April’s mom, and Papa Zee – the four are a family. This school year though, things are changing. Zee has gotten into the new charter school specializing in music for his violin and April is staying behind at their old school.

But, when tragedy strikes and Zee passes away, April is forced to relearn what it means to continue after losing everything she once knew.

I went into this quite blindly. I’m a sucker for novel-in-verse books, especially middle grade because they seem all the more powerful to me for some reason. I saw this one on NetGalley and immediately requested to read it without much else. That being said, after reading it, I fully read the description and I do think it needs to be changed up – it gives away 95% of the book. When I recommend this, I’m going to try and suggest they not read the description to not give anything away.

Besides the description being too much, I’m still going to be recommending this book to many others. It was beautiful and full of representation. This story talks about ways people deal with the pain of losing someone and what it means to speak up at the right time. This is all done in a way that, though a bit simplified for middle grade, it will still require some tissues.

*Thank you Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Love Report / BéKa & Maya

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The Love Report
By: BéKa & Maya
Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 192
Published: June 13, 2023
Publisher: Astra Publishing House
Dates Read: June 12, 2023
Format: Paperback

BBFs Grace and Lola try to figure out the mystery of romance by observing those around them at their middle school.

This was cute. Was it the best story I’ve ever read? No. But, it’s middle grade kids figuring out what love means to them – it’s cute. Plus, the illustrations are vivid and adorable to look at.

The girls learn about all types of other female characters and their history. Even learning about their prejudgement of some simply based on rumors. The boys’ characters aren’t as flushed out, but since this is the first book of a series, I’m hoping to know more about them later on.

This book was originally written in French and set in France. Even though it was translated into English, I still thoroughly enjoyed the background, especially the lunch/park scenes as those are very French.

I’ll be looking out for the next book of this series to read for sure. It’s adorable and there is much room for the characters to grow.

*Thank you Astra Publishing House and Publishers Weekly for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Winter’s Reckoning / Adele Holmes

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Winter's Reckoning
By: Adele Holmes
Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 336
Published: August 8, 2022
Publisher: She Writes Press
Dates Read: June 5, 2023 - June 11, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Maddie Fairbanks is her dying Southern Appalachian town’s skilled herbal healer, something that, along with the influence of her late husband, has allowed her to have socially progressive views; including taking on a Black apprentice, Ren Morgan. Members of the town may grumble about it, but they know they need them both.

That is until a new reverend blows into town in 1917 and begins to preach on both the importance of racial segregation and the dangers of the harmful “herbal witchcraft” Maddie and Ren partake in. These teachings respark the local KKK chapter and they begin to threaten Maddie and Ren’s family’s – stop what you’re doing and leave town, or there will be trouble.

Will Maddie follow their demands or will she stay and fight to keep the home she’s created in Jamesville.

This took me a little to get into it, but once I did, I got lost in it quite quickly. I’m always interested in herbal medicine and especially the history of it as well, which is why I was interested and picked this book up.

This novel is told in third person, but would focus alternatively between Maddie, Ren, Hannah (Maddie’s granddaughter), and Carol. I could not stand Carol – very narcissistic and it drove me nuts. Of course, once we found out more and more about him, it explained a lot but when we first started out I could tell something was off with him and would roll my eyes every time his section would come up in the reading. Adele Holmes did a fantastic job at writing a despising character.

Overall, I can see those who enjoyed historical fiction enjoying this intriguing story about a herbalist living in a small, southern Appalachian town in 1917. It’s a great insight into that life and the history of women who couldn’t yet be doctor’s, but could mix herbs to keep their loved ones and community going.

*Thank you She Writes Press and Publisher’s Weekly for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Chaos & Flame / Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland

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Chaos & Flame
By: Tessa Gratton & Justina Ireland
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 336
Published: March 28, 2023
Publisher: Razorbill
Dates Read: May 29, 2023 - June 5, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Misgendering, genocide (off page, but discussed), poison, knife violence, blood & gore, graphic violence, war, death

Written in the alternating points of views of Darling Seabreak and Talon Goldhoard, Chaos & Flame tells the story of the two navigating House politics while also being caught up in the High Prince Regent’s unknown scheme as they tour around the kingdom to the other Houses.

This book took me a while to get into it – it’s slow to start, but by the end of it, I was invested in what was happening with the characters, so I will be picking up the second book in this duology. I’m very curious to see how the authors are planning on bringing out more with the boons and if those will change with what could be happening in the second book.

I was really interested in Caspian’s character and wish I knew more about what was going on in his head since everyone just marked him as “being mad” when in fact, he just had a whole other agenda.

I do wish we had more history of the world. The world building was fantastic but I felt like 100 years isn’t a whole lot to have passed since the last phoenix was alive and that even with that, there should still be people around who were alive back then – wouldn’t they know more and have maybe some insight? 

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the insta-love between Darling and Talon, but it is YA and that’s typical YA romance so I’m not complaining all too much to be honest with you.

Overall, it was a slow build up to a good read and that I’m excited to continue reading when the next book in the series comes out (please don’t be too long!).

*Thank you Razorbill and BookishFirst for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Wanderers / Anna Ziegler

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The Wanderers
By: Anna Ziegler
Genre: Drama/ Play
Number of Pages: 80
Published: February 23, 2023
Publisher: Methuen Drama
Dates Read: May 28, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Esther and Schmuli are Orthodox Jews embarking on an arranged marriage. Abe and Julia are celebrities embarking on a dangerously flirtatious correspondence, despite both being married to other people. Just looking, the two couples couldn’t be more different, but once you get to know them, you find a hidden connection.

I haven’t really read a play since high school – over a decade ago. But I found this title while doing a book list for Jewish Heritage Month and decided I wanted to give it a go.

That being said, this play was pretty simple. Mostly interactions between two characters. I liked that because I could easily “see” the characters in their scenes.

I’m going to be honest and didn’t see the connection until a lot later in the story than I probably should have. But overall, I still enjoyed reading the play.

Stoked for This: June 2023

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I got this set up and going on the right day haven’t I?? How exciting! I’ve starting to try and keep everything written down BEFORE the day of – that seems to be helpful.

RELEASE DATE: June 6, 2023

Pageboy

by: Elliot Page

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not really one for celebrity memoirs – I mean, I’m also not one for memoirs in general (nonfiction is still harder for me to get into). But, I love Elliot Page and from the reviews I’ve seen around, I’m hoping this will be a good one to read.

The Wind Knows My Name

by: Isabel Allende

Why am I stoked for this release?

This novel follows two different timelines of children fleeing war/danger and immigrating to unknown lands. One set in Vienna, 1939, the other in Arizona, 2019.

Stories of immigration have been interesting to me, especially with the news at the US/Mexico border. How children get separated from their parents all while on the search for a better, safer life is crazy to me and I can only imagine what both a child and parents go through. I want to read these stories to know and understand.

The Endless Vessel

by: Charles Soule

Why am I stoked for this release?

In a few years from now, in a world similar to ours, there exists a “Depression plague” that people simply refer to as, “The Grey”. One young scientist from Hong Kong must travel through past and present and all over on her journey through the Endless Vessel.

This is a promise of The Midnight Library and Ready Player One, which are both books I very well enjoyed when I read them! Plus, as someone who battles with depression herself, I’d kind of like to see someone who is fighting in a world that has seemed to have given up.

My Murder

by: Katie Williams

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is about a woman who is brought back by a government project after being a victim of a local serial killer.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love my ID network and can happily watch murder show after murder show. Some times, those stories have unanswered questions. I’m curious to see to how the writer tells this story about someone who comes back.

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 13, 2023

The Love Report

by: BéKa, Maya (Illustrator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a cute, middle grade graphic novel about two preteens trying to figure out what couples last, while others fizzle.

There wasn’t a lot of graphic novels aimed at middle grade readers while I was growing up so I do enjoy seeing the market for nowadays.

Plus, the illustrations on this look adorable.

On Earth as It Is on Television

by: Emily Jane

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve got two alien novel coming out this month I’m stoked for. This is first one where one day, out of nowhere, spaceships appear over various US cities – they block out cell phone towers and Wifi – but almost as quickly at they appear, they leave. This novel tells stories of their visit and it’s aftermath with various characters.

I’m not sure why I’m suddenly attracted to first encounter novels, but hey – it’s a fun thing to think about!!

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 20, 2023

Old Enough

by: Haley Jakobson

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is about a bisexual woman in college finding her adult group of friends and what it means for her friends back from high school.

I absolutely loved my college experience and the friendships I made while going. Being away from where you grew up really allows you to find more out about who you are on your own.

I miss my college friends so much and I feel like this book will be a fun read.

RELEASE DATE: JUNE 27, 2023

The Road to Roswell

by: Connie Willis

Why am I stoked for this release?

My second first encounter novel of June here. This time with someone abducted by aliens who then wants to help their new out-of-this-world friend out.

I’m going to be honest; I had no idea who Connie Willis was before I saw this book in a pile of ARCs at work. I feel like she’s someone I should know about, because some of her stuff sounds like a fun read – but I think I’m going to start with this one and go from there 🙂

Dead Eleven

by: Jimmy Juliano

Why am I stoked for this release?

On a creepy island town obsessed with the year 1994, a mother arrives, hoping to learn the truth about her son’s death but there’s more to this town than anyone knows.

I haven’t read a lot of horror, but I like 90s horror films, so I want to give this one a go. Plus, I was born in 1992, my sister in 1994 – so I’m curious to read about that timeframe.

Lay Your Body Down

by: Amy Suiter Clarke

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is about a woman who returns to her rural Minnesota hometown and comes to find a radical evangelical pastor has poisoned everyone’s minds… and possibly a murder…

This is kind of another of my “guilty” pleasures – weird religious cults… mysterious behind them, how they members joined, what happened while in the cult, how they got out… it’s interesting to me.

This is also the author of Girl, 11, which is a book I know has received good praise, so I’m stoked for this one too.