Author: Alisha Helms

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins / P. Djélí Clark

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The Dead Cat Tail Assassins
By: P. Djélí Clark, Lynnette R. Freeman (Narrator)
Genre: Novella, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 213
Published: August 6, 2024
Publisher: Tordotcom
Dates Read: October 11, 2024 - October 13, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover / Audiobook

Eveen is a part of a guild of hired necromancer killers called the dead cat tail assassins; she was resurrected after death and is beholden to the goddess Aeril with no memories of her past.

There are only three unbreakable vows.

  1. The contract must be just.
  2. You may only kill the contracted.
  3. Once a job is accepted, it must be carried out. If you don’t – a final death would be a mercy.

When the Festival of the Clockwork King turns the city of Tal Abisi upside down, Eveen’s newest mission brings her face to face with a past she’s not supposed to remember.

So this took me a moment to get into it while reading – and it really has nothing to do with the writing, because P. Djèlí Clark is amazing and I always love everything he writes. My problem was my eyeballs were not cooperating with the creation of the world. My solution? Listen to the audiobook! And boy, was that the best solution because I got immersed in this world so fast listening to Lynnette R. Freeman read it (especially with the Cajun accents!). It also helped me when, later that night, I tried to read the last two chapters myself but then the Goddess came with a very thick Cajun accent and the words on the page had to be said aloud in order for me to understand the words with the accent. So, this is my long ended version of saying I loved the audiobook version of this book!

The book itself?

Worldbuilding – amazing, steampunkish.

Characters – stunning, especially the women who were unapologetically themselves and held power to the highest degree. 

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

The Bakery Dragon / Devin Elle Kurtz

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The Bakery Dragon
By: Devin Elle Kurtz
Genre: Children’s, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 48
Published: October 1, 2024
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 11, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Ember has always been different from the other dragons – he’s small, his roar sounds more like a sneeze, and when he tries to breathe fire, the villagers coo at him. Worried he will never collect a respectable hoard of gold, Ember sets out to the village, but gets caught in a rainstorm. An encounter with a friendly baker turns Ember’s fortune around as he soon discovers that the gold you make is much better than the gold you steal.

I have been waiting for this book to be released for ages! I’ve followed the author on Instagram for awhile and when she posted about Ember’s story getting published into a book, I knew I had to read it.

I have also been shoving this book into all my colleagues hands and telling them to read it while I’ve been carrying it around at work.

Overall – this is adorable. Please read it and try not to cry over how precious Ember is. I’m going to go find my own personal copy of this now.

The Bletchley Riddle / Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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The Bletchley Riddle
By: Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 400
Published: October 8, 2024
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: October 6, 2024 - October 11, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his fourteen-year-old sister, Lizzie, share a love of riddles and puzzles. As WWII gets closer and closer to Britain, the siblings find themselves amongst the greatest secrets of all – Britain’s codebreaking facility at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins the country’s top minds to crack Nazi’s Enigma cipher, Lizzie transfers notes between departments in the park and tries to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother in her off time.

While the Novis siblings work hard on their tasks, messages and codes begin to arrive under their doorstep. It doesn’t help that while they try to figure out if the messages are truly for them (and possibly from their mother), that there is an inspector lurking outside the gates of the park, watching Jakob and Lizzie’s every move. They must figure out a way to put their bickering aside and work together to decipher the clues if they want to uncover the answers to the puzzle.

As usual, I will pick up anything Ruta Sepetys touches and learn about a part of history I hadn’t known about before I read the book. This book is no exception as we take a deeper dive into the codebreakers Bletchley Park during WWII. I knew there were codebreakers during WWII, but what I didn’t realize is that they consisted of mathematicians, chess champions, and librarians (which, as a librarian, this absolutely makes sense why they were needed!).

Though this book is aimed at middle grade, I will say it felt like it would be more for upper middle grade / younger high school age. Lizzie is fourteen and Jakob is nineteen so their voices were a little older, but nothing major or graphic happened that would make the novel need to be young adult.

Even as an adult, when it came to the description of the codes’ breakthroughs or the ins and outs of the Enigma machines, I would get lost, but overall I just assumed the characters knew what they were talking about and trusted them.

Overall, I loved the twists and turns that kept the pages moving for me. I know I had a hard time as an adult solving the clues, so young readers who like spies and code cracking, are sure to love this too.

*Thank you Viking Books for Young Readers and BookishFirst for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

When the World Tips Over / Jandy Nelson

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When the World Tips Over
By: Jandy Nelson
Genre: YA
Number of Pages: 528
Published: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Dial Books
Dates Read: September 16, 2024 - October 6, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

The Fall siblings live in Northern California wine country where years ago, their father mysteriously disappeared. Now Dizzy, twelve, bakes cakes, sees kissing, floating spirits, and wishes she was a part of a romance novel. Miles, seventeen, is a brainiac, athlete, and telepathic dog-whisperer, but he’s desperate to step out of being perfect. Wynton, nineteen, is an amazing violinist, but is set on a path of self-destruction he can’t seem to get off of. They all seem to be spiraling.

But then a rainbow-haired girl shows up. She may be an angel. Or a saint. But her showing up tips the Falls’ world over. Before anyone can figure out who she is, catastrophe strikes, leaving the family more broken than ever.

With a story filled with road trips, rivalries, family curses, love stories (with many layers), unsent letters, and generational trauma, this young adult novel peels back the layers of a family’s complicated past and present. 

This will definitely stick with me for years to come. And, I honestly don’t know how to put into words what I thought of this, because I’m in love with the entire Fall family (okay, there are a few I don’t like…) and their many, many layers of their lives. I just tried to explain this all to my coworker and the amount of time I said, “well but you find out this…” was endless.

It absolutely gave me East of Eden by Steinbeck vibes – the length alone, but also how good and overcome evil in the end is also a running theme in this novel too. Again, this is a long read, and it’s not one you can skim over either, because you want to take your time with it and immerse yourself in with these characters and this family. As much as I love to devour book after book, this one reminded me to slow down and to enjoy it.

Overall, this book is long and is a multi-sit read, but I can guarantee you will fall in love with at least one member of the Fall family after reading this!

Silk / E.B. Roshan

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Silk
By: E.B. Roshan
Genre: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 104
Published: June 7, 2024
Publisher: Roshan Publishing
Dates Read: October 5, 2024
Format: eBook

Farz and his family have harvested Silki’s precious silk, as Silki-charmers for generations. But Silkis, giant, spider-like creatures, can be dangerous and the government has decided they don’t want them around. But even though Farz is ready to try a new life, it doesn’t mean he wants Silkis to disappear forever. What happens when his past and present crash together one day?

I was pulled into the plot of this graphic novel and turned pages as fast as I could. The simplicity of the art style, mixed with straightforward dialogue make it a quick and easy read.

A part of me respects the quickness of the story, but the other part of me wants to know more about this world and not only the Silki-charmers, but everyone else as well as being able to dive into the world building. E.B. Roshan has many layers that are only briefly scratched in this novel. It honestly gives an opening to possibly make this into a series.

This young middle grade graphic novel has a lot of appeal to those who like sci-fi with alien adventures that humans will understand too.

*Thanks to the author for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Stoked for This: October 2024

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This month we have a whopping EIGHTEEN titles I’m stoked for being released! October is starting off strong with seven of the eighteen. Surprisingly (or not so surprising tbh), there aren’t any horror on this list – a mystery/thriller at the very end of the month, but that’s as close as it gets. Horror’s just not my type – cozy and tearjerkers are more it haha.

Hopefully this lists helps someone find their next read – if it does, let me know! I won’t get to all of these any time soon and I’d love to hear what you think of them :).

Release Date: October 1, 2024

The Magic You Make

By: Jason June

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the sequel to The Spells We Cast that’s a queer magical romance with a grumpy/sunshine soulmate trope.

I listened to the first one as an audiobook and was absolutely hooked with every minute.

Give me all the magical academic settings with evil forces the teenagers have to tackle.

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents

By: Nicki Pau Preto

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not kidding when I say to give me all the magical school…

This one’s a middle grade read with Vin, who is sent to her last magical school before it’s the end of the line.

So, a school, filled with magical delinquents?! Tell me you’re not interested!

Queer Mythology: Epic Legends from Around the World

By: Guido A. Sanchez

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know there’s always been LGBTQIA+ people throughout the world and throughout history, but as we know, history loves to be hetro-white-male-washed.

I know there are a lot of cultures out there that don’t shun the Queer community, so I’m excited to read about them. I’m also stoked to read about the myths where the queerness was erased overtime.

The Glass Girl

By: Kathleen Glasgow

Why am I stoked for this release?

I know most people probably know Kathleen Glasgow from Girl in Pieces, but I actually know her from How to Make Friends with the Dark – where I was left raw and open after relating to parental death in your teen years.

This one is about fifteen-year-old Bella who has a lot of stressors and turns to alcohol to help cope, which lands her in the hospital and rehab.

Though I don’t know if I’ll relate as personally to this novel (I barely drink), I’m sure I’ll be left with all kinds of feelings at the end of reading this.

Make My Wish Come True

By: Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick

Why am I stoked for this release?

A sapphic Netflix-esque cosy romance you say? Oh wait – it’s ex-best friends who are now fake dating for the press?!

I’m so ready.

I probably won’t read this one this month, but I have an ARC of it and I’m excited to curl up with it when it gets colder outside.

Jasmine Is Haunted

By: Mark Oshiro

Why am I stoked for this release?

Again, another author most people will know from another book over the one I associate them with, but still, I really enjoyed Each of Us a Desert when I read it back in 2020 and The Insiders, which I read in 2021 🙂

This is another middle grade read that is said to use spooky ghosts as a way to explore grief and processing trauma. Yea, I know, I really like the heavy stuff don’t I? I do though, cause it’s all stuff I wish I had as a kid growing up and I love reading it now to know what amazingness the younger generation has access to.

The Crescent Moon Tearoom

By: Stacy Sivinski

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is a cosy fantasy about witch sisters who live in a magical house. The Quigley triplets are close, until an event begins to pull them in different directions.

I like sister novels. I’m the middle of three sisters and we’re all pretty close (so close my younger sister and I would physically fight each other when we were younger and now I don’t go very long without some form of communication).

This is one of those novels I look at and think I would really enjoy during a crisp afternoon at a cafe with a pumpkin spice latte.

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Twenty-four Seconds from Now…

By: Jason Reynolds

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m stoked for this release so that others can read it as I received an ARC of it and read it a few weeks ago.

You can find the review here ◡̈

It’s a beautifully written novel about two black teenagers, in a healthy relationship, told through the boy’s POV as they get ready to have sex for the first time. There’s amazing, positive talks the boy has with both of his parents and his older sister, and even poor advice from his friends (as usual).

As we’ve just finished Banned Books Week, I’m a little concerned at how quickly this one will be challenged/banned (I joked it will probably take only Twenty-four seconds…)

The Nightmare Before Kissman

By: Sara Raasch

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’ve been highlighting this title since we got an ARC of it in the mail at work.

This is being marketed as Red, White & Royal Blue meets The Nightmare Before Christmas where the Prince of Christmas falls for the Prince of Halloween even though he’s set to marry his best friend, the Easter Princess.

Like, this is going to be CUTE! It’s super high up on my TBR list, and I’m hoping to actually get to it here before Halloween, but we’ll see. I’m not sure if it’s set in any particular season, but I’ll come back and update this so readers have the right vibes!

The Bletchley Riddle

By: Ruth Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin

Why am I stoked for this release?

There are a handful of authors I will read anything and everything they work on if I can get my hands on a copy. Ruta Sepetys is one of them. All of her Historical Fiction YA novels have always taught me something new about the time period their set in (and sometimes the time period themselves as I never knew the events surrounding that novel were even a thing!).

This novel is a collab is a middle grade historical fiction about two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers (also something I didn’t know!).

I just get excited for Sepetys’ reads because I’ll always end up down a rabbit hole of research afterwards.

Divine Mortals

By: Amanda M. Helander

Why am I stoked for this release?

The only thing I really know about this book is it’s for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Sarah J. Maas – two authors who I technically haven’t read, but know I will love their books when I do finally get around to them. So, this one is being added to this list!

It’s supposed to have “spellbinding prose”, which I kind of in a need for some good prose.

Also being marketed as both “Fantasy” and then “Young Adult”, which makes me think it’ll be a New Adult genre and I’m always gathering those in hoards.

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

By: Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

This is the second book to the Kamogawa Food Detectives series. I read the first book in the series and that review can be found here. Ah – it was so cute! Amazing for any foodies who are also book worms.

Premise: This father/daughter duo not only serve their customers amazing meals, they serve them memories. Customers come in and describe a favorite lost dish of theirs and then the duo goes about finding and recreating it!

It’s adorable and I’m extremely excited to continue on with the series and see more food and memory connection.

Solis

By: Paola Mendoza & Abby Sher

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m not sure if this is the second of a series or a follow up to the authors’ other title, Sanctuary, but it does have the same character of Vali – so, maybe? I haven’t read the other one…

This one is a dystopian YA novel set in 2033 where undocumented people are forced into labor camps and subjected to deadly experiments. Four narrators tell their story about starting a revolution.

It’s all crazy to me and the fact that this could very well happen with how some politicians are going…

Release Date: October 15, 2024

Libby Lost and Found

By: Stephanie Booth

Why am I stoked for this release?

This one is going to rock my world and I will probably cry, cause at first, I only saw the little blurb for this that said, “a book for people who don’t know who they are without the books they love”, and like, hello?! That’s me!

BUT THEN I READ FURTHER!

And mega-best-selling fantasy series author, Libby Weeks, who writes unto the name F.T. Goldhero, is late on her last manuscript because she gets diagnoses with early-onset Alzheimer’s!! Desperate, she reaches out to eleven-year-old superfan Peanut Bixton, who knows the books better than she does but harbors her own dark secrets.

WHAT?!

This book will wreck me. I just know it.

I can’t wait.

The Judgment of Yoyo Gold

By: Isaac Blum

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m a little familiar with this author’s debut work, The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen, but not a lot.

This YA novel set in the Orthodox Jewish community is about Yoyo, who has always played the role of perfect Jewish daughter and respects the decision of the community. But when her best friend is cast out of the community over a seemingly innocent transgression, Yoyo’s eyes are opened to the truth of her neighbors’ hypocrisies for the first time.

I don’t know a lot about the Orthodox Jewish community, some, but not a lot, and a bit of what I do know is from Orthodox Jewish Tiktokers (which is also a part of this novel!). So, I’m stoked to hopefully learn more about a community I’m not too familiar with.

Revisionaries: What We Can Learn from the Lost, Unfinished, and Just Plain Bad Work

By: Kristopher Jansma

Why am I stoked for this release?

I’m going to be honest and admit I probably won’t read the entirety of this novel. I’ve got a few of my favorite authors’ sections I will read and that’ll probably be the most of it.

Mostly Kafka – cause he’s just weird and I fell in love with his writing in college.

Release Date: October 22, 2024

The Healing Season of Pottery

By: Yeon Somin, Clare Richards (Translator)

Why am I stoked for this release?

First off – I’m openly admitting the fact that the cat is what suckered me in and made me pick up the book first.

Secondly, it’s a cozy Korean bestseller that’s being marketing for fans of What You Are Looking for Is in the Library, which is one of my top recommended books.

This book is a testament to the joy of slowing down in a fast-paced world, a homage to the art of ceramics, and the power of friendship 🙂

Release Date: October 29, 2024

This Girl’s a Killer

By: Emma C. Wells

Why am I stoked for this release?

And last but not least, a thriller mystery about a woman, Cordelia, who loves exactly three things: her chosen family, her hairdresser, and killing bad men.

By day she’s a successful pharmaceutical rep with a pristine reputation and by night she’s culling South Louisiana of monster men who seem to evade justice.

Y’all know I love me a book with found family! But now it’s a serial killer who is trying to do good.

I’m so for it. Let’s go!

How to Piss Off Men: 106 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego / Kyle Prue

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How to Piss Off Men: 106 Things to Say to Shatter the Male Ego
By: Kyle Prue
Genre: Humor, Nonfiction
Number of Pages: 144
Published: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Dates Read: September 15, 2024
Format: ARC / Paperback

With 106 phrases, questions, and comebacks, How to Piss Off Men is your guide to comebacks for every type of situation involving a man. Whether it’s referring to his jersey as “cosplay”, telling him you’ll “just Google it” when he begins to mansplain, or 

I saw this in a book preview event and immediately asked for it. I work with the public a lot and some of these I would love to give as clap back answers, but would never (but maybe) use.

I actually hadn’t heard of Kyle Prue before this book, but I did go and follow him on TikTok after reading this. I do appreciate the fact that at the beginning of the book, he explains that he is a Cis, white male, and that some of these sayings may not be okay to say in certain settings, and to overall make sure you are in a safe space before saying them – if you actually do.

I was able to find a physical ARC of this, which is now going around my workplace as coworkers enjoy it, so this is a funny read and many have/will enjoy it, especially if you’ve been in a situation with anyone male.

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

Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect / Hilda Eunice Burgos, Siara Faison (Illustrator)

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Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect
By: Hilda Eunice Burgos, Siara Faison (Illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 160
Published: July 23, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Dates Read: September 15, 2024
Format: ARC / eBook

Miguel wants nothing more than to be far away from his family’s bodega in Washington Heights – seeing and drawing the world. For street-savvy and newly adopted cat Lolo, staying inside the bodega pounds perfect, as long as he’s out of the freezing cold.

But when Miguel ditches his responsibilities and lies to his parents about joining an art club, his art dream may come crashing down. Lolo must decide if he’s willing to be there no Miguel through anything, even venturing back outside into scary New York City sidewalks. 

This is such a cute and sweet story for young readers. The illustrations alongside the chapters added to the cuteness (though I got an digital ARC of this title, so some of the illustrations were not fully flushed out yet, I’m going to have to get my hands on a finished copy).

I also really enjoyed Lolo’s point of view – especially since the kitten seems to understand humans a lot more than we give our four legged friends credit for.

This book will be great for young readers, especially since it’s about following your passion while still balancing parental expectations as well.

*Thank you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Read at Your Own Risk / Remy Lai

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Read at Your Own Risk
By: Remy Lai
Genre: Middle Grade, Horror
Number of Pages: 160
Published: August 13, 2024
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Dates Read: September 15, 2024
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Hannah and her friends were just having fun up in the school’s attic when they tried to communicate with spirits. Little did they know that something would be there and crawl its way into the pages of Hannah’s journal. What started out as a game has turned into something dire that Hannah tries to fix.

I originally asked for an ARC of this because I loved the idea of a haunted journal and what that would look like. Remy Lai didn’t disappoint in captivating my attention on the first page and keeping it throughout. The artwork is very Coraline-y, so I feel like a lot of readers will enjoy it from that alone.

The story itself is simple but still holds lessons to be learned.

This would fit right alongside those readers who enjoyed Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark as well as Goosebumps. This will no doubt lure our horror seeking youths but I think adults will also get a kick out of this as well.

*Thank you Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

49 Miles Alone / Natalie D. Richards

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49 Miles Alone
By: Natalie D. Richards
Genre: YA, Thriller
Number of Pages: 273
Published: July 2, 2024
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Dates Read: September 10, 2024 - September 14, 2024
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Trigger Warnings: Mention of rape

Desperate to heal from a night that left their world fractured a year ago, cousins Katie and Aster tackle a grueling four day hiking trip through the backcountry of Utah. But this trip is throwing multiple curveballs at them: an illness, an injury, and a freak storm leave them short on both confidence and supplies.

When they come across a couple with extra supplies, they’re grateful and relieved – at first. Later that evening, after getting troublesome vibes from Finn, Kaite and Aster wake up and hear the couple fighting. The cousins watch desperately as the girlfriend, Riley, disappears into the night with Finn chasing after her. In the morning, their camp hasn’t been touched. Katie is sure Riley is in trouble, but with help a two-day hike away, they know they’re the only ones who can offer aid before Finn – or the desert – gets to her first.

I really appreciate the way that Natalie D. Richards describes hiking and the difference between a day hike and a 4 day hike where everything you need is supposed to be on your back. Richards also did a great job at describing the landscape and both the beauty and the ruggedness of Utah’s backcountry. I’ve gone on a trip to the Rocky Mountains where we did a lot of day hiking and that was so much fun – but one of our days, we experienced every type of weather; heat, rain, snow, ice, wind, all in one trip! I don’t think I could even do a day hike in the desert, yet alone a 4 day hike! I hate being hot and sweating, so gross.

Anywho, this was an interesting read. I will admit it’s a bit slow at the beginning because it’s a lot of the cousins refinding their footing with one another after the events of that night nearly a year ago. There’s a weird vibe between them that they’ve got to work through but neither one really knows where to start.

*Thank you Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review