Author: Alisha Helms

The Family Fortuna / Lindsay Eager

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The cover of “The Family Fortuna” by Lindsay Eagar. There is a woman on the cover whose family is obscured by black raven like feathers. Below her shoulders, the art fades to show 4 people standing the spotlight of a circus ring.
The Family Fortuna
By: Lindsay Eagar
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: March 7, 2023
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Dates Read: February 11, 2023 - February 18, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: Verbal abuse

The Family Fortuna is a story set in 1889 that follows a carnival circus run by the Fortuna family. It mostly follows Avita, a monstrous looking bird woman who is the daughter of the ringmaster of The Family Fortuna. It also goes into the POV of her family members: her brother, Lorenzo, her sister, Luna, and her mother and father. They’ve all lived and worked at the circus together, but their world changes when Avita meets an artist who isn’t afraid of her and gets commissioned to make new portraits of all the acts.

I enjoyed this historical fiction young adult debut novel set in a carnival/circus. It really gave a good dive into the behind the scenes of a circus in the 1880’s.

Some of the word choices threw me off, though I did chalk it up to the time period as well as the word choices of the characters, who do live in a circus. Though the word “fart(s)” always throws me off way more than it probably should, and the characters use it quite frequently to describe the worth of others. Sometimes the way that Avita would talk about her sister, Luna, was a little weird too – like talking about her breasts and her figure.

What I will say is the word choices that Avita uses to describe herself, thanks to being who she was and especially the way her dad would talk about her, was what really described to me how she looked. Because it slightly changed the further into the book you would go, because the confidence level of Avita changed. She was still a bird woman, but it felt less like the horror movie monster towards the end of the book.

The pacing of this was a little slow and towards the end I did end up skimming a lot of it. I feel like it could have been cut down a bit and the story still would have been fantastic.

Overall, this was a good historical read that shows the inner runnings of the circus back in the day. I can see those who like a little horror mixed with family drama enjoying this book.

*Thanks Publishers Weekly and Candlewick Press for a digital advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Days of Reading…

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I feel like I should be giving anyone who is actually following this a heads up on just about how many posts you’re going to see from me in the next day or two (I’m going to space them out a bit). I read 5 books over the weekend; I finished a novel, read a collection of short stories, read another novel, and then two graphic novels.

There were a few things that allowed for this to happen though.

Wednesday the library was closed in celebration of the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl and the fact that most of downtown was going to be closed for the parade. This allowed for me to read my currently novel at the timee after I watched said parade on my TV.

Thursday I slipped on black ice and fell down the set of cement stairs at my house, horribly bruising my entire left side and my car wouldn’t start – so I stayed home from work. I actually didn’t end up reading too much this day as I was laying on a heating pad 90% of the time, but I did read a few chapters in the evening.

Friday I worked but then had no plans over the weekend besides watching ID Network and reading.

Saturday and Sunday were split between house chores and reading.

Oh, and watching The Last of Us latest episode on Sunday night obviously…

I also had a day off on Monday for Presidents’ Day. I ended up getting a lot of random chores done, including calling the Personal Property Tax Office and sitting on hold for 20 minutes, in which time, I read my book.

I guess what I’m getting at with this post is that I don’t really go out much. I’m 30 years old and in all honesty the actual thought of going out and being around people gives me anxiety most of the time anyway. Reading has always been my escape and my next few reviews’ dates read will show that – and of course anyone who signed up for my email notifications will be receiving all of them.

Be kind. Be gentle. Escape with a book if you need to.

Promise Boys / Nick Brooks

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Nick Brooks' YA novel, Promise Boys sits on top a black bookbag
Promise Boys
By: Nick Brooks
Genre: YA, Mystery
Published: January 31, 2023
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Dates Read: February 11, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: Murder, blood

After their school principal is shot and killed at Promise Prep School for Boys, J.B, Ramón, and Trey are labeled as the prime suspects. All three of them had had some kind of disagreement with their principal before he was killed and they all may have had the opportunity to have access to the murder weapon. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down who really did it before one of them is falsely accused.

This book is told through multiple POVs, with each chapter giving you who the main focus is. A few of them are people you only hear from once, but they do give you important pieces of information. Because of the changing of the POVs, it does make the story go by quickly.

I usually have a hard time with teen male voices and them coming across as whiny to me. But this one, had not one, not two, but three separate teen male voices and I was intrigued by everyone. They were all authentic to me and each one captured my attention and got me turning pages. Which tells you something, because I did end up reading this book in one day.

There were a lot of twists and turns and I was still questioning whether or not each boy was truly innocent until we got towards the end and all was revealed. Nick Brooks did an amazing job at showing just how differently black and brown boys are treated when it comes down to being guilty or not. One of the boys gets in trouble a lot because his cousin is the leader of a gang around the neighborhood and a lot of people just assume he’s a part of them. Another boy jokes around a lot, and in a school where they’re not allowed to even smile in the hallways, he’s constantly getting in trouble.

Overall, this book is perfect for those who like thriller mysteries and who are fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson. I can see this book getting more and more popular with the more people who read it. I can also see this making it to the big screen as well. Brooks wrote a wonderful, enhancing novel.

*Thank you Bookish First and Henry Holt and Co. for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Bring Me Your Midnight / Rachel Griffin

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Cover of Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin. A young woman with auburn hair's face sticks out of water that is surrounded by white flowers with a yellow and black center.
Bring Me Your Midnight
By: Rachel Griffin
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 320
Published: August 1, 2023
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Dates Read: February 3, 2023 - February 10, 2023
Format: eBook / ARC

Tana has been betrothed to the Governor’s son, Landon, from the Mainland since she was born. The marriage would help to seal an alliance between her coven on the island and the humans on the Mainland who see them as a threat. Tana’s coven limits the use of their powers so as to not cause worry to the mainlanders – in order to do this, the coven releases their unused powers into the ocean on the night of the full moon each month.

But when Tana misses the ritual, there is no one who can help her – until she meets Wolfe, a witch who claims to be from a hidden coven on the island that practices dark (high) magic. Instead of rushing her powers out into the sea, Wolfe teaches her how to use the magic he knows, and that magic makes Tana feel alive and powerful.

As Tana learns more and more about the differences between the magic she grew up with and the magic that Wolfe does, she begins to understand the danger her coven is putting on not only the island, but the Mainland as well. With understanding, Tana will have to choose between love and duty; her coven or her heart.

Another wonderful, soft witchy novel from Rachel Griffin. I have really enjoyed all three of her novels and she will continue to be someone whom I will always grab a copy of their book!

This book focuses a lot on belonging and questioning your lifelong beliefs. Which is a theme I’ve always liked about Griffin’s novels – they’re witchy, but a lot of witchy books are usually so set in their rules or methods but in Griffin’s novels, the characters are always open to challenging that and changing those (though those around them may be a bit more stubborn).

With this being in first person POV with Tana, I really enjoyed getting to know her and her coven through her eyes. The covens in Griffin’s books always make me wish I was a part of them and this one is no different!

If you like witches, arranged marriages, secrets, and stories of finding one’s self then this is the book for your reading pleasure.

*Thank you Edelweiss+ and Sourcebooks Fire for a digital advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Man Without Shelter / Indrajit Garai

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Photo of a physical book with a cover of cement stairs and metal railing. The title of the book is, "The Man Without Shelter" and the author is Indrajit Garai.
A 4 Gold Star Rating
The Man Without Shelter
By: Indrajit Garai
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 122
Published: September 6, 2022
Publisher: Independently Published
Dates Read: January 31, 2023 - February 1, 2023
Format: Paperback

Trigger Warnings: Homelessness, suicide, murder, mentions of abuse, sex trafficking, rape

Arnault has just been released from prison after two decades when new evidence finally proved he didn’t commit the crime. Lucy is a young lawyer who is determined to help Arnault in his journey to full freedom.

The writing in this novel was a bit different for me. I’ve read a lot of Japanese translated books and some Dutch and Swedish, but I haven’t read many from France. That being said, the writing does dive into a lot of French politics and policies, especially about the homeless/unhoused population.

As a librarian, it was interesting to me to see how Paris’ homeless population was portrayed in this novel. The unhoused are many of my frequent patrons, so I hear and try to help with their struggles as much as I can. The circles one must overcome can’t be done without help: to get an ID, you have to have an address for 3 months, to have an address, you have to have a job in order to pay for address, to have a job, you must have an ID – and so the circle continues. 

Indrajit Garai does an amazing job at giving you characters who you root for page after page. Life wasn’t easy on Arnault, but he kept going and kept pushing and I wanted to know how the universe was finally going to give back to him what he deserved. The man had a tent where he lived with a geese couple and their chick and was content with it! And then with Lucy, even though she was on the complete opposite lifestyle as Arnault, we saw a lot of the world where people don’t care and were only out for themselves. I kept rooting for her that her eyes would be open to this other world (homeless/unhoused/migraint) and that it would change her for the better.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to a lot of my library coworkers for sure. It’s not the greatest, happy-go-lucky book on the shelf, but it shows honesty and a life of someone who has been down and just trying to get back up on their feet honestly.

Live Your Best Lie / Jessie Weaver

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Photo of the book cover "Life Your Best Lie: by Jessie Weaver. The cover itself is of a round bathroom mirror with the words "Live Your Best Lie" written in lipstick on the glass. The photo is on an iPad and is in front of a computer screen with Instagram on the screen.
A 4 Star Gold Rating
Live Your Best Lie
By: Jessie Weaver
Genre: YA, Mystery
Number of Pages: 368
Published: January 24, 2023
Publisher: Disney Books / Melissa de la Cruz Studio
Dates Read: January 25, 2023 - January 30, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warning: bullying, murder, child abuse, toxic relationship

Summer Cartwright seemed like she had it all: millions of online followers, admirers all around, trendy clothes for her closet, and  a crazy huge book deal coming out soon. Every second of Summer’s life is planned and cultivated to show her #LivingHerBestLife.

When Summer shows up dead at her own Halloween party following an unscheduled post, most eyes turn towards four people: her best friend, her ex-boyfriend, her frenemy, and her – what some would say – the wannabe stalker. The four band together to figure out who the real killer is before someone else gets the blame.

Live Your Best Lie is told through multiple POVs, flashbacks, and Summer’s social media posts and is a fast-paced mystery that is constantly switching lenses between the top suspects. You get clues starting from page one, and of course, some of them you don’t realize until the last few pages. Jessie Weaver did an amazing job at keeping the answers just out of reach until she was ready to give you the answers. There were a handful of times I backtracked pages to relook at something I had a hunch about – and that to me, is a good mystery / thriller.

For those who love true crime and books like One of Us is Lying, they will devour this book as well. Weaver keeps you tangled up and interested until the very end when there’s a twist you don’t see coming!

*Thank you Disney Book, Melissa de la Cruz Studio, NetGalley, and Publishers Weekly for an advanced ebook of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella / Alice Oseman

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A photo of the novella, "Nick and Charlie" by Alice Oseman being held by a woman in a pink sweater with red lipstick prints all over
A 5 Star Gold Rating
Nick and Charlie: A Heartstopper Novella
By: Alice Oseman
Genre: YA, Romance
Number of Pages: 176
Published: January 3, 2023 (July 16, 2015)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Dates Read: January 24, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: mention of eating disorder recovery

Nick is leaving for university soon, and Charlie, a year younger, will be left behind to finish his last year of school. Everyone keeps asking them if they’re going to stay together, and Nick and Charlie both think that’s a silly question… at first. As the time for departure gets closer and closer, the boys start to question whether or not their love is strong enough for the distance – because of this, communication is mixed up and things begin to spiral. Can the boys’ love survive?

What a cute and adorable novella in the Nick and Charlie universe! I absolutely loved the graphic novels, so I knew I would enjoy this novella too. I haven’t read any of Alice Oseman’s novels yet, so this was kind of a sneak peak for me to see her writing style outside of graphic novels – and I really enjoyed it. Oseman was able to convey descriptions of what was happening, in the various first person POVs of Nick and Charlie, well and I know that can be a bit of a challenge when writing it versus drawing it.

I’m glad Oseman still brought up Charlie’s eating troubles and what that looks like years down the line. As it was kind of mentioned, it’s not something that just “gets fixed”, and it’s something Charlie is constantly working on and something that Nick is aware of (like the eating of snacks). 

This was a nice and cute, quick and short read. Totally started the book at 9 in the evening and had it finished before bed. I highly recommend this to lovers of the Heartstopper series as you’ll get the same lovey-dovey feels you got from the graphic novels! 

The Dryer Island Boys / Jeffrey Veatch

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Image of the cover of "The Dyer Island Boys" by Jeffrey Veatch .
A 3 Star Gold Rating
The Dyer Island Boys
By: Jeffrey Veatch
Genre: Fiction
Number of Pages: 192
Published: November 28, 2022
Publisher: Colossal Publishing
Dates Read: January 19, 2023 - January 23, 2023
Format: ARC / eBook

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a feel good, coming-of-age story set spanning from the late 1940’s to recent day.

*Thank you to the author and Reedsy Discovery for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Read my full review here

Unseelie / Ivelisse Housman

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Photo of an Advance Readers Copy of the novel "Unseelie" by Ivelisse Housman. The cover has two girls, twins standing in the forest. One twin has a long side braid and is wearing a red dress, electricity is crackling in her left hand. Her sister, who looks just like her, but with short, shoulder length hair, stands in all black behind her.
A 3 Star Gold Rating
Unseelie
By: Ivelisse Housman
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 432
Published: January 3, 2023
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Dates Read: January 7, 2023 - January 18, 2023
Format: ARC

A few years ago, there was an accident in Seelie and Isolde’s home village and ever since, they’ve been on the run. Seelie is an autistic changeling trying to understand and control her unpredictable magic – it doesn’t help that she finds it almost as difficult to fit in with the humans around her. Her sister Isolde, is an amazing pickpocketer and uses her skills to keep them alive. When a heist goes wrong, the twins find themselves in a larger mystery than they expected and discover secrets of the history of both faeries and humans. With new companions on their adventure can Seelie get control of her magic in time to protect her sister.

“The perfect start to any morning. Who needs coffee when you have the icy shock of mortal terror?”

I was pretty excited to read this book portraying an autistic main character written by someone who is on the spectrum themselves. It is a wonderful portrayal for children and young adults to see themselves represented, especially in a fantasy, magic filled world like we see in Unseelie. Seelie’s character is honest and true, and you see this world through her eyes – with and without overstimulating events.

Each of the four main characters were fun to meet and learn about – though I am hoping we get to see more flushed out history of both Raze and Olani in the next book. 

The pacing of this novel was a bit slow in places, especially in the middle and then the ending kind of hit you fiercely. I didn’t realize this would be a duology until the last few pages, especially since nothing really wrapped up and you were kind of left with unexplained events and a cliffhanger. That being said though, I am super excited for the next book in the series and will for sure be waiting for that to hit the shelves.

*Thank you Inkyard Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

First 2 Books of 2023 Read

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I started my new year with the last two books of a manga series I started at the end of last year. A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima. I originally found the series at a Barnes & Noble as a full volume set back in December. I’m a conversationalist in American Sign Language (definitely not fluent by any means, but can still have a conversation). I have always been curious to see how authors portray Deaf characters – and how they show them when it’s graphic novels or manga, so when I found out what this was about, I immediately put the whole series on Hold at work.

A hand is holding up two manga books from the series, "A Silent Voice" by Yoshitoki Oima. They are volumes 6 and 7.

Overall, this was a good series and I enjoyed it quite a bit! There were some slow parts and some redemption arcs that didn’t quite hit the mark, but I still can still see myself recommending it and possibly purchases the collective volume in the future too!

An image of "A Silent Voice, Volume 6" by Yoshitoki Oima. A girl with purple/pink hair and an arm sling stand in water, looking sad.
A 4 Star Gold Rating
A Silent Voice, Volume 6
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 184
Published: April 19, 2016 (1st Published October 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comica
Dates Read: January 4, 2023 - January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

With Shoya in a coma, Shoko tries desperately to fix what she made wrong with her friends, who are also desperately struggling with their own stuff.

This volume focused on nearly everyone and their emotions a little bit at a time as they waited for Shoya to wake up. Each chapter focused on someone differently. While some chapters allowed me to understand the character a bit more – others made me hate the character more. It just kind of goes to show that no one is perfect and people react to stuff in different ways. Example – I still don’t like Naoka and Miki’s chapter didn’t redeem her for me either.

Oima did a wonderful job at Shoko’s struggle with communicating with hearing individuals and showing how much she misses and struggles.

I have loved the journey so far and can’t wait to see how this all comes together in the last volume.

!!SPOILER!!

I was nearly having a heart attack at the end of the volume though when I thought Shoya had died

An image of the manga "A Silent Voice, Volume 7" by Yoshitoki Oima. A teen boy with spiky black hair, a nice white shirt and tie with dress pants on stands next to a teen girl with long hair, white shirt and a black skirt with tights stand together and wave.
A Silent Voice, Volume 7
By: Toshitoki Oima, Steven LeCroy (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 190
Published: May 24, 2016 (1st Published December 17, 2014)
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Dates Read: January 5, 2023
Format: Library Book / Paperback

Shoya reunites with Shoko and the group works on finishing the movie together even though there is a strain in their relationships.

This was a good ending to the series. I felt like Shoya actually grew as a person and we were able to see his redemption arc. Though, personally, I don’t understand his life journey he’s planning on going down, but it was left a bit open ended, so I can always play around with that.

I still do not understand Naoka and her storyline… she’s still a jerk and she physically assaulted half the group (and Shoko multiple times), and yet everyone is okay with her?? I know we get her background and story but none of that was redeemable to me. It just kind of made me dislike her even more.

I was really happy about where we left off with Yuzuru and I’m so proud and happy for her journey she will be going on. I honestly hope she gets everything she ever wants.

I know this is somewhat marked as a romance, though it was more teen puppy love I feel like… it didn’t necessarily end with people getting together, but that they understood how important the other person was to them. That’s a good thing to be able to show teens that things don’t always end in a relationship and that that’s okay.

Overall, this is a cute and emotional ride of a manga that I can see myself purchasing for my own collection down the line. I shall be watching the movie at some point in the near future as well.