YA

The Merciless Ones (Deathless #2) / Namina Forna

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The Merciless Ones (Deathless #2)

By: Namina Forna

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Number of Pages: 432

Published: Mary 31, 2022

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Dates Read: January 16, 2024 - January 18, 2024

Format: Library Book / Audiobook

It’s been six months since Deka freed the goddesses in Otera and found out who she really is. With the war waging across the kingdom Deka and her army must stop the dark forces that are growing. But there are buried secrets getting unearthed that threaten to destroy her entire world, and her gifts are changing. Does Deka hold the key to saving Otera, or is she actually the threat?

So I swore I read this book when it first came out and so I requested the ARC of the 3rd book and got it. When I went to look at my reviews of these books, it was then that I realized I hadn’t read this one yet! So, I was able to read this book and then go directly into the third and final installment too – which is kind of nice because I’m so impatient when it comes to waiting for sequels. 

I also listened to this in audiobook for the most part and there are some tense bits where I was gasping out loud while doing house chores (not going to mention what bits due to spoilers).

The only con I had of this was Deka’s fault of running headfirst into situations and making rash decisions. It’s a young adult – Deka’s a young adult, and she’s learning. I did feel like she definitely grew since we first met her. 

This is an action packed fantasy novel that I can see so many enjoying – especially since the third and final installment is coming out in just a few weeks. Definitely something I can see myself recommending for some binge reading for sure.

Red / Annie Cardi

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red

By: Annie Cardi

Genre: YA, Contemporary 

Number of Pages: 256

Published: January 30, 2024

Publisher: Union Square & Co.

Dates Read: January 9, 2024 - January 15, 2024

Format: ARC / eBook

Trigger Warnings: abortion, misogyny, religious bigotry, grooming, adult/minor relationship

After Tess’s mom loses her job, the two move in with her grandparents in Hawthorne. The one condition is that the two must attend church. Tess’s mom isn’t too happy about it, but Tess enjoys the community and quickly finds a place among the youth group and choir.

But after a very personal decision becomes public, Tess faces both harassment and rejection from the church community. After meeting some kids in the band room during lunch – the only place she’s able to find solitude, she learns to find her voice again with their support.

I like that this book had a religious theme, but it wasn’t overly preachy. Tess had a relationship with God before and she spends the duration of the book talking about that and how she wants to reconnect but isn’t sure how to do so.

I appreciated the fact that Annie Cardi addressed the subject of abortion and how it can still be considered controversial today but that it’s not so black and white that some people think it is. The fact that characters changed their views throughout the story was authentic and felt right – now granted, some still had a hard time “accepting” Tess’s decision but it was still nice to see.

This novel also shows how the act of grooming and abuse aren’t always so easily detectable. Predators can be anyone.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. This is unfortunately something that young women can go through and I feel like this will help a lot of girls feel seen.

*Thank you Union Square & Co. for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Nimona / N.D. Stevenson

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Nimona
By: N.D. Stevenson
Genre: Graphic Novel
Number of Pages: 266
Published: May 12, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Dates Read: December 31, 2023
Format: Paperback

Lord Blackheart wasn’t exactly looking for a sidekick, but when Nimona shows up and turns into a shark, he hires her. The duo begin to wreak havoc to both fight and expose that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and the Institution are up to something and aren’t the heroes everyone thinks they are.

Right, I knew I was going to love this graphic novel. I’ve known for years, but just hadn’t gotten around to it for whatever reason. But, when I needed one more novel to complete my 2023 challenge, I knew I wanted a graphic novel I would devour in one setting. Nimona did not disappoint.

Nimona is wonderful and snarky and I just loved her from the very first page. The banter between Lord Blackheart and her never ceased to make me either smile or laugh out loud. I’m actually so sad I hadn’t read it as a webcomic back in the day – which, I was on Tumblr at that time, how did I miss this?! Guess I could go down that rabbit hole one day when I’ve got the time. The adorable-ness overload of this found family will probably give me a toothache.

Overall, this is going on my highly recommended list. Those who love fantasy? Check. Those who love found family? Check. Those who love friends to archenemies? Check. And who doesn’t love a snarky, sarcastic shapeshifting “evil” kid?

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy / Faith Erin Hicks

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Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy
By: Faith Erin Hicks
Genre: Graphic Novel, Romance
Number of Pages: 304
Published: October 3, 2023
Publisher: First Second
Dates Read: December 30, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, bully, domestic abuse

After Alix lashes violently out at her rude and mean teammate, Lindsay, she knows she needs to control her anger. So, she goes to Ezra; the cool, calm theater kid from her grade, for help. As they begin to hang out more and more, Alix learns there’s more to Ezra than the levelheaded front her puts on. And maybe, there’s something more than just friendship forming…

This is a cute YA graphic novel romance with a bit of the gender roles switched than what you usually see in rom-coms.

I enjoyed the storyline and the chemistry between the two felt genuine and wasn’t that insta-romance. I do however wish the ending as a little longer, so it could flush out a little more of the story better.

Overall though, I will be recommending to those who enjoyed the author’s other works, like Pumpkinhead by Rainbow Rowell, and the series Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu. And those that like a cute YA graphic romance.

Odessa (Odessa #1) / Jonathan Hill

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Odessa (Odessa #1)
By: Jonathan Hill
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA
Number of Pages: 328
Published: November 10, 2020
Publisher: Oni Press
Dates Read: December 24, 2023 - December 26, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

After a massive earthquake hit along the Cascadia fault line eight years ago, everything changed for the west coast of the United States. But for Vietnamese-American Virginia Crane, her life changed the most when her mother left and never came back shortly after the quake.

Ginny has always helped her father out and taken care of her brothers, Wes and Harry. But when a mysterious package arrives for the eighteenth birthday, Ginny wants more to life than what she’s been surviving on. Maybe it’s selfish of her, but she’s determined, now more than ever, to find where her mother is, or what happened with her – even if she must leave her family behind.

Right, so I read this going into it, knowing that there will be more volumes. But I thought, this was written in 2020, at least the second volume would be out, right?! NO! I finished this book, expecting I would go grab the second volume at the library but it’s still not out! I’m quite hooked on Ginny’s storyline thank you very much and want to know where it’s going.

Is this the absolutely best graphic novel out there – no, but I still really enjoyed it. The twists and such kept my interest and I’d like to see what has become of the world past San Francisco after this massive earthquake eight years ago.

I did enjoy the art, it’s done in one of my favorite shades of pink.

I would really enjoy it if the second book would come out soon though. You can’t just leave it on the cliffhanger that it’s on!

Mall Goth / Kate Leah

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Mall Goth

By: Kate Leah

Genre: Graphic Novel

Number of Pages: 256

Published: September 26, 2023

Publisher: Simon & Schuster for Young Readers

Dates Read: December 15, 2023

Format: eBook

Trigger Warnings: Child Grooming

Liv Holme is starting over in a new town with her mom. And a new town means a new high school. If that’s not hard enough, Liv is a fifteen-year-old bisexual goth. As Liv tries to find her community, the only person who seems to make time for her is one of her teachers, Mr. Trent, but she’s not sure how she feels about the way he acts towards her sometimes. Thankfully, she finds solace in the mall, where she’s away from all her troubles. Now she must set off on a journey of self-acceptance and the ups and downs of life and high school.

I loved the art in this – that is one of the main reasons I wanted to read this.

Secondly, the storyline isn’t what I thought it would be and I really enjoyed it. 

I both feel like it could have been longer (more in depth), but then at the same time, the story fit in the page length that it was. There was just a lot going on – especially with stuff like her Dad and sometimes conversations with Liv’s mom, I felt like it could have been more elaborated on, but I still understood what was going on.

I’ve already recommended this to two friends, so this will be on my graphic novel list for sure.

The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will / Maya MacGregor

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The Evolving Truth of Ever-Stronger Will
By: Maya MacGregor
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Number of Pages: 273
Published: July 23, 2023
Publisher: Astra Books for Young Readers
Dates Read: November 22, 2023 - November 24, 2023
Format: Library Book / Hardcover

Trigger Warnings: death of a patron, child abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, drugs, mentions of death by overdose

Will, an agender teen, is only a few months away from turning 18 – finally an adult, and finally able to have freedom away from their abusive, addicted mother. When their mother dies suddenly, Will is granted freedom earlier than expected, but her dying words haunt Will. Soon, their mother’s drug-dealing past comes back and threatens Will’s shiny new future, leaving them to scramble to find a past foster they haven’t heard from in years. And, they need to do this all before Child Protective Services finds out Will’s been left on their own.

I really enjoyed that this was written in second person. Besides fanfiction, I’ve never read a novel in this form and I’ve got to say, this works so well! And it makes perfect sense to use it for a character who is nonbinary or genderfluid. 

The imperfections of the characters of this novel is what made this novel so perfect. Not one single person was the most amazing person ever – they all had their faults, their traumas, their own realistic story, and that made this beautiful.

I’m excited for those to need this story to get their hands on it. And I’m excited for those who may not necessarily need this story, but can learn from this story, because it’s all so important. With the amazing writing that is from Maya MacGregor you get so much representation that isn’t forced at all, it’s just who they are and that’s that.

Overall, I will be highly recommending this book to so many people. Though I will give a bit of a heavy warning to check the Trigger Warnings and to be gentle with yourself.

*Thank you Astra Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Something More / Jackie Khalilieh

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Something More
By: Jackie Khalilieh
Genre: YA, Romance
Number of Pages: 336
Published: June 6, 2023
Publisher: Tundra Books
Dates Read: November 17, 2023 - November 19, 2023
Format: Hardcover

Jessie was just diagnosed as autistic weeks before starting high school. Determined to keep it hidden, she makes a list of goals to cross off – ranging from having two distinct eyebrows, to getting a magical first kiss, and landing a spot in the school musical.

This is such an honest and messy story. So many novels, especially YA, don’t always show the messiness that’s teenage life, but this one shows it great. Jackie Khalilieh writes Jessie as a truly authentic teen with autism: feeling different, being bad at social interactions and ques, being obsessed with one particular interest, along with a lot of other differences. Khalilieh also writes deeply about wearing a mask and what that both looks like and feels like to someone with autism.

Along with truly showing a teen with autism, this story is also a romance, but cute. I’m usually against YA Romance because I find them so cheesy, but this one I actually liked and enjoyed. Jessie meets two boys on her first day of school and both show interest in her – one she catches onto a lot more quickly. Again, I would like to bring up the writing that Khalilieh did here where she talks about Jessie zeroing in on the one boy and the one relationship and how all others don’t really matter too much. I can be bad at that, so I felt that deeply.

Overall, I absolutely loved the representation this book shows and the story that it gives. I believe that, even though it is a YA romance, it’s not overly cheesy, and therefore I can see many readers enjoying this for its autistic representation.

*Thank you Tundra Books and LibraryThing for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Song of Silver, Flame Like Night / Amélie Wen Zhao

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Song of Silver, Flame Like Night
By: Amélie Wen Zhao
Genre: Fantasy, YA
Number of Pages: 480
Published: January 3, 2023
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Dates Read: November 8, 2023 - November 13, 2023
Format: Library Book / Audiobook

Lan has always had a strange mark burned into her arm by her dying mother – a mark that only she can see, until one night, a boy who saves her, can see it; Zen. Zen’s a practitioner – one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom. Their magic is rumored to have been drawn from the demons they communed with and now must be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.

Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep – ones they must hide from others and ones they must still discover themselves. Both hold the power to liberate their land – or to destroy the world.

I originally tried reading this a while ago and couldn’t get into it right then – it’s a heavy fantasy, with an a-mazing world building. When I first read it, I couldn’t place myself in the world. Quite a few months later, I was able to get ahold of the audiobook from my library and listen to it. That’s where I fell into the world fast.

This book reads, to me, like an epic movie. I could see all the fight scenes perfectly, the mood was easily set and understandable. But, again, this may be a series where I listen to the audiobooks of them because there was so much info dump to get you set into the world and the scenes that, to me, I was able to visualize a little better when I heard it, rather than when I saw it.

This is the first book of a series though, so it gets to have the info dumps. I’m still excited to read the second book in the series and have already put a hold of it at the library.

Overall, this is a wonderful fantasy book based in Chinese Folklore and Mythology that I can see a great deal of readers enjoying – especially those who really like to get dropped into a world totally unlike ours currently.

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

That Self-Same Metal / Brittany N. Williams

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That Self-Same Metal
By: Brittany N. Williams
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 352
Published: April 25, 2023
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Dates Read: October 29, 2023 - October 31, 2023
Format: ARC / Library Book / Audiobook

Trigger Warnings: racism (including blackface), sexism, murder, violence

Sixteen-year-old Joan Sands is a “gifted” craftswoman who creates and upkeeps the stage blades for William Shakespeare’s acting company. Joan’s gift comes from a magical ability she was blessed with from her Head Orisha, Ogun. Because her entire family is Orisha-blessed, they’ve kept tabs on the Fae presence in London. Usually, they just see a faint glow around a Fae’s body as they try their best to blend in with regular society. After a pack has been broken though, the rise of brutal Fae attacks has risen. After saving the son of a cruel Lord from a Fae attack, Joan gets thrusted into the political world of humans and Fae.

The writing really shows the author’s background in theater and acting and of the historical time period (including the treatment of Black people living in London, which I hadn’t known about). 

Some of the parts didn’t interest me as much, but I did really enjoy the fight scenes as I felt like they were well written. There could have been a lot going on, but I would never feel like I was lost but rather right in the middle of swords swinging around.

Overall, this was a fun and action-packed YA fantasy with an alternative history twist. I can see YA fantasy readers and those who love theater enjoying this book with the twist of Shakespeare. I will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next book in the series to continue with Joan and her story.