Tag: debut author

Book Review: Cupid’s Compass (The Soulmate Seekers Series #1) by Ashley Weiss

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Magical Realism
Length: 434 pages
Author: Ashley Weiss
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: June 20th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Some say it’s a blessing. Others swear it’s a curse.
Cupid’s compass is the enchanted tattoo that links soulmates and reveals when they will first meet. Most seekers, such as fifteen-year-old Lacey Baker, are thrilled to wake up to their sealed fate, but not everyone’s future is clear.
Her best friend is cursed by a compass that never moves but she can’t figure out why. Her mother’s soulmate link spontaneously changes, leaving their family in shambles. And Lacey’s soulmate. . . that’s another story.
A city away, Jaylynn Clare has a different problem. After a haunting prediction from a local psychic, her life becomes a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Promised unavoidable tragedy if she meets her linked partner, she takes it upon herself to run at all costs. But can fate be avoided, or only prolonged?
In a mad dash of love, lies, and long-forgotten curses, seekers across the globe weave together in this heart-wrenching narrative of entangled soulmates.

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy.

UNIQUE CONCEPT.

If you’re looking for a very diverse read with a concept I haven’t heard of, this might be the book for you! I loved the compass idea and how this book looked into MANY types of love situations. From love of a friend, companion, partner, self and more. I enjoyed finding out each person’s story.

There was a looooot of POV’s though. I think I counted 12?? And that really didn’t feel necessary. I feel like the author was trying to make sure we saw every single angle, but it took me awhile to remember who was who and which story line and everything in between.

I liked how short and fast the chapters were. And this isn’t a FANTASY book. More of a urban fantasy + magical realism kind of vibe. I didn’t mind, as I thought it functioned well within the world built around these compasses and the Roman gods. I loooove meddling gods and look forward to hopefully seeing more of them too.

The writing was fantastic. I had set out to read x amount of pages a day, and proceeded to find something continually wanting to pick it up. It was an engaging story and after that ending I NEED ANSWERS.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban Fantasy / Magical Realism
  • Language: low
  • Romance: Kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: sexual assault, suicidal thoughts, death of loved ones, a religious cult, self-harm off page, homophobia, emotional abuse

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ARC Book Review: Love Buzz by Neely Tubati Alexander

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Rating: ★★★☆
Audience: Contemporary Fiction
Length: 304 pages
Author: Neely Tubati Alexander
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A chance romantic encounter during a wild night at a Mardi Gras bachelorette party sends strait-laced Serena Khan’s carefully constructed life into chaos.

A wretched maid of honor. A hangover from hell. Raucous Mardi Gras crowds. There isn’t much Serena Khan is enjoying about this four-day New Orleans destination bachelorette party for her semi-estranged cousin, the bride-to-be—until sparks fly with a handsome stranger, who, like her, is also from Seattle. After their conversation is cut short, Serena is overwhelmed by the desire to find the charming man with the brooding eyebrows, but her list of clues is pretty short:

His name is Julian.
He lives on Chamber Hill.
He works at a tech company.
He loves Lil Wayne and Nirvana.

The need to find him is, for Serena, both irresistible and totally irrational. In a few short weeks, her college alumni magazine is featuring her in a “Life at Thirty” feature, cementing her as a success story. She will have officially achieved the safe, stable life her late mother insisted upon. Julian is not part of the plan.

As she combs Seattle for her New Orleans flame, stripping away the perfectly curated life that would have made her mother proud, Serena must decide if the pursuit of real passion is worth it—and fast, before she destroys the life she always thought she wanted.

Thank you SparkPoint Studio for the ARC.

GREAT DEBUT.

I really did enjoy this read. I will say first off, it is NOT a romance. There’s a romantic super sub plot, but overall this is much more fiction. I loved watching Serena figure life out. I could easily relate and connect with her on finding what makes you passionate. What makes you want to get out of bed each day and who you want to spend those days with. It’s complex handling all of that and grief and I thought this was a beautiful debut within those themes.

I had two little things that niggled at me. One being, the only love scene in here was a dream?? I didn’t love that and it felt really misplaced. And secondly, I do wish there was a bit more romance!! It started off strong and I wish Julian was a bit more woven into the entire story.

Honestly though, great read. I finished it in a day and would easily recommend it to others. I loved the setting and the characters. They all helped Serena reach a place in life where she felt more at peace. And I love that.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Fiction
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: one open door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, loss of a mother, grief depiction

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Book Review: Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Mystery
Length: 496 pages
Author: Angeline Boulley
Publisher: Henry, Holt, and Co.
Release Date: March 16th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.

The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.

Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.

FIERCE DEBUT.

This was absolutely worth the hype and awards. I had no idea this was a mystery book until the first few chapters and the unwinding of the plot was intricate, twisted, and kept me on my toes.

I loved the main character, Daunis. She was strong and brave. I loved the way she loved her community, friends and family. It was a coming-of-age tale interspersed in a tense landscape.

Highly recommend this one on audio!! The narrator did a wonderful job. The book slowed down a bit in the middle for me. But the last half definitely picked up. I couldn’t stop listening. I had to know what was going to happen next. Who was going to survive and how everyone learned to move on from difficult situations.

The romance disappointed me a bit. I loved the small role it played throughout the book. A bit of a forbidden, first-love kind of devotion. Yet, I realized with the ending I didn’t get that closure I was hoping for with them.

All in all, I’d say this is a must read. I loved learning about the traditions, the multiple layers to drug abuse and it’s resounding effects it has on those around to pick up the pieces. How traditions and complex family dynamics hold a place in your soul. A haunting tale, a beautiful landscape, fantastic writing, and I hope this author has more books out in the future!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Mystery
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: one closed door
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: ableism, racism/racial slurs, sexual harassment (on page), rape (on page), cheating, child abuse/neglect, substance abuse, murder-suicide (on page), overdose mentioned, grief/loss depiction, loss of loved ones, car accident (resulting in hospitalization, near death moments, bullying

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Book Review: Daughter of the Moon Goddess (The Celestial Kingdom Duology #1) by Sue Lynn Tan

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 512 pages
Author: Sue Lynn Tan
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Release Date: January 11th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm.

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor’s son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

ALL THE STARS.

I can’t believe this book wasn’t on my radar until I read it for a book club.

HOLY COW IT WAS AMAAAAAAAZING. WHAT A DEBUT.

I LOVED the character growth that Xingyin exhibited. From the beginning until the end she grew in strength, resilience, listening to her soul to make the next right move. I couldn’t get enough. Xingyin is fantastic and the kind of fantasy heroine I want to always read about.

The ROMANCE. I ENJOYED A LOVE TRIANGLE?! Who am I? This is a testament to the author’s writing abilities because this was accomplished beautifully. The push and pull of young love, new love, and all kinds of love in between. Many quotable moments. Many swoony moments. And moments of pure shock and betrayal. Here for it always.

Everything flowed flawlessly. I didn’t want to stop reading because each chapter kept the right pace for the overall story. I loved the action (and subsequent recovery) scenes. And it even ends just right. No dramatic cliffhanger. Xingyin gets her answers and there’s the small sliver left open for more stories in this realm.

GIVE ME THE SEQUEL.

Overall audience notes:

  • Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: some blood/gore
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, torture, possession and mind control

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