Tag: get underlined

ARC Book Review: First Test Graphic Novel by Tamora Pierce

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
Length: 160 pages
Author: Tamora Pierce
Publisher: Random House Graphic
Release Date: July 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

This eagerly awaited graphic novel adaptation of the iconic fantasy novel, First Test, reimagines the classic knight’s tale, but with a twist. In a world not quite ready for her ambition, a determined girl seeks knighthood and finds herself on a mission to prove it.

Keladry is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in her homeland, Tortall–one that allows women to train for knighthood. She knows she’s ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page, but standing in her way is the Knight’s training master, Lord Wyldon.

The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights, and in an attempt to further hold Kel back Lord Wyldon decides that she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even if the test is purposely unfair.

The Protector of the Small series gets its first graphic novel adaptation, bringing to life Tamora Pierce’s best-selling First Test in an exciting new format. This graphic novel story about believing in yourself and overcoming all odds, combines action and adventure in a way that new and old fans of the series will love.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted book.

A START TO AN ADVENTURE.

I’ve read one of Tamora Pierce’s fantasy quartets and was excited when I saw that one of them (not the one I read) was becoming a graphic novel. I love a good graphic novel and this was awesome. I loved seeing the start of Keladry’s journey to becoming a knight. There beginning themes of found family and standing up to bullies are wonderful for young readers too.

This was an easy book to read in an evening, I liked the artwork a lot and I look forward to continuing this series.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy Graphic Novel
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: moderate

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ARC Book Review: Wild About You by Kaitlyn Hill

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: NA Contemporary Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Kaitlyn Hill
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: May 21st, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Two total opposites. One race through the Great Outdoors. In this grumpy-sunshine teen romance from the author of Love from Scratch and Not Here to Stay Friends , the trail to true love doesn’t always come with a map.

Natalie Hart has always been loud, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself. But then comes her freshman year of college, when she loses her merit scholarship and gains one pesky little anxiety diagnosis.

Hesitant to take out more student loans, Natalie decides to shoot her shot and applies to Wild Adventures , a popular outdoorsy reality show. Sure, Natalie prefers her twelve-step skincare routine to roughing it on the Appalachian Trail while competing in challenges against other college kids, but that scholarship prize money is calling her name. High risk, high reward, right?

Enter Finn Markum, her randomly assigned, capital- O Outdoorsy teammate whose growl could rival a black bear. These partners have more friction than a pair of new hiking boots. Or is it flirtation? Turns out falling in love might be the wildest adventure of all…

Thank you GetUnderlined for the gifted ARC.

UH, I LOVED THIS.

I really didn’t have any kind of expectations going into this, I was just genuinely hoping to like this book and it ended up hitting me in the feels on many levels.

I adored the grump x sunshine set up. I loved Natalie. She made me laugh and want to hug her. I felt that 19 years old, trying to figure out the next step, and having to do it mostly alone. Not having the best parent connection and struggling with anxiety (the anxiety rep was amazing y’all). Meeting her match in Finn, the cutest grumpy cinnamon roll. I loved him and that even without a POV I got a great background and depth of self and I loooooved the banter between them. And also how they worked through apologizing and communicating. It wasn’t a linear road, nor was it wildly dramatic and blown out or proportion. I love the realness of it all.

The setting was fun. I liked the trek through a portion of the Appalachian Trail and the reality show worked well into the story. Even as a main part of the atmosphere I don’t think it overwhelmed the character driven story about Natalie.

This surprised me in all the best ways. I constantly found myself wanting to pick it up and enjoy it. Made me smile and swoon, and I appreciated the themes throughout too.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of a parent (off page, recounted – cancer)

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ARC Book Review: Defiant (Skyward #4) by Brandon Sanderson

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: 480 pages
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: November 21st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson comes the final book in an epic series about a girl who will travel beyond the stars to save the world she loves from destruction.

Spensa made it out of the Nowhere, but what she saw in the space between the stars has changed her forever. She came face to face with the Delvers, and finally got answers to the questions she’s had about her own strange Cytonic gifts.

The Superiority didn’t stop in it’s fight for galactic dominance while she was gone, though. Spensa’s team, Skyward Flight, was able to hold Winzik off, and even collect allies to help with the cause, but it’s only a matter of time until humanity–and the rest of the galaxy–falls.

Defeating them will require all the knowledge Spensa gathered while in the Nowhere. But being Cytonic is more complicated than she ever could have imagined. Now, Spensa must ask herself: how far is she willing to go for victory, if it means losing herself–and her friends–in the process.

The final book in the Skyward series will free humanity, or see it fall forever.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

WHAT A CONCLUSION.

Y’all know I love Brandon Sanderson books and I was delighted to get my hands on an early copy and even happier to have it bring everything I wanted in the conclusion of Spensa’s story.

I LOVED HER GROWTH. When you look across the series at where Spensa started to where she is at the end, she feels new, but also, like the woman she was always supposed to be. I loved that she had ups and downs, apologies to make and strengths to show. Her perseverance is next level and I was here for all the knowledge she received.

Sanderson always writes incredible side characters and I loved this whole crew. The romance with Jorgen has some really great moments and I’m a smitten puddle as always for any crumble I get. Hesho is my new favorite and I loved his wise words and calming prescene. Not to mention the whole flight crew?? I LOVE THEM ALL.

I think this ended right where it needed to and I look forward to future expansion of this world.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate/high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of life, battle themes, drugging, murder

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Book Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy
Length: 432 pages
Author: Elizabeth Lim
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release Date: August 29th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.

Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy.

FANTASTIC BOOK.

I love a good origin story/prequel novel. And I kind of wish I had this book before the two other duologies in this world because I really think it set-up a lot of wonderful context and world building to those duos.

I loved how deep this sister relationship went and what they both did to each other. There’s an imbalance they have and I like how that was represented and handled between them. There’s many poignant moments and things that made me feel ALL THE THINGS. The interwoven romantic, politicking and magic plot lines really brought this book home.

These characters absolutely had my attention and I loved seeing Channi’s story come to life. There’s plenty of action and mystery and honestly wondering how things were going to wrap up. Highly recommend this book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Fantasy
  • Language: very little
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents, loss of loved ones, battle scenes

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