Tag: young adult fantasy

Book Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel: Part 1 (Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novels #1) by Shannon Messenger

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: MG Fantasy
Length: 352 pages
Author: Shannon Messenger
Publisher: Aladdin
Release Date: November 7th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series is being reimagined as a graphic novel with the first half of the epic novel adapted to this new format with beautiful artwork!

Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has never quite fit into her life. She’s skipped multiple grades and doesn’t really connect with the older kids at school, but she’s not comfortable with her family, either. The reason? Sophie’s a Telepath, someone who can read minds. No one knows her secret—at least, that’s what she thinks…

But the day Sophie meets Fitz, a mysterious (and adorable) boy, she learns she’s not alone. He’s a Telepath too, and it turns out the reason she has never felt at home is that, well…she isn’t. Fitz opens Sophie’s eyes to a shocking truth, and she is forced to leave behind her family for a new life in a place that is vastly different from what she has ever known.

This stunning graphic novel retelling of the first half of the thrilling first novel comes to life with all the adventure and epic worldbuilding the Keeper of the Lost Cities series is known for.

Thank you to Simon Kids for the gifted copy!

THIS WAS FUN.

I have enjoyed reading this series over the years and think it was fun to see Keeper of the Lost Cities transformed into a graphic novel. I think it covered the necessary points from the beginning of book one (though I admit that could be because I have prior knowledge since I read book one before the graphic novel). I like that this makes it more accessible for younger readers who may not feel up for 600+ page books just yet.

I thought the art was amazing and it still held that same charm from the series. I look forward to seeing the future installments in this format.

Overall audience notes:

  • MG Graphic Novel
  • Language: none
  • Romance: none
  • Violence: low

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Monthly Reading Wrap-Up: July 2025

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SHUT UP ABOUT THE SUN.

I will never stop using that quote. This is the lowest amount of reading I have done in a long time! And that’s okay. There was a LOOOOT of life happening and I needed to focus on that. Luckily the majority of these books were great. Some reviews are out now and others will be out soon!

  • Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner
  • Into the Abyss (Into the Churn #3) by Hayley Reese Chow
  • The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang
  • [ARC] Wes and Addie Had Their Chance by Bethany Turner
  • [ARC] All’s Well that Friends Well (Lucky in Love #2) by Gracie Ruth Mitchell
  • Heir of Storms (Storm Weaver #1) by Lauren Hamilton Murray
  • Let’s Make a Scene (Theo & Cynthie #2) by Laura Wood
  • A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly (Compelling Fates Saga #1) by Sophia St. Germain
  • Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston
  • [ARC] Of the Curse of the Crown (The Veridian Empire #2) by V.B. Lacey
  • [ARC/ALC] Chasing Shelter (Sparrow Falls #5) by Catherine Cowles
  • Into the Dark (Magnolia Parks Universe #5) by Jessa Hastings
  • [ALC] The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
  • [ARC] A Tartan Love (The Earls of Cairnfell #1) by Nichole Van
  • [ARC/ALC] Steel & Spellfire by Laura E. Weymouth
  • Wicked Sea and Sky (Curse of Ever #1) by Jenna Collett
  • The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #1) by Brigitte Knightley
  • Pros Don’t (Fall in Love #4) by Leah Dobrinska
  • Lore of the Tides (Lore of the Wilds #2) by Analeigh Sbrana
  • [ARC] If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair
  • [ARC/ALC] Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker
  • Family of Liars (We Were Liars #2) by E. Lockhart
  • [Reread] Gilded Serpent (Dark Shores #3) by Danielle L. Jensen
  • Soulgazer (The Magpie and the Wolf Duology #1) by Maggie Rapier
  • Wandering Wild by Lynette Noni
  • Trial of Bronze and Blood (Bronze and Blood Saga #1) by M.K. Deoradhan
  • Keeper of the Lost Cities The Graphic Novel: Part 1 by Shannon Messenger
  • Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
  • [ARC/ALC] Falling Into Place by Allison Ashley
  • A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

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ALC Book Review: Soul of Shadow (Soul of Shadow #1) by Emma Noyes

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 352 pages
Author: Emma Noyes
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: July 29th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A thrilling Norse mythology inspired contemporary romantasy sure to excite fans of The Vampire Diaries and Atlas Six.

Charlie Hudson just wants to get through junior year. Since the death of her twin sister two years earlier, she’s drifted through life, going through the motions at school and parties and even at home. The spark that once burned so brightly within her has all but flickered out.

Until her classmate goes missing in the forest, leaving nothing behind but a pair of shoes and strange symbols carved into a tree.

Drawn to the disappearances by forces she can’t explain, she finds herself investigating the mysterious, alluring newcomer in town, Elias Everhart. With piercing eyes and sharp wit, he dances around her questions, only intriguing her further. Elias has a secret. More than one.

But what Charlie doesn’t know is that those secrets will lead her to a place she never a world hiding in plain sight, made of magic, gods, and monsters – and a first love fated to fall apart.

In Emma Noyes’s Soul of Shadow, truths and temptations lurk in the darkness, and for Charlie, the only thing more dangerous than facing her past, is the boy with the power to change her future.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GOSH DARN IT.

This is *my bad* for not reading the summary and realizing this was an urban fantasy. i can sometimes get past that fact when they are in another realm for long periods of time or it’s woven in well, buuuut I didn’t find that here. Charlie and her friends were written in such a manner that it came off as “trying too hard to be cool,” with vaping, drinking, partying, etc.

And this was pitched to me as a *shadow daddy* book (I don’t love that term) and I also don’t love that term referring to teens??? It all felt iffy.

I didn’t hit a hate reading level on this, just a sort of disconnect. The Norse gods were an intriguing aspect and I wish we’d have seen more of them (though maybe that’s a book two thing?? but this book didn’t convince me to read book two??).

It’s not poorly written by any means, it’s just not a book for me. I thought the audiobook narration was good too, so if you try it out, I do recommend that format.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Urban Fantasy Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: murder, kidnapping, loss of life

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Book Review: Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Length: 368 pages
Author: Kelly Andrew
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: April 2nd, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A seductively twisted romance about loyalty, fate, the lengths we go to hide the darkest parts of ourselves . . . and the people who love those parts most of all.

Wyatt Westlock has one plan for the farmhouse she’s just inherited — to burn it to the ground. But during her final walkthrough of her childhood home, she makes a shocking discovery in the basement — Peter, the boy she once considered her best friend, strung up in chains and left for dead.

Unbeknownst to Wyatt, Peter has suffered hundreds of ritualistic deaths on her family’s property. Semi-immortal, Peter never remains dead for long, but he can’t really live, either. Not while he’s bound to the farm, locked in a cycle of grisly deaths and painful rebirths. There’s only one way for him to break free. He needs to end the Westlock line.

He needs to kill Wyatt.

With Wyatt’s parents gone, the spells protecting the property have begun to unravel, and dark, ancient forces gather in the nearby forest. The only way for Wyatt to repair the wards is to work with Peter — the one person who knows how to harness her volatile magic. But how can she trust a boy who’s sworn an oath to destroy her? When the past turns up to haunt them in the most unexpected way, they are forced to rely on one another to survive, or else tear each other apart.

IT STARTED OFF STRONG.

I admit to being very intrigued at the get-go. It was an interesting story and I liked the set-up. I liked the characters and wanted to see how the plot would unfold. But then it started to feel like the wheels were coming off and by the end I had the biggest head tilt while listening trying to piece together the fragments of the closing pages.

This is some kind of mash up of urban fantasy + paranormal. There’s some puzzling dynamics between the three main leads that were fun to ponder for a bit. Some of the reveals were good, and some not so much. I think the confusion of the magic and the cult group lost me. It is definitely spooky and atmospheric though.

And without spoiling the ending I am left feeling bereft with the execution. It was supposed to be neat, but felt messy and then just rushed off into the sunset. I don’t know, this wasn’t it.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Fantasy
  • Language: low-moderate
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: high
  • Content Warnings: animal death, blood, cults, allusions to sexual assault, elements of body horror

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