Divine Rivals

Divine Rivals 

By Rebecca Ross 

Wednesday Books, 2023. 357 pages. Young Adult 

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But 18-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette, but she must best her rival, Roman Kitt. To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish. One day, an anonymously written letter appears through her wardrobe, and Iris begins a correspondence and connection with the mysterious writer. This connection will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle, and will change her life forever. 

In several ways I wasn’t sure what to make of this book. It’s kind of a steampunk fantasy, and while everyone discusses the battle between the rival gods, everyone also goes about their daily lives. This book definitely veered into romance territory, but brought everything back to the underlying story about the rival gods near the end. I enjoyed the journey, and the world-building felt well done by including bits and pieces throughout, rather than overwhelming the reader with heaps of backstory. Overall, I enjoyed it, and look forward to the continuation of the story in a sequel. 

 If you liked Divine Rivals, you might also like: 

Legendborn 

By Tracy Deonn 

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2020. 501 pages. Young Adult 

Wanting to escape her previous life after the accidental death of her mother, 16-year-old Bree enrolls in a program for high school students at the local university before her witness to a magical attack reveals her undiscovered powers as well as sinister truths about her mother’s death. 

Sorcery and Cecelia, or, The Enchanted Chocolate Pot 

By Patricia C. Wrede 

Harcourt, 2003. 316 pages. Young Adult 

In 1817 in England, two young cousins, Cecilia living in the country and Kate in London, write letters to keep each other informed of their exploits, which take a sinister turn when they find themselves confronted by evil wizards. 

ACS

Love & Resistance

Love & Resistance 

By Kara H. L. Chen 

Quill Tree Books, 2023. 339 pages. Young Adult 

Starting at a new school and having to stand up to infamous --and racist-- it-girl Mitzi Clarke, 17-year-old Taiwanese American teen Olivia Chang joins forces with a secret society of students to end Mitzi's reign of terror and their school's toxic bullying culture. 

I love Olivia as a character. She’s got a lot going on under the surface, but wants to blend into the background and not draw attention to herself. Relatable. I love that a group of self-proclaimed nerds takes her under their wing when she ends up in the cross hairs of the popular crowd. It really highlights how important a supportive and caring friend group is. There are a lot of heart-felt moments in this book as it blends romance, humor, and social issues, with varying degrees of success. That said, I really did enjoy it. If you enjoyed the movie Mean Girls, this is an easy recommendation. 

If you liked Love & Resistance, you might also like: 

We Deserve Monuments 

By Jas Hammonds 

Roaring Brook Press, 2022. 375 pages. Young Adult 

When 17-year-old Avery moves to rural Georgia to live with her ailing grandmother, she encounters decade-old family secrets and a mystery surrounding the town's racist past. 

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass 

By Meg Medina 

Candlewick Press, 2013. 260 pages. Young Adult 

Informed that a bully she does not know is determined to beat her up, Latin American teen Piddy Sanchez struggles to learn more about the father she has never met, until the bully's gang forces her to confront more difficult challenges. 

ACS

The Fragile Threads of Power

The Fragile Threads of Power

By V.E. Schwab

Tor Books, 2023. 416 pages. Fantasy

Once, there were four worlds, nestled like pages in a book, each pulsing with fantastical power, and connected by a single city: London. Until the magic grew too fast, and forced the worlds to seal the doors between them in a desperate gamble to protect their own. The few magicians who could still open the doors grew more rare as time passed and now, only three Antari are known in recent memory―Kell Maresh of Red London, Delilah Bard of Grey London, and Holland Vosijk, of White London.

But barely a glimpse of them have been seen in the last seven years―and a new Antari named Kosika has appeared in White London, taking the throne in Holland's absence. The young queen is willing to feed her city with blood, including her own―but her growing religious fervor has the potential to drown them instead.

And back in Red London, King Rhy Maresh is threatened by a rising rebellion, one determined to correct the balance of power by razing the throne entirely.

Amidst this tapestry of old friends and new enemies, a girl with an unusual magical ability comes into possession of a device that could change the fate of all four worlds.

Her name is Tes, and she's the only one who can bring them together―or unravel it all.

This book is the first of a new series set in Schwab's many Londons from her Darker Shades of Magic trilogy. Readers are reunited with spunky Lila Bard and longsuffering Kell, and additional main characters are added to the story. These new protagonists are intriguing and likable--and even more believable. This book did seem to gloss over the romance between two of the characters which might be disappointing for some readers; but, despite its lack of deep romantic tension, the plot and suspense drive it forward.

Those who enjoy reading gateway fantasy novels with court intrigue and suspense should pick up this one.

JJC

If you like The Fragile Threads of Power you might also like:

Ink Blood Sister Scribe

By Emma Törzs

William Morrow, 2023. 416 pages. Fiction

Two estranged half-sisters tasked with guarding their family's library of magical books must work together to unravel a deadly secret at the heart of their collection--a tale of familial loyalty and betrayal, and the pursuit of magic and power.

Ninth House

By Leigh Bardugo

Flatiron Books, 2019. 458 pages. Fantasy

Galaxy "Alex" Stern is the most unlikely member of Yale's freshman class. Raised in the Los Angeles hinterlands by a hippie mom, Alex dropped out of school early and into a world of shady drug-dealer boyfriends, dead-end jobs, and much, much worse. In fact, by age twenty, she is the sole survivor of a horrific, unsolved multiple homicide. Some might say she's thrown her life away. But at her hospital bed, Alex is offered a second chance: to attend one of the world's most prestigious universities on a full ride. What's the catch, and why her? Still searching for answers, Alex arrives in New Haven tasked by her mysterious benefactors with monitoring the activities of Yale's secret societies. Their eight windowless "tombs" are the well-known haunts of the rich and powerful, from high-ranking politicos to Wall Street's biggest players. But their occult activities are more sinister and more extraordinary than any paranoid imagination might conceive. They tamper with forbidden magic. They raise the dead. And, sometimes, they prey on the living.

One Dark Window

By Rachel Gillig

Orbit, 2022. 421 pages. Fantasy

Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom she calls home--she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets. But nothing comes for free, especially magic. When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure the kingdom of the dark magic infecting it. Except the highwayman just so happens to be the King's own nephew, Captain of the Destriers ... and guilty of high treason. He and Elspeth have until Solstice to gather twelve Providence Cards--the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly, darkly, taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich 
By Deya Muniz 

Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 235 pages. Young Adult Comics

Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert. But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she be able to keep her secret?

This is a funny, sweet, dare I say cheesy? romance.  I loved it.  While it has its’ laugh out loud parts, we also experience the turmoil that both Cam and Brie deal with as their friendship—and eventual romance—blossoms. This definitely has appeal for both Young Adult, and Adult audiences alike.  If you are looking for a feel-good fairytale story with manga-esque vibes (and if you love cheese!), I would snag this one in a heartbeat!

If you like The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, you might also like:

The Prince and the Dressmaker

By Jen Wang

First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press, 2018. 276 pages. Young Adult Comics

Prince Sebastian’s secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances—one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone’s secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend?

Mooncakes

By Suzanne Walker

Lion Forge, 2019. 256 pages. Young Adult Comics

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

RBL

The Sunbearer Trials

The Sunbearer Trials                                    
By Aiden Thomas
Feiwel and Friends, 2022. 405 pages. Young Adult Fiction

As each new decade begins, the Sun's power must be replenished so that Sol can keep traveling along the sky and keep the chaotic Obsidian gods at bay. Sol selects ten of the most worthy semidioses to compete in the Sunbearer Trials. Teo, a seventeen-year-old Jade semidiós and the trans son of the goddess of birds, isn't worried about the Trials . . . at least, not for himself. His best friend, Niya is a Gold semidiós and a shoo-in for the Trials, and while he trusts her abilities, the odds of becoming the sacrifice is one-in-ten. But then, for the first time in over a century, the impossible happens. Sol chooses not one, but two Jade competitors. Teo, and Xio, the thirteen-year-old child of the god of bad luck. Now they must compete in five trials against Gold opponents who are more powerful and better trained. Worst of all, Teo's annoyingly handsome ex-best friend and famous semidiós Hero, Aurelio is favored to win. Teo is determined to get himself and his friends through the trials unscathed--for fame, glory, and their own survival.

Allow me to be sappy for a moment and say that the LGBTQIA+ representation in this book was the best I've seen so far. In this world Thomas removed the concept of fear and shame surrounding sexuality and gender completely. In doing so, he strips away the coming-out and the trauma usually found in stories about these characters and instead gives us a celebration of queer joy even amidst the suspenseful events of the book. Which brings us back to the actual story. The world building was also beautiful and left me wishing these were real places I could go visit. After introducing our main character and providing some background the pace picks up and I promise you won't want to put it down. The high stakes combined with well-written characters provides the perfect amount of suspense. I personally loved watching the characters develop throughout the trials. It was as if the author was peeling off a film, layer by layer, allowing us to understand the characters more clearly each time. Overall, this book was reminiscent of the Hunger Games but with a vibe that had much more color and light.

If you like The Sunbearer Trials, you might also like: 

Godly Heathens

By H.E. Edgmon

Wednesday Books, 2023. 388 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Gem Echols is a nonbinary Seminole teen living in the tiny town of Gracie, Georgia. Known for being their peers' queer awakening, Gem leans hard on charm to disguise the anxious mess they are beneath. The only person privy to their authentic self is another trans kid, Enzo, who's a thousand long, painful miles away in Brooklyn. But even Enzo doesn't know about Gem's dreams, haunting visions of magic and violence that have always felt too real. So how the hell does Willa Mae Hardy? The strange new girl in town acts like she and Gem are old companions, and seems to know things about them they've never told anyone else. When Gem is attacked by a stranger claiming to be the Goddess of Death, Willa Mae saves their life and finally offers some answers. She and Gem are reincarnated gods who've known and loved each other across lifetimes. But Gem - or at least who Gem used to be - hasn't always been the most benevolent deity. They've made a lot of enemies in the pantheon--enemies who, like the Goddess of Death, will keep coming.

All of Us Villains

By Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman

Tor Teen, 2021. 386 pages. Young Adult Fiction

The Blood Moon rises. The Blood Veil falls. The Tournament begins.
Every generation, at the coming of the Blood Moon, seven families in the remote city of Ilvernath each name a champion to compete in a tournament to the death. The prize? Exclusive control over a secret wellspring of high magick, the most powerful resource in the world--one thought long depleted. But this year a scandalous tell-all book has exposed the tournament and thrust the seven new champions into the worldwide spotlight. The book also granted them valuable information previous champions never had--insight into the other families' strategies, secrets, and weaknesses. And most important, it gave them a choice: accept their fate or rewrite their legacy. Either way, this is a story that must be penned in blood.

KJ

Artifacts of an Ex

Artifacts of an Ex

by Jennifer Chen

Wednesday Books, 2023. 277 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Chloe and her family move from New York to Los Angeles to be with her Taiwanese grandmother who has dementia. Shortly thereafter, Chloe’s boyfriend Jake dumps her by sending her a breakup box full of things from their relationship. Chloe takes her heartbreak and curates a collaborative art exhibit inspired by other teens’ break ups. Then she meets the amazing teen filmmaker Daniel with whom she feels an instant connection. But Chloe's unresolved feelings from her former relationship and Daniel's fear of being a rebound (for the sixth time) hinder their romantic prospects and leads Chloe on a journey to rediscover love and prove to Daniel she is ready for a genuine connection.

This is a richly detailed, engaging debut that is really a love letter to Los Angeles and multi-generational families, and not just a delightful teen romance.  The city is a character all itself. There is really strong sense of place. Chloe’s talent at curating is an interesting layer in this multi-layered story. I love how she sees where the light falls, how spaces flow, and how objects relate to one another. I was also deeply touched by the family drama that was going on in the background of the story. Chloe and her parents love her Ammah (grandmother) fiercely and try to help her as she descends in to dementia. And, of course, there is the uncertain new love that Chloe and Danial must navigate in teenager fashion—full of insecurity and angst. This book is for you if you love Jenny Han’s To All the Boys series.

If you liked Artifacts of an Ex, you may also like:

Once Upon a K-Prom

by Kat Cho

Hyperion, 2022. 329 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Instead of going to prom, seventeen-year-old Elena Soo wants to spend her time saving the local community center, and she is determined to keep her priorities straight even when her childhood best friend--who is now a K-pop superstar--returns to make good on their old pact to go to prom together.

This Time It’s Real

by Ann Liang

Scholastic Press, 2023. 337 pages. Young Adult Fiction

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin's entirely fictional essay about meeting her perfect boyfriend goes viral at her international school in Beijing, she has to make a deal with the handsome and charming Caz Song to play the part--but when the relationship starts to feel real all her career plans are suddenly threatened.

XOXO

by Axie Oh

Harper Teen, 2021. 337 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Cello prodigy Jenny's goal is to get into a prestigious music conservatory. When she meets Jaewoo in her uncle's Los Angeles karaoke bar, it's clear he is the kind of boy who would uproot her careful plans. In a moment of spontaneity, she allows him to pull her out of her comfort zone for one unforgettable night of adventure-- before he disappears without a word. Three months later, when Jenny and her mother arrive in South Korea to take care of her ailing grandmother, she is shocked to discover that Jaewoo is a student at the same elite arts academy where she's enrolled for the semester. He is a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world-- and he is strictly forbidden from dating. Just how much is Jenny willing to risk for love?

AG

A Mortal Bane

A Mortal Bane

By Roberta Gellis

Forge, 1999. 350 pages. Mystery.

In 12th-century London, the Bishop of Winchester, head of St. Mary Overy Church, has made a most unusual pact with Magdalene la Batarde, a widow who rents from him the church's Old Priory Guesthouse next door. There she runs a quiet, elegant whorehouse whose staff includes blind Sabina, slightly simple Ella, mute Letice, and deaf cook Dulcie. Magdalene no longer plies her trade, but a steady, wealthy clientele keeps the house prosperous. Onto this peaceful scene comes a handsome stranger by misdirection, who turns out to be papal messenger Baldassare de Firenze. In the very early morning he's found, stabbed to death, on the porch of the church next door, and the fanatically pure Sacristan Paulinus accuses the women of murder. The Bishop of Winchester appoints Sir Bellamy of Itchen (more often called Bell), his right-hand man, to investigate the killing and to find the pouch the dead man was carrying. Sir Bellamy and Magdalene put their differences aside to investigate this intriguing murder together. 

This is an interesting premise, especially with a genteel whorehouse filled women who are blind, deaf and dumb. But there are wonderful details on clothing, expressions and details of medieval London that make this a delightful story to read. The mystery itself is wrapped up in the politics of the time, and Gellis takes you into her confidence, as though taking you on a tour of England at that time. I recommend this intriguing historical mystery. 

If you liked A Mortal Bane, you might also like: 

The Holy Thief 

By Ellis Peters

Mysterious Press, 1992. 246 pages. Mystery

In the chill, rainy autumn of 1144, two groups of visitors seek the hospitality of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul, and Brother Cadfael fears trouble has come in with them. Among the first arrivals is Brother Tutilo, a young Benedictine with a guileless face and—to Brother Cadfael’s shrewd eyes—a mischievous intelligence. The second group, a ribald French troubadour, his servant, and a girl with the voice of an angel, seems to Brother Cadfael a catalyst for disaster. All of Cadfael’s fears become manifest as rising floodwaters endanger the abbey’s most sacred relic, the remains of Saint Winifred. When the bones disappear and a dead body is found, Brother Cadfael knows carnal and spiritual intrigues are afoot. Now, in a world that believes in signs and miracles, Brother Cadfael needs his prayers answered—as well as some heavenly guidance to crucial clues—to catch a killer hell-bent on murder.

The Siege Winter

By Ariana Franklin

Harper Collins 2015. 352 pages. Fiction

1141. England is engulfed in war as King Stephen and his cousin, the Empress Matilda, vie for the crown. In this dangerous world, not even Emma, an eleven-year-old peasant, is safe. A depraved monk obsessed with redheads kidnaps the ginger-haired girl from her village and leaves her for dead. When an archer for hire named Gwyl finds her, she has no memory of her previous life. Unable to abandon her, Gwyl takes the girl with him, dressing her as a boy, giving her a new name--Penda--and teaching her to use a bow. But Gwyn knows that the man who hurt Penda roams free, and that a scrap of evidence she possesses could be very valuable. Gwyl and Penda make their way to Kenilworth, a small but strategically important fortress that belongs to fifteen-year-old Maud. Newly wedded to a boorish and much older husband after her father's death, the fierce and determined young chatelaine tempts fate and Stephen's murderous wrath when she gives shelter to the empress. Aided by a garrison of mercenaries, including Gwyl and his odd red-headed apprentice, Maud will stave off Stephen's siege for a long, brutal winter that will bring a host of visitors to Kenilworth--kings, soldiers . . . and a sinister monk with deadly business to finish.

MGB

My Darling Girl

My Darling Girl 

By Jennifer McMahon 

Scout Press, 2023. 308 pages. Fiction 

Alison has never been a fan of Christmas. But with it right around the corner and her husband busily decorating their cozy Vermont home, she has no choice but to face it. Then she gets the call. Mavis, Alison's estranged mother, has been diagnosed with cancer and has only weeks to live. She wants to spend her remaining days with her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. But Alison grew up with her mother's alcoholism and violent abuse and is reluctant to unearth these traumatic memories. Still, she eventually agrees to take in Mavis, hoping that she and her mother could finally heal and have the relationship she's always dreamed of. But when mysterious and otherworldly things start happening upon Mavis's arrival, Alison begins to suspect her mother is not quite who she seems. And as the holiday festivities turn into a nightmare, she must confront just how far she is willing to go to protect her family. 

If you’re looking to read something a little more frightening this holiday season, look no further than My Darling Girl. In typical Jennifer McMahon fashion, this book is a dark and twisty psychological thriller. It takes the relatable storyline of children caregiving for their parents and completely turns it on its head with strained relationships and something far more sinister, perhaps demonic. It’s an eerie book that gets under your skin, something Jennifer McMahon has succeeded in doing time and time again. While it was festive to read this book under the Christmas tree lights, I recommend keeping the lights on, so you don’t get too scared! 

If you liked My Darling Girl, you might also like: 

Midnight is the Darkest Hour 

By Ashley Winstead

Sourcebooks Landmark, 2023. 385 pages. Fiction

In her small hometown, librarian Ruth Cornier has always felt like an outsider, even as her beloved father rains fire-and-brimstone warnings from the pulpit at Holy Fire Baptist. Unfortunately for Ruth, the only things the townspeople fear more than the God and the Devil are the myths that haunt the area, like the story of the Low Man, a vampiric figure said to steal into sinners' bedrooms and kill them on moonless nights. When a skull is found deep in the swamp next to mysterious carved symbols, Bottom Springs is thrown into uproar and Ruth realizes only she and Everett, an old friend with a dark past, have the power to comb the town's secret underbelly in search of true evil.

The September House 

By Carissa Orlando 

Berkeley, 2023. 344 pages. Fiction

You can survive anything. That's what Margaret tells herself when the walls of her house start to drip blood every September. She's learned how to live with it and the other terrifying apparitions that have made the sprawling Victorian house she and her husband bought four years ago turn from a dream home into a living nightmare. But she can outlast all of it. Hal felt differently, though. Her husband couldn't take the hauntings anymore, and he left. But now he's not returning calls, and their daughter Katherine arrives, intent on looking for her missing father, convinced something grim has happened to him. With every desperate attempt Katherine makes at finding Hal, the hauntings at the September House grow more harrowing, because there are some secrets the house needs to keep.

BW

Star Splitter

Star Splitter 

By Matthew J. Kirby 

Dutton Books, 2023. 305 pages. Young Adult 

2199. Deep-space exploration is a reality and teleportation is routine. But this time something seems to have gone very, very wrong. Seventeen-year-old Jessica Mathers wakes up in a lander that's crashed onto the surface of Carver 1061c, a desolate, post-extinction planet 14 light-years from Earth. The planet she was supposed to be viewing from a ship orbiting far above. The corridors of the empty lander are covered in bloody hand prints; the machines are silent and dark. And outside, in the alien dirt, there are fresh graves carefully marked with names she doesn't recognize. Now Jessica must unravel the mystery of the destruction all around her--and the questionable intentions of a familiar stranger. 

Lately I’ve been having a hard time getting sucked into the books I’m reading, but this one broke that streak. Right from the outset it was hard to set down, and when I had to put it down I could hardly wait to get back to it. The author did a great job of creating a creepy, futuristic world without bogging the reader down in excessive details. I also loved the ideas it provoked regarding what makes you, you. In this world, teleportation is basically scanning the body and “printing” it in the new location, with the original body getting destroyed. Generally, this works flawlessly, but what if the file gets corrupted? I really loved this book, and will easily recommend it for anyone who enjoys YA sci-fi. 

If you liked Star Splitter, you might also like: 

Aurora Rising

By Amie Kaufman 

Alfred A. Knopf, 2019. 470 pages. Young Adult 

Relegated by a misguided act of heroism to a squad comprised of his school's hopeless misfits, a graduating cadet in a 24th-century space academy rescues a centuries-hibernating girl from interdimensional space only to be swept up in an interstellar war millions of years in the making. 

Pitch Dark

By Courtney Alameda 

Feiwel and Friends, 2017. 378 pages. Young Adult 

A boy who has been in stasis aboard a ship preserving Earth's most valued artifacts and a girl from a shipraiding family who is hired to steal the ship's invaluable cargo become unexpected allies in a battle against invading aliens who use sound to kill. 

ACS

The Weight of Blood

The Weight of Blood
By Tiffany D. Jackson
Katherine Tegen Books, 2022. 406 pages. Young Adult Fiction

When Springville residents -- at least, the ones still alive -- are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation...Maddy did it. An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. She's dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father. After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High's racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to change their image: host the school's first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it's possible to have a normal life. But some of her classmates aren't done with her just yet. And what they don't now is that Maddy still has another secret...one that will cost them all their lives.

Wow. This book kept me turning pages far past my bedtime. Tiffany D. Jackson is able to ramp up horror, with a nod to Stephen King's Carrie, and also tackle America's history and legacy of racism at the same time. The anti-Blackness in the small, Georgia town is almost one of the characters in the book itself; the weight of it is palpable on each page. The reader aches for Maddy from the very start of the story, as the severity of the bullying and racism unfolds. This book could stand alone as a horror novel, but taken together with its deep dive into the genuine horror of internalized and externalized anti-Blackness, it is absolutely un-put-down-able. 

If you like The Weight of Blood, you might also like:

Burn Down, Rise Up
By Vincent Tirado
Sourcebooks Fire, 2022. 338 pages. Young Adult Fiction

When an urban legend rumored to trap people inside the subway tunnels seems to be behind mysterious disappearances in the Bronx, sixteen-year-old Raquel and her friends team up to save their city--and confront a dark episode in its history in the process.

The Taking of Jake Livingston
By Ryan Douglass
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021. 244 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Jake Livingston is one of the few Black kids at St. Clair Prep, one of the others being his infinitely more popular older brother. To make matters worse and definitely more complicated, Jake can see the dead. In fact, he see the dead around him all the time. Most are harmless: stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they don't often interact with people. But Sawyer was a troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school last year before taking his own life. Now a powerful, vengeful ghost, he has plans for his afterlife--plans that include Jake.

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight
By Kalynn Bayron
Bloomsbury, 2023. 230 pages. Young Adult Fiction

Charity Curtis has the summer job of her dreams, playing the "final girl" at Camp Mirror Lake. Guests pay to be scared in this full-contact terror game, as Charity and her summer crew recreate scenes from a classic slasher film, Curse of Camp Mirror Lake. The more realistic the fear, the better for business. But the last weekend of the season, Charity's co-workers begin disappearing. And when one ends up dead, Charity's role as the final girl suddenly becomes all too real. If Charity and her girlfriend Bezi hope to survive the night, they'll need to figure out what this killer is after. Is there more to the story of Mirror Lake and its danger past than Charity ever suspected?

LKA

Canción de Navidad

Canción de Navidad
Por Charles Dickens
JM Ediciones, 1999. 123 páginas. Ficción

Ebenezer Scrooge es un hombre avaro y egoísta, sarcástico y huraño con sus pocos seres allegados. La víspera de Navidad, el fantasma de su antiguo socio Jacob Marley se le manifiesta, provocando una serie de apariciones de los fantasmas de las Navidades pasadas, presentes y futuras, que despertarán emociones en el protagonista que parecían olvidadas. Scrooge aprende el verdadero significado de la Navidad por las fantasmas que le visitan para analizar su pasado y predecir su futuro.

Si le gusta «Canción de Navidad» le recomendamos:

Buscando a Papá Noel
Por Richard Paul Evans

Umbriel Editores, 2010. 344 páginas. Ficción

Se supone que la Navidad es una época llena de alegría. Pero la vida ha sido dura para Mark Smart: tuvo que dejar de estudiar, su madre murió en un accidente, su novia lo abandonó, y ahora, en plena nevada, su coche ha dejado de funcionar. A duras penas consigue llegar a una cafetería en busca de un teléfono. Pero lo que encuentra, en cambio, es a una hermosa joven que, a través de un simple acto de amabilidad, cambia su vida para siempre.

Macy no recuerda casi nada de sus verdaderos padres y del hogar donde nació. Un adorno navideño con la palabra "Noel" es la única pista que tiene para localizar a su hermanita perdida, y ahora Mark, este extraño que aparece en medio de una tormenta de nieve, parece estar dispuesto a ayudarla...

Fiestas Dulces
Por Patricia Arribálzaga

Boutique de Ideas, 2015. 191 páginas. No Ficción

Tortas, cupcakes, cookies y deliciosos postres con un encanto irresistible para celebrar desde fiestas tradicionales como Navidad, Halloween o San Valentín hasta una boda o una cena elegante. La famosa pastelera Patricia Arribálzaga te propone recetas exquisitas e innovadoras y decoraciones espectaculares con su inigualable estilo para que tus fiestas sean inolvidables.

40 Días de Navidad

Por Joseph Lee Castleberry

BroadStreet Publishing Group, 2019. 129 páginas. No Ficción

¿Encuentra su atención consumida por las presiones de la temporada navideña con cosas como: tomar la foto perfecta para la tarjeta de Navidad, hallar el regalo perfecto, servir la comida perfecta o crear la experiencia perfecta para su familia? Es muy fácil perder de vista lo más importante.

Con pasajes de las Escrituras para cada día, lecturas inspiradoras y oraciones edificantes, 40 días de Navidad es un devocional diseñado para ayudarle a disfrutar tres de las temporadas tradicionales del calendario eclesiástico. Prepare su corazón durante el Adviento, regocíjese por el nacimiento de Cristo en Navidad y manifieste Su luz en la Epifanía.


MEB

Labels: Español, MEB, No Ficción, Ficción, Ficción Historico, Religion, Libros de Cocina

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

by Shannon Chakraborty

Harper Voyager, 2023. 482 pages. Fantasy

 

After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean's most notorious pirates, Amina al-Sirafi has survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon, and has retired peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural. But when she's tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she's offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade's kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family's future forever? Such an obvious choice must be God's will. Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there's more to this job, and the girl's disappearance, than she was led to believe.

If you're looking for an excellent combination of adventure on the high seas and a hint of magic, look no further. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is a great new take on the genre, featuring a middle-aged Muslim-Indian woman who is also a pirate. The magical adventures Amina and her crew encounter add an otherworldly quality to this story that pulls the reader in and keeps them wondering what will happen next. While this makes for a fun, escapist read, I also appreciated that one theme of the book was the juxtaposition between Amina's love for her daughter and desire to protect her family and the pull of her former life of adventuring. 

I listened to this book in audiobook format, and I loved the excellent narration. The book is told in a conversational style, as Amina tells a scribe her life story. There are asides by the scribe and by Amina as they argue whether Amina's tale is entirely true. This is the first book in a planned trilogy, and I can't wait to see where Amina will travel next.

If you like The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi you might also like:

The Stardust Thief

by Chelsea Abdullah

Orbit, 2022. 467 pages. Fantasy

Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land—at the cost of sacrificing all jinn. With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan's oldest son to find the artifact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen, and confront a malicious killer from Loulie's past. And, in a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything—her enemy, her magic, even her own past—is not what it seems, and she must decide who she will become in this new reality.

The Poppy War

by R.F. Kuang

Harper Voyager, 2018, 530 pages. Fantasy

Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

Tress of the Emerald Sea

by Brandon Sanderson

Tor, 2023. 369 pages. Fantasy

The only life Tress has known on her island home in an emerald-green ocean has been a simple one, with the simple pleasures of collecting cups brought by sailors from faraway lands and listening to stories told by her friend Charlie. But when his father takes him on a voyage to find a bride and disaster strikes, Tress must stow away on a ship and seek the Sorceress of the deadly Midnight Sea. Amid the spore oceans where pirates abound, can Tress leave her simple life behind and make her own place sailing a sea where a single drop of water can mean instant death?

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