Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

“All sorcerers are evil. Elisabeth has known that as long as she has known anything. Raised as a foundling in one of Austermeer’s Great Libraries, Elisabeth has grown up among the tools of sorcery—magical grimoires that whisper on shelves and rattle beneath iron chains. If provoked, they transform into grotesque monsters of ink and leather. She hopes to become a warden, charged with protecting the kingdom from their power.

Then an act of sabotage releases the library’s most dangerous grimoire. Elisabeth’s desperate intervention implicates her in the crime, and she is torn from her home to face justice in the capital. With no one to turn to but her sworn enemy, the sorcerer Nathaniel Thorn, and his mysterious demonic servant, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old conspiracy. Not only could the Great Libraries go up in flames, but the world along with them.

As her alliance with Nathaniel grows stronger, Elisabeth starts to question everything she’s been taught—about sorcerers, about the libraries she loves, even about herself. For Elisabeth has a power she has never guessed, and a future she could never have imagined.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I was so excited to read this title! Who wouldn't want to read about books and libraries set in a fantasy world?. Every review I have read about this book raved about how good it was and I was not disappointed. Our main character, Elisabeth Scrivener, such a cool name for a librarian, has spent her entire life within the walls of the library of Summershall. An orphan, Elisabeth dreams of becoming a warden and protecting the world from grimoires. In this book, grimoires are living, breathing and dangerous things.

Besides books and libraries, this book is about acceptance ignoring stereotypes, and how strong non-romantic love can be. This is a stand-alone novel that is easily one of my favorite reads of 2019. 

Visit Margaret Rogerson’s website.

Ghosts of the Shadow Market by Cassandra Clare, etc. (Books 1 -10)

“The Shadow Market is a meeting point for faeries, werewolves, warlocks and vampires. There the Downworlders buy and sell magical objects, make dark bargains, and whisper secrets they do not want the Nephilim to know. Through two centuries, however, there has been a frequent visitor to the Shadow Market from the City of Bones, the very heart of the Shadowhunters. As a Silent Brother, Brother Zachariah is sworn keeper of the laws and lore of the Nephilim. But once he was a Shadowhunter called Jem Carstairs, and his love, then and always, is the warlock Tessa Gray.

Follow Brother Zachariah and see, against the backdrop of the Shadow Market’s dark dealings and festive celebrations, Anna Lightwood’s first romance, Matthew Fairchild’s great sin and Tessa Gray plunged into a world war. Valentine Morgenstern buys a soul at the Market and a young Jace Wayland’s soul finds safe harbor. In the Market is hidden a lost heir and a beloved ghost, and no one can save you once you have traded away your heart. Not even Brother Zachariah…” - taken from Goodreads.com

One word of warning here. To prevent spoilers, please read Queen of Air and Darkness first, especially before you read the last two stories. Needless to say, I am going to be anxiously awaiting the continuation of Kit Herondale’s story in the Wicked Powers trilogy but will be eager to the first book in the Last Hours trilogy, Chain of Gold out on March 3, 2020.

Visit Cassandra Clare’s website.

Mera: Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige

"Tidebreaker is a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera's first steps on land as well as her first steps as a hero or a villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.

Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade? "- taken from Goodreads.com

So. I’ve not seen the movie Aquaman but I really enjoyed reading this graphic novel version about their origin story. I feel like my high school students who are into superheroes will love this book.

The Queen's Resistance by Rebecca Ross (The Queen's Rising book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, The Queen’s Rising, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“Finally, Brienna is a mistress of knowledge and is settling into her role as the daughter of Davin MacQuinn, a disgraced lord who returned to Maevana to reclaim his house. Though she’d just survived a revolution, one that will finally return a queen to the throne, she faces another difficult challenge. She must prove herself trustworthy to the MacQuinns. But as Queen Isolde Kavanagh’s closest confidant, she’ll have to balance serving her father’s house as well as her country. And then there’s Cartier, a wholly separate but desirable factor in her new life.

Aodhan Morgane, formerly known as Cartier Évariste, is adjusting to the stark contrast between his pre-rebellion life in Valenia as a master of knowledge and his current one as the lord of a fallen house. During his castle’s restoration, he discovers a ten-year-old boy named Tomas, whose past and parentage are a complete mystery. So when Cartier’s former pupil Brienna is as taken with Tomas as he is, he lets his mind wander—what if he doesn’t have to raise him or his house alone?

As the Lannon trial rapidly approaches, Brienna and Cartier must put their feelings aside to concentrate on forging alliances, executing justice, and ensuring that no one interferes with the queen’s coronation. But resistance is rumbling among the old regime’s supporters, who are desperate to find a weakness in the rebels’ forces. And nothing makes a person more vulnerable than deep-seated love.” - taken from Goodreads.com

WOW! I loved The Queen’s Rising and was super excited to learn that Brienna’s story would be continuing. What I wasn’t expecting was to love the second book even more. Brienna’s story really amps up as she and her friends and family try to rebuild their lives and place Isolde on the throne. Never an easy path, many shocking twists and turns occur along the way to a satisfying ending.

Visit Rebecca Ross’ website.

Hope and Other Punchlines by Julie Buxbaum

“Sometimes looking to the past helps you find your future.

Abbi Hope Goldstein is like every other teenager, with a few smallish exceptions: her famous alter ego, Baby Hope, is the subject of internet memes, she has asthma, and sometimes people spontaneously burst into tears when they recognize her. Abbi has lived almost her entire life in the shadow of the terrorist attacks of September 11. On that fateful day, she was captured in what became an iconic photograph: in the picture, Abbi (aka "Baby Hope") wears a birthday crown and grasps a red balloon; just behind her, the South Tower of the World Trade Center is collapsing.

Now, fifteen years later, Abbi is desperate for anonymity and decides to spend the summer before her seventeenth birthday incognito as a counselor at Knights Day Camp two towns away. She's psyched for eight weeks in the company of four-year-olds, none of whom have ever heard of Baby Hope.

Too bad Noah Stern, whose own world was irrevocably shattered on that terrible day, has a similar summer plan. Noah believes his meeting Baby Hope is fate. Abbi is sure it's a disaster. Soon, though, the two team up to ask difficult questions about the history behind the Baby Hope photo. But is either of them ready to hear the answers?” - taken from Goodreads.com

This is not your usual Julie Buxbaum story. Our main characters, Abbi and Noah, were both affected by the events of September 11, 2001. We immediately know Abbi’s story but slowly discovers Noah’s connection to 9/11 along with abbi. Not an easy subject to read about but the author handles it with the utmost compassion. Readers are left on the edge of their seats to see how Abbi’s story turns out and will be heartbroken along with Noah when he discovers the truth. An excellent book for fans of the author.

Visit Julie Buxbaum’s website.

Finale by Stephanie Garber (Caraval book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Caraval, and Legendary, Stop! I don’t want to ruin a great story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first two books.

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first two books.

“A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…” - taken from Goodreads.com

Finale lives up to its title. The “true” ending to the Caraval trilogy was everything I had hoped for and more. Scarlett and Tella’s stories merge in this book as they discover themselves and the truth and their pasts and their mother. Readers also get insight into who Legend is and what makes him tick. An excellent end to a great story. Definitely worth the read!

Visit Stephanie Garber’s website.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber (Caraval book 2)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first book in the series, Caraval, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Check out Book Series Recaps for a refresher of the first book. 

Please visit the Recaptains blog if you need a refresher of the first book.

“A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Book one, Caraval, begins our story with the adventures of Scarlett Dragna and her playing the game of Caraval. Legendary picks up immediately following the end of the first book. Readers will remember that book one concluded with a letter to Donatella sent to her by “A Friend. “ This letter's contents and the bargain Tella owes make up the storyline of Legendary. With more mysteries, shocking revelations, and a cliffhanger ending, I'm glad that I waited a year to finally read this book so that I am able to jump right into the third and final book, Finale.

Visit Stephanie Garber’s website.