So, This is Christmas by Tracy Andreen

 

“When Finley Brown returned to her hometown of Christmas, Oklahoma, from boarding school, she expected to find it just as she left it. Christmas hasn't changed much in her sixteen years. But instead she returns to find that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend, her parents have separated, and her archnemesis got a job working at her grandmother's inn. And she certainly didn't expect to find the boy she may or may not have tricked into believing that Christmas was an idyllic holiday paradise on her grandmother's doorstep. It's up to Finley to make sure he gets the Christmas he was promised. This is Finley's Christmas. It's about home and family and friends and finding her place, and along the way she also finds the best Christmas present of all: love.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book turned out to be the perfect brain break that I needed just before Christmas break. Finley doesn't fit in at her exclusive boarding school and is contemplating coming back home to Christmas, Oklahoma. Securing a flight home, she is shocked to arrive home and find that her parents are separated. Even worse, one of her classmates Arthur has brought his aunt with him to celebrate Christmas and Christmas. They decided to visit based on the town's website that Finley secretly embellished to impress her new classmates.

The hilarity and soul searching that Finley encounters on her trip home is a cross between a Hallmark movie and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. A definite hit.

Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (The Aurora Cycle book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, Aurora Rising and Aurora Burning, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

Please visit the Book Series Recaps if you need a refresher of the first book.

“Is this the end?

What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases, and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course.

Wait. . . . Not. So. Fast.

When we last saw Squad 312, they working together seamlessly (aka, freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally.

But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the te4am has one last chance to rewrite theirs. Maybe two. It's complicated.

Cue Zila, Fin, and Scarlett (and MAGELLAN!): making friends, making enemies, and making history? Sure, no problem

Cue Tyler, Kal, and Auri: uniting with two of the galaxy’s most hated villains? Um, okay. That, too.

Actually saving the galaxy, though?

Now that will take a miracle.” - taken from Goodreads.com

For me, too much time had passed between the publication of the second and third books in this trilogy. The beginning of this book seemed to take a while for the storylines to converge onto one path. Our characters are literally scattered throughout time and space but once I saw where the story was going, I was hooked. Definitely a satisfying conclusion to his trilogy. 

Visit Amie Kaufman’s website.

Visit Jay Kristoff’s website.

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

“Ivy, Mateo, and Cal used to be close. Now all they have in common is Carlton High and the beginning of a very bad day.

Type A Ivy lost a student council election to the class clown, and now she has to face the school, humiliated. Heartthrob Mateo is burned out--he's been working two jobs since his family's business failed. And outsider Cal just got stood up.... again.

So when Cal pulls into campus late for class and runs into Ivy and Mateo, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn a bad day around. They'll ditch and go into the city. Just the three of them, like old times. Except they've barely left the parking lot before they run out of things to say...

Until they spot another Carlton High student skipping school--and follow him to the scene of his own murder. In one chance move, their day turns from dull to deadly. And it's about to get worse.

It turns out Ivy, Mateo, and Cal still have some things in common. They all have a connection to the dead kid. And they're all hiding something.

Now they're all wondering--could it be that their chance reconnection wasn't by chance after all?” - taken from Goodreads.com

Karen McManus’ latest mystery takes place over the course of one action-filled day. Cal, Ivy, and Mateo were inseparable in middle school after sneaking out during a field trip. Their friendship has been non-existent since the beginning of high school. On the morning after Ivy losses the student council president election after holding office for the previous three years, she is devastated. Seeing Cal and Mateo in the parking lot before school, Ivy and the boys decide to skip school and recreate that day of adventure from the middle school field trip.

Things go downhill fast as the three discover a dead body and uncover a drug ring in their hometown. With each one keeping secrets from one another, it's not long before they are in a race for their lives to uncover who is the mastermind before one of them is next. I wasn’t sure where the author was going with the ending until the rug is pulled out from your feet.

Visit Karen M. McManus’ website.

Our Violent Ends by Chloe Gong (These Violent Delights book 2)

 

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

Check out Riveted if you need a recap of the first book. 

“The year is 1927, and Shanghai teeters on the edge of revolution.

After sacrificing her relationship with Roma to protect him from the blood feud, Juliette has been a girl on the warpath. One wrong move, and her cousin will step in to usurp her place as the Scarlet Gang’s heir. The only way to save the boy she loves from the wrath of the Scarlets is to have him want her dead for murdering his best friend in cold blood. If Juliette were actually guilty of the crime Roma believes she committed, his rejection might sting less.

Roma is still reeling from Marshall’s death, and his cousin Benedikt will barely speak to him. Roma knows it’s his fault for letting the ruthless Juliette back into his life, and he’s determined to set things right—even if that means killing the girl he hates and loves with equal measure.

Then a new monstrous danger emerges in the city, and though secrets keep them apart, Juliette must secure Roma’s cooperation if they are to end this threat once and for all. Shanghai is already at a boiling point: The Nationalists are marching in, whispers of civil war brew louder every day, and gangster rule faces complete annihilation. Roma and Juliette must put aside their differences to combat monsters and politics, but they aren’t prepared for the biggest threat of all: protecting their hearts from each other.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Juliette and Roma ended things badly between the two of them at the end of the first book. Juliette bears a heavy secret and the monster of Shanghai has returned to wreak havoc. The two are thrown together by feuding fathers to work together to uncover this new threat. Soon, the two grow closer as they try to save their city from the coming war.

This book focuses more on the historical aspect of the time period with tensions bubbling over between the Nationalists and the Communists. Even though I still hold out hope for a different ending, I am excited to see what this author writes next.

Visit Chloe Gong’s website.

Slay by Brittany Morris

“By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only Black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of Black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the "downfall of the Black man."

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for "anti-white discrimination."

Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically Black in a world intimidated by Blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process?”

I picked up the audio version of this book on a whim completely unprepared for what the story entailed. Kiera Johnson is one of the few Black students at her high school, along with her sister Stephanie and her boyfriend Malcolm. Outside of school, Kiera has created an online gaming universe where Blacks from around the world can play without facing discrimination that is sometimes found in other role-playing games. No one knows about Keira's role in the creation of SLAY.

When a teenager is murdered in his own home over SLAY, the world begins to take notice of the game. Faced with the fact that her identity may be revealed and possible repercussions for the murder, Kiera has no one to turn to, especially when a new player to SLAY is determined to destroy the game.

This book hit me with all the feels and the identity of Dred Scott blew me away. An excellent read!

Visit Brittany Morris’ website.

 

What’s Not to Love by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

 

“In the game of love, there’s always extra credit.”

“Since high school began, Alison Sanger and Ethan Molloy have competed on almost everything. AP classes, the school paper, community service, it never ends. If Alison could avoid Ethan until graduation, she would. Except, naturally, for two over-achieving seniors with their sights on valedictorian and Harvard, they share all the same classes and extracurriculars. So when their school’s principal assigns them the task of co-planning a previous class’s ten-year reunion, with the promise of a recommendation for Harvard if they do, Ethan and Alison are willing to endure one more activity together if it means beating the other out of the lead.

But with all this extra time spent in each other’s company, their rivalry begins to feel closer to friendship. And as tension between them builds, Alison fights the growing realization that the only thing she wants more than winning…is Ethan.”  - taken from Goodreads.com

This author duo keeps getting better with each new book. Alison and Ethan are cutthroat competitors for everything academic at their school, whether it be for valedictorian or an acceptance to Harvard University. Teachers and classmates alike are wary of the constant one-upmanship between the two of them. Tensions between the two soon boil over when the principal assigns them to plan a 10-year reunion for a former class at the school. Soon, Alison and Ethan realize that there is more to their relationship than the competition but, can the rivalry be set aside for a chance at love? 

Fans will appreciate the glimpse of Fitz and Juniper from Time of Our Lives.

Visit Emily & Austin’s website.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Inheritance Games book 2)

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

“The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions—including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons. 

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, two of the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture—by any means necessary.” - taken from Goodreads.com 

The stakes are now higher after the cliffhanger ending of the first book. Avery is on the hunt to find the one person who may hold the answers to all of her questions about why Tobias Hawthorne chose her to inherit his billions. With the help of the brothers Hawthorne, more clues are discovered and several family secrets are revealed. Not to mention, Avery finds herself drawn to one brother in particular.

With another jaw-dropping ending, fans will be counting the days to August 30th, 2022 for the last book in the trilogy, The Final Gambit.

Visit Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ website.

Seasons of Chaos by Elle Cosimano (Seasons of the Storm book 2)

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

“As immortal Seasons, Jack and Fleur wielded powerful magic in their roles as a Winter and a Spring. Yet there wasn’t magic strong enough to keep them apart, and they risked everything for their love, for the freedom to live their lives as they choose—together.

That choice came at a cost. Jack sacrificed his Winter magic—and his immortality—to ensure their survival. Although he’d do anything for Fleur, he can’t deny the emptiness he’s felt since. Or the fear that his choice to give up his magic may have doomed them after all.

The world they thought they left behind is still dealing with the fallout of the rebellion they started. With Professor Lyon as the new Chronos, Seasons are free to do as they please. But not everyone is happy with the change in leadership. When an old enemy seeks revenge, the world’s most powerful magic runs wild and unchecked, creating global chaos.

Thrust into the middle of a new war, Jack and Fleur are faced with the aftermath of their choices. But are they strong enough to save the world from a storm that’s spinning out of control?” - taken from Goodreads.com

I'm not surprised about how this story ended but it did have a couple of twists I didn't see coming. Of course, Jack and Fleur were going to have a major wrench thrown into their happily ever after. A little slow at times but with a fast-paced ending, this read definitely a satisfying ending.

Visit Elle Cosimano’s website.

The Hollow Heart by Marie Rutkoski (Forgotten Gods book 2)

 

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

“At the end of The Midnight Lie, Nirrim offered up her heart to the God of Thieves in order to restore her people’s memories of their city’s history. The Half Kith who once lived imprisoned behind the city’s wall now realize that many among them are powerful. Meanwhile, the person Nirrim once loved most, Sid, has returned to her home country of Herran, where she must navigate the politics of being a rogue princess who has finally agreed to do her duty.

In the Herrani court, rumors begin to grow of a new threat rising across the sea, of magic unleashed on the world, and of a cruel, black-haired queen who can push false memories into your mind, so that you believe your dearest friends to be your enemies.

Sid doesn’t know that this queen is Nirrim, who seeks her revenge against a world that has wronged her. Can Sid save Nirrim from herself? Does Nirrim even want to be saved? As blood is shed and war begins, Sid and Nirrim find that it might not matter what they want…for the gods have their own plans.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved Marie Rutkoski’s Winner’s trilogy and couldn’t wait to see where the story of their daughter Sid would take her. The second book gave me more information about the lives of Kestrel and Arin and I loved it. With Sid back at home, Nirrim has gone a little power crazy since her deal with the God of Thieves. Once Sid is able to solve her mother’s illness and worked out her perceived differences with her parents, it is up to her to stop the growing threat that Nirrim has become.

This was a satisfactory end to the story but I do hope that the author delves back into this world at a later date. 

Visit Marie Rutkoski’s website.

As Good As Dead by Holy Jackson (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder book 3)

 

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl, Bad Blood, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the story for you.

“Pip Fitz-Amobi is haunted by the way her last investigation ended. Soon she’ll be leaving for Cambridge University but then another case finds her . . . and this time it’s all about Pip.

Pip is used to online death threats, but there’s one that catches her eye, someone who keeps asking: who will look for you when you’re the one who disappears? And it’s not just online. Pip has a stalker who knows where she lives. The police refuse to act and then Pip finds connections between her stalker and a local serial killer. The killer has been in prison for six years, but Pip suspects that the wrong man is behind bars. As the deadly game plays out, Pip realizes that everything in Little Kilton is finally coming full circle. If Pip doesn’t find the answers, this time she will be the one who disappears . . .” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved the first half of this book and really hope that Pip could find a way past her guilt over the Child Brunswick case. I thought her helping to clear a wrongly convicted man of murder was her way to move out of the past. What I was unprepared for was the dark turn that Pip takes in the second half of the story. This was an okay resolution to the story for me. I just wish there had been a more positive conclusion. 

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

 

SPOILER ALERT! This is a standalone novel set in the same world as the author’s Fable duology. Some of the characters from the previous books take part in this story but it isn’t necessary to read those in order to enjoy this book.

“When a letter from her uncle Henrik arrives on Bryn Roth's eighteenth birthday, summoning her back to Bastian, Bryn is eager to prove herself and finally take her place in her long-lost family.

Henrik has plans for Bryn, but she must win everyone’s trust if she wants to hold any power in the delicate architecture of the family. It doesn’t take long for her to see that the Roths are entangled in shadows. Despite their growing influence in upscale Bastian, their hands are still in the kind of dirty business that got Bryn’s parents killed years ago. With a forbidden romance to contend with and dangerous work ahead, the cost of being accepted into the Roths may be more than Bryn can pay.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was a great book then immediately sucked me in. Set in the same world as the Fable duology, this book expands on the Roth family. When Bryn is sent back to Bastian to live with her uncle, little does she know what will be waiting for her as she attempts to take her place in the family. Nothing has changed since her parents were killed even though her uncle has his sights on raising the family’s standing amongst the Merchants’ Guild. When a forbidden romance goes against her uncle's plans for her, will Bryn be able to devise an escape from the family in order to gain back for life?

Visit Adrienne Young’s website.

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift (Wickery book 1)

 

“Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.

Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.

Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.

Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was a great start to an incredible fantasy story. Two young royal heirs are arranged to be married and their first meeting isn't a smooth one. Nine years have passed with the occasional letter written between them. Neither is looking forward to the day when they will once again meet. When Jatin switches places with his guard and unknowingly meets his fiance Adraa, the two become intrigued by each other not knowing their true identities.

Working together to uncover the criminal underworld, the two begin to fall for one another as a threat to their kingdoms and their futures, looms large on the horizon. Eager fans will be left waiting for the final installment in this Indian-inspired fantasy. 

The story will conclude on January 18, 2022, with Bound by Firelight.

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller (Bladesmith book 1)

 

“Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power.

Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims' secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all the world under her rule, she takes her sister and flees.

Joined by a distractingly handsome mercenary and a young scholar with extensive knowledge of the world's known magics, Ziva and her sister set out on a quest to keep the sword safe until they can find a worthy wielder or a way to destroy it entirely.”  - taken from Goodreads.com

Once again, this author has penned a great start to her newest fantasy duology. Ziva is a talented bladesmith with the ability to infuse magic into her creations. Along with her younger sister, the two become unwilling participants in a deadly game with a powerful warlord who has commissioned a weapon from Ziva. Unfortunately, Ziva’s newest weapon cannot fall into the hands of the one person with the power to wrestle control of the divided kingdom.

A slow-burning romance, a friend-building Journey, and an incredible heart-wrenching cliffhanger will leave readers clamoring for the next book. Ziva’s story concludes with book two, Master of Iron, due out on July 26, 2022.

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.

Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

 

“Shouldn't a girl get to star in her own love story?

Seventeen-year-old Megan Harper is about due for her next sweeping romance. It's inevitable—each of her relationships starts with the perfect guy and ends with him falling in love . . . with someone else. But instead of feeling sorry for herself, Megan focuses on pursuing her next fling, directing theater, and fulfilling her dream college's acting requirement in the smallest role possible.

So when she’s cast as Juliet (yes, that Juliet) in her high school’s production, it’s a complete nightmare. Megan’s not an actress, and she’s used to being upstaged—both in and out of the theater. In fact, with her mom off in Texas and her dad remarried and on to baby #2 with his new wife, Megan worries that, just like her exes, her family is moving on without her.

Then she meets Owen Okita, an aspiring playwright inspired by Rosaline from Shakespeare's R+J. A character who, like Megan, knows a thing or two about short-lived relationships. Megan agrees to help Owen with his play in exchange for help catching the eye of a sexy stagehand/potential new boyfriend. Yet Megan finds herself growing closer to Owen, and wonders if he could be the Romeo she never expected.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Once again I was blown away by these authors’ story. Set against the backdrop of a school production of Romeo and Juliet, Megan Harper, aspiring director, is the school's biggest flirt. All of her ex-boyfriends have gone on to find true love after their relationship end. So she never takes her relationships very seriously. Now with college on the line with the need for an acting credit on her transcript and her family situation is in for some dramatic changes, Owen Okita is the last boy she would usually fall for.

When Megan sees Will building a set for the play, she decides that he will be her next boyfriend and it list Owen’s help in the end ever. Ever the rehearsal of the play, Megan begins to realize that she deserves to be happy and some of the best things in life are right in front of her 

Visit Emily & Austin’s website.

Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson (Vespertine book 1)

 

“The dead of Loraille do not rest.

Artemisia is training to be a Gray Sister, a nun who cleanses the bodies of the deceased so that their souls can pass on; otherwise, they will rise as spirits with a ravenous hunger for the living. She would rather deal with the dead than the living, who trade whispers about her scarred hands and troubled past.

When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends it by awakening an ancient spirit bound to a saint’s relic. It is a revenant, a malevolent being that threatens to possess her the moment she drops her guard. Wielding its extraordinary power almost consumes her—but death has come to Loraille, and only a vespertine, a priestess trained to wield a high relic, has any chance of stopping it. With all knowledge of vespertines lost to time, Artemisia turns to the last remaining expert for help: the revenant itself.

As she unravels a sinister mystery of saints, secrets, and dark magic, her bond with the revenant grows. And when a hidden evil begins to surface, she discovers that facing this enemy might require her to betray everything she has been taught to believe—if the revenant doesn’t betray her first.: - taken from Goodreads.com

I adore every fantasy book Margaret Rogerson has previously written but Vespertine is a bit different. The beginning of a new series, unfortunately, this book dragged along at different times. Artemisia is a Gray Sister, attending to the dead to keep their spirits from inhabiting and wreaking havoc in the world. Possessed as a young child and saved by the sisters, she is comfortable with her way of life. When her convent is attacked, it is up to her to save and eventually weld the holy relic hidden in the catacombs. Artemisia and the revenant soon make a formable team as they begin to grow comfortable with one another.

With a bit of a cliffhanger, readers will definitely want to learn how the battle between good and evil may play out. Book two’s publication date is unknown at this time.

Visit Margaret Rogerson’s website.

Steelstriker by Marie Lu (Skyhunter book 2)

 

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

“As a Striker, Talin was taught loyalty is life. Loyalty to the Shield who watches your back, to the Strikers who risk their lives on the battlefield, and most of all, to Mara, which was once the last nation free from the Karensa Federation’s tyranny.

But Mara has fallen. And its destruction has unleashed Talin’s worst nightmare.

With her friends scattered by combat and her mother held captive by the Premier, Talin is forced to betray her fellow Strikers and her adopted homeland. She has no choice but to become the Federation’s most deadly war machine as their newest Skyhunter.

Red is no stranger to the cruelty of the Federation or the torture within its Skyhunter labs, but he knows this isn’t the end for Mara – or Talin. The link between them may be weak, but it could be Talin and Red's only hope to salvage their past and safeguard their future.

While the fate of a broken world hangs in the balance, Talin and Red must reunite the Strikers and find their way back to each other.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Picking up six months after the ending of Skyhunter, Talin’s transformation into a Skyhunter is now almost complete. She tries to resist the impulse to willingly comply with the Premier’s demands. With Red and her Striker friends, can they free everyone from the Premier’s dictatorship?

Definitely, a dark tale for our current times that fans of the previous book will want to see how the story concludes.

Visit Marie Lu’s website.

Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

 

“A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks…

A first meeting. 

Long-time friends. 

Bitter exes. 

And maybe the beginning of something new.

When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight.” - taken from Goodreads.com

A great concept of six interconnected stories that take place in New York City one night during a blackout. I really liked half of these stories better than the other half. This book started off strong with Jackson’s story starting off and it is continued throughout the book between the other stories. Stone’s story arc was fabulous and tied in great with Jackson’s. The middle stories lagged a bit for me but Nicola Yoon’s story was a fabulous ending to the book. 

The stories are as follows;

The Long Walk by Tiffany D. Jackson

Mask Off by Nic Stone

Made to Fit by Ashley Woodfolk

All the Great Love Stories....and Dust by Dhonielle Clayton

No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Angie Thomas

Seymour and Grace by Nicola Yoon

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer (Defy the Night book 1)

 

“The kingdom of Kandala is on the brink of disaster. Rifts between sectors have only worsened since a sickness began ravaging the land, and within the Royal Palace, the king holds a tenuous peace with a ruthless hand.

King Harristan was thrust into power after his parents' shocking assassination, leaving the younger Prince Corrick to take on the brutal role of the King's Justice. The brothers have learned to react mercilessly to any sign of rebellion--it's the only way to maintain order when the sickness can strike anywhere, and the only known cure, an elixir made from delicate Moonflower petals, is severely limited.

Out in the Wilds, apothecary apprentice Tessa Cade is tired of seeing her neighbors die, their suffering ignored by the unyielding royals. Every night, she and her best friend Wes risk their lives to steal Moonflower petals and distribute the elixir to those who need it most--but it's still not enough.

As rumors spread that the cure no longer works and sparks of rebellion begin to flare, a particularly cruel act from the King's Justice makes Tessa desperate enough to try the impossible: sneaking into the palace. But what she finds upon her arrival makes her wonder if it's even possible to fix Kandala without destroying it first.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This was an incredible start to a new fantasy series. Tessa Cade lives in a kingdom where people are dying and there's not enough medicine to go around. She witnessed her parents’ death by the King's Guard for distributing the much-needed medicine. Fortunately, she was kept from the same fate by Weston Lark, who is her new partner in “crime”. Together, they steal the needed moonflower petals to brew the elixir and distribute it to those who are in need. When Weston is caught and executed for his crimes, Tessa this determined to continue on even as sparks of a revolution swirl around the kingdom. When Tessa is caught sneaking into the palace, everything she thought she knew is turned upside down. 

I really cannot wait to see where this story will go. Book two’s publication date will be determined at a later date.

Visit Brigid Kemmerer’s website.