Eclipse the Skies by Maura Milan (Ignite the Stars book 2)

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

“Ia Cōcha never thought she’d be working for the Olympus Commonwealth. But that was before she found out her trusted brother Einn was trying to tear apart the universe. Now, Ia, the Blood Wolf of the Skies, has agreed to help the Royal Star Force on one condition: when she finds him, she gets to kill Einn herself.

Brinn Tarver has just come to terms with her Tawny identity when the public lashes out against her people, crushing her family. At her breaking point, she starts to question everything she believes in—including Ia.

After the death of his mentor, Knives Adams is doing his best to live up to a role he didn’t ask for as Aphelion’s new headmaster. Still, with each new step deeper into war, he feels torn between his duties and the pull of Ia’s radical—sometimes criminal—ideas.

As they fight to keep darkness from eclipsing the skies, their unpredictable choices launch this breathtaking sequel to explosive new heights.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I loved the first book in this duology so much that I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second one. I don't know what it is about the subgenre, but I have really enjoyed reading “Space Opera” books. After seeing some of the reviews for this title on Goodreads, I was leery to finish the story because of the possible ending that had been foretold. I even did something I usually don't do and read the last three chapters to see if my fears were true. Fortunately, this book was the perfect conclusion to the story. Our characters really grew throughout the course of this final book. My only regret is that my time with these characters was so short. I cannot wait to see what this author writes next. 

Visit Maura Milan’s website.

American Royals by Katharine McGee (American Royals book 1)

"What if America had a royal family?

When America won the Revolutionary War, its people offered General George Washington a crown. Two and a half centuries later, the House of Washington still sits on the throne.

As Princess Beatrice gets closer to becoming America's first queen regnant, the duty she has embraced her entire life suddenly feels stifling. Nobody cares about the spare except when she's breaking the rules, so Princess Samantha doesn't care much about anything, either . . . except the one boy who is distinctly off-limits to her. And then there's Samantha's twin, Prince Jefferson. If he'd been born a generation earlier, he would have stood first in line for the throne, but the new laws of succession make him third. Most of America adores their devastatingly handsome prince . . . but two very different girls are vying to capture his heart." - taken from Goodreads.com

I picked up this book knowing that I needed something completely frivolous to read next. The whole concept of George Washington becoming the first American King after the Revolution was completely unrealistic to this is history major but I did love how the author wove certain aspects and places of history into the story. This title was one that I knew I would either love it or hate it. Thank goodness I completely loved everything about the story. There is just something about royalty and romance that hooks me in. What I wasn't expecting was the ending and finding out that this is actually the first book and a new series. Now to wait for book two next fall. 

Book two is untitled but due out in the fall of 2020.

Visit Katharine McGee’s website.

Five Dark Fates by Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns book 4)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first three books in the Three Dark Crowns series, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.

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

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

Check out Epic Reads if you need a recap of the first three books. 

“After the battle with Katharine, the rebellion lies in tatters. Jules’s legion curse has been unbound, leaving her out of her mind and unfit to rule. Arsinoe must find a cure, even as the responsibility of stopping the ravaging mist rests heavy on her shoulders, and her shoulders alone. Mirabella has disappeared. 

Queen Katharine’s rule over Fennbirn remains intact—for now. But her attack on the rebellion exacted a high price: her beloved Pietyr. Without him, who can she rely upon when Mirabella arrives, seemingly under a banner of truce? As oldest and youngest circle each other, and Katharine begins to yearn for the closeness that Mirabella and Arsinoe share, the dead queens hiss caution—Mirabella is not to be trusted. 

In this conclusion to the Three Dark Crowns series, three dark sisters will rise to fight as the secrets of Fennbirn’s history are laid bare. Allegiances will shift. Bonds will be tested, and some broken forever.

The fate of the island lies in the hands of its queens.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I couldn’t wait for the end of this story and I almost didn’t want to finish it and discover the ending. If I am truthful, this book ended exactly the way I thought it would. Does that make me happy? I’m not sure. Not a completely satisfying ending (I needed more background information on some of the history) and a bit open-ended, I was left a little underwhelmed. I literally devoured the ending so that I could see who survived. Hopefully, the survivors go on to find their happily ever afters.

Visit Kendare Blake’s website.

House of Salt & Sorrows by Erin A. Craig

“In a manor by the sea, twelve sisters are cursed.

Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor, a manor by the sea, with her sisters, their father, and stepmother. Once they were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last—the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge—and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods.

Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that the deaths were no accidents. Her sisters have been sneaking out every night to attend glittering balls, dancing until dawn in silk gowns and shimmering slippers, and Annaleigh isn't sure whether to try to stop them or to join their forbidden trysts. Because who—or what—are they really dancing with?

When Annaleigh's involvement with a mysterious stranger who has secrets of his own intensifies, it's a race to unravel the darkness that has fallen over her family—before it claims her next.” - taken from Goodreads.com

I had heard lots of good things about this book so I decided to give it a try. I adored this book so much that I had a hard time putting it down and even peeked at the ending to see what would happen. Thank goodness I didn't spoil too much of an unexpected and haunting ending. Based on the Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, our story opens up with our main character Annaleigh, the sixth born sister attending one of her older sister's funeral. Four older sisters and their mother have all passed on and the town folks believe that the Thaumas sisters are cursed. When a mysterious young man enters her life, Annaleigh is determined to prove that there is no curse and that someone is seeking vengeance on the Thaumas family. Chilling, haunting, and mysterious read with a romantic interest thrown in, readers will devour this book.

Visit Erin A. Craig’s website.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Avecedo

“A young girl in Harlem discovers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself.

So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out, much less speak her words out loud. But still, she can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.” taken from Goodreads.com

My students know that I’m not a fan of poetry but any free verse novel that I do “read”, I actually listen to. The Poet X had caught my attention when it was first published but I didn’t pick it up until just now when I listened to the audio version read by the author. Elizabeth Acevedo is a National Poetry Slam Champion and brings her words literally to life. An absolutely heartbreaking yet encouraging read about Xiomara and her struggles with her domineering mother. The author is also an audiobook narrator for other author’s novels. This will definitely not be my last listen by the author.

Visit Elizabeth Avecedo’s website.

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan (Something Dark and Holy book 1)

“Let Them Fear Her”

“A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. 

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light.” - taken from Goodreads.com

Fantasy books are my favorite genre and I was excited to get my hands on this book. The only real problem that I have with starting a new fantasy series is emerging myself in a new world. Loosely based on a Gothic Russia/Poland with a polytheistic religion, it took me a bit to truly get invested in the story. Once I did, there was no going back. I thought I knew where the author was going with the story but it was just a tease before she pulled the literal rug out from underneath my feet with that shocking ending.

I am now eagerly awaiting the second book in the Something Dark and Holy trilogy, Ruthless Gods, due out on April 7, 2020.

Visit Emily A. Duncan’s website.