Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

 

“Keep the secret. Live the lie. Earn your truth.

As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.

The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.

Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she'll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.” - taken from Goodreads.com

This book was phenomenal and definitely lives up to all of the hype. Daunis Fontaine is fearless, despite everything she faces. The author dives deep into the Native American culture of the Ojibwe community in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. For maximum enjoyment, go into this book without knowing a whole lot about it. Definitely will remain one of my all-time favorites.

Visit Angeline Boulley’s website.

A Reaper at the Gate by Sabaa Tahir (Ember Quartet book 3)

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read the first two books in the quartet, An Ember in the Ashes and A Torch Against the Night, Stop! I don’t want to ruin the 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.

“Beyond the Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.

The Blood Shrike, Helene Aquilla, is assailed on all sides. Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable, while the Commandant capitalizes on his madness to bolster her own power. As Helene searches for a way to hold back the approaching darkness, her sister's life and the lives of all those in the Empire hang in the balance.

Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But while hunting for a way to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would aid her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight.

And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that will stop at nothing to ensure Elias's devotion–even at the cost of his humanity.” - take from Goodreads.com 

The only good reason I can find about not reading this book sooner is that I now have seven fewer months to wait for the conclusion. WOW! To try and keep this spoiler free, I’m not going into a lot of details. Some of the events that transpire, you knew had to happen but others were complete jaw-droppers. One event, in particular, left me speechless. (Oh, how I wish I had someone to talk to about it.) The ending with its wicked plot twists to set up the final book will leave readers eager for the final book.

The final book in the quartet is expected to be published in 2020.

Visit Sabaa Tahir’s website.

Wake, Fade and Gone trilogy by Lisa McMann.

"She's has never had a dream before - not that she can remember.
She only has everyone else's.
At least she can sleep during hers."

Janie Hannagan has suffered with the stupid dream curse since she was eight-years-old. If she is around anyone who is having a dream, Janie is able to witness the dream or more frighteningly, nightmares. Now a senior in high school, Janie still has told no one about her unwanted ability, not even her best friend Carrie.

Cabel Strumheller lives down the street from Janie. He has been in trouble since the ninth grade when he flunked down into Janie's class. Always late and looking stoned, Cabe is a loner. At the start of senior year, Cabe has undergone a transformation; his looks have matured abd he has ditched the Goth look. He is still late and on the first day of school, Janie sees him walking and offers him a ride. It turns out to be the longest converstion they have ever had together and the strat of a relationship.

While in study hall, Janie witnesses what is the worse nightmare she has ever come across and it is the repeat of one she saw as she was driving through her neighborhood. Only this time, she is a part of the dream and the dreamer is Caleb Strumheller. And he is asking her for help. But will Cabel be Janie's savior or her downfall?

This was a hard book to put down and is a quick read be sure check out Lisa McMann's website to read Cabel's point of view about the pivotal school trip to Stratford.

Janie finishes her senior year of high school by working undercover for the police by trying to find out which teachers at Fieldcrest High are have inappropriate realtionships with several students.

The thrilling conclusion to Janie's story where she discovers who her father is and makes a major decision about the rest of her life.