About the Book:

Title: Strange Gods 

Author: Alison Kimble 

Publisher: Immortal Works

Release Date: July 20, 2021

Pages: 336

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

Spooky arrives at a wilderness boot camp for troubled teens with two suitcases and an ultimatum: either she keeps her head down over the summer or she won’t be allowed home at the end of it. All she wants to do is survive the pyros, bullies, and power-tripping counselors, get through senior year, and start her life somewhere new. She’ll do just about anything to protect that future.
But when an encounter with another camper goes awry and ends with Spooky hiding in the woods, something else finds her. Something ancient and powerful has sent out feelers, hoping to catch a human alone. For its purposes, one human is as good as any other. Even a delinquent teen will do.

If Spooky wants to survive to see any kind of future, she will have to figure out how to gain leverage over a god. And as if the one wasn’t bad enough, a pantheon of dark entities are lining up between her and the life she’s always wanted…

For fantasy fans, comes one girl’s journey through dark worlds of magic, gods, and monsters.

Review:

* I received an e-arc from the author in exchange for an honest review*

If you enjoy mythology and strange, quirky tales, I think  you will enjoy this solid debut from Alison Kimble! To be honest, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect going into this one, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. The story was engaging, and is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Lore, or Starcrossed! 

Lauren “Spooky” Specki finds herself at a boot camp for troubled teens after her stint to get her parents attention goes too far. She needs to keep her head down over the summer and stay out of trouble, or she won’t be able to return home when camp ends. Her goal is to survive all the bullies and power hungry camp counselors. She just wants to finish her senior year of high school, and start a new life for herself. She’s ready to do just about anything to protect that future. 

When an outing with another camper goes completely amiss, Spooky finds herself hiding in the woods so she won’t get caught out of her cabin. Something else finds her in those woods, that is ancient and powerful and trying to catch a human, and even a teen delinquent will do.

If Spooky is to get the future she dreams of, she will have to figure out how to acquire leverage over a god. What Spooky doesn’t realize, is that there are a host of other problems she must face on her journey to self-discovery. 

I’m really hoping after that ending that we get a sequel to this one! There’s definitely lots of room for one. Pretty please! 

This book released on July 20, 2021, so add it to your TBR if you haven’t already. Perfect for ya and middle grade fantasy fans, a magical quest story with unusual mythology, self-searching, friendship, and more! 

About the Author:

About the Book:

Title: The Plentiful Darkness

Author: Heather Kassner 

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Release Date: August 3, 2021

Pages: 256

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy 

Synopsis:

In Heather Kassner’s spine-chilling fantasy novel, reminiscent of Serafina and the Black Cloak, an orphaned girl chases a thieving boy into a magician’s land of starless, moonless gloom where other children have gone missing before her.

In order to survive on her own, twelve-year-old Rooney de Barra collects precious moonlight, which she draws from the evening sky with her (very rare and most magical) lunar mirror. All the while she tries to avoid the rival roughhouse boys, and yet another, more terrifying danger: the dreaded magician who’s been disappearing children in the night.

When Trick Aidan, the worst of the roughhouse boys, steals her lunar mirror, Rooney will do whatever it takes to get it back. Even if it means leaping into a pool of darkness after it swallows Trick and her mirror. Or braving the Plentiful Darkness, a bewitching world devoid of sky and stars. Or begrudgingly teaming up with Trick to confront the magician and unravel the magic that has trapped Warybone’s children.

“Gleams with an eerie magic, its characters burning bright and fierce. A visual treat of a tale.” —Stefan Bachmann, international bestselling author of Cinders and Sparrows 

Review:

*I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

An utterly enchanting and magical tale, where I was completely swept away! Brilliant! Everything felt so vivid, real, and alive. This was my second book by Heather Kassner and she has found a lifelong fan.

Twelve year old Rooney de Barra lost her family to the feather flu. In order for her to survive on her own, she collects moonlight, which she draws from the night sky into her lunar mirror. She’s been trying to avoid the roughhouse boys who are her biggest competitors for the moonlight. There’s an even more terrifying danger on the streets though, a magician who has been disappearing children in the night.

Trick Aidan, her worst rival from the roughhouse boys steals her precious lunar mirror, and Rooney is determined to do anything to get it back. As she tries to track Trick down, she sees him be swallowed by a pool of darkness and jumps in after him. They find themselves in the Plentiful Darkness, a fascinating world without sky or stars. She is forced to team up with Trick to confront the magician, and to help the children of Warybone that have been trapped there by the magician’s magic.

If you like stories that are eerie and full of magic, twists and turns, friendships, and found family, you will love this one. A real page turner that I highly recommend!

About the Author:

Heather Kassner loves thunderstorms, hummingbirds, and books. She lives with her husband in Arizona, waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the rain, photographing hummingbirds, and reading and writing strange little stories.

About the Book:

Title: Untethered 

Author: KayLynn Flanders

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: July 20, 2021

Pages: 464

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Synopsis:

For fans of Sorcery of Thorns and Furyborn comes the thrilling sequel to Shielded about a world in a deadly magical war and the newly crowned king and feisty princess who must defeat the deadliest of foes before there’s nothing left to save.

Although King Atháren’s sister, Jennesara, saved Hálendi from the Gray Mage, the reprieve came at a steep price–the life of their father. Now Ren rules over a divided kingdom, with some who want him dead, and a Medallion that warns of worse trouble brewing in the south.

As second born, Princess Chiara is the perfect Turian royal–perfectly invisible. She longs to help restore peace on the Plateau, but with no magic and no fighting skills, she doesn’t stand a chance against a mage. So when a member of the Turian royal family goes missing and Chiara finds a clue about the rumored resting place of the mages’ long-lost artifacts, she decides it’s time to be seen.

As Ren’s and Chiara’s paths cross, they find the depth of the mages’ hold on the Plateau is more powerful than anyone suspected, and that they must learn to trust themselves, and each other, before the mages retrieve their artifacts and become too powerful to ever defeat.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Wow! I loved Shielded, but Ioved Untethered even more! Shielded was Jenna and Enzo’s story, and Untethered is about Ren, Jenna’s older brother, and Chiara, Enzo’s younger sister. This was such a cool change of pace, and I loved hearing the story from their perspectives.

King Ren’s sister, Jenna, saved Halendi from the Gray Mage, but that vindication came with a very high price-the life of their father. Ren now rules over a kingdom divided, where some even want him dead. He’s also left with his father’s mysterious Medallion that warns him of trouble down South.

As the second born, Princess Chiara is the picture perfect Turian royal, but she’s also perfectly invisible. She wants to do her part and help restore peace to the Plateau, but she has no magic or fighting skills to speak of, and she has no chance against a powerful mage. When a member of the royal Turian family goes missing and Chiara finds a clue that might lead to the mages long lost artifacts, she decides to make her move.

When Ren and Chiara’s paths cross, they find that the mages have a very powerful hold over the Plateau, more powerful than anyone could have imagined. They need to trust themselves, and each other, and defeat the mages before they get the magical artifacts and become completely unstoppable.

I was really smitten with Ren and Chiara and their growth in this one. They both started out with so much self-doubt and it was amazing to see them hold their own in the end.

I’m secretly hoping that we get more in this amazing world that KayLynn has built. There are still some questions I have, even though this was an extremely satisfying ending. If you loved Shielded, I think you will definitely love this sequel that is packed with action, adventure, family, friendships, and romance. Untethered is releasing on July 20, 2021, so preorder or request at your local library now!

About the Author:

KayLynn Flanders is a graduate of Brigham Young University, with a degree in English Language and a minor in editing. When she’s not writing, she spends her time playing volleyball, reading, and traveling. She lives in Utah with her family, and thinks there’s nothing better than a spur-of-the-moment road trip. Her debut novel is Shielded. To learn more about KayLynn, go to kaylynnflanders.com or follow @kaylynnflanders on Twitter and Instagram.

About the Book:

Title: In the Same Boat

Author: Holly Green

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Release Date: July 20, 2021

Pages: 368

Genre: YA Contemporary, YA Romance

Synopsis:

In the Same Boat is the hugely entertaining blend of romance and thrilling adventure that you never knew you needed.

Sadie Scofield is just a few days away from the race of a lifetime. The Texas River Odyssey may be 260 miles and multiple days of arduous canoeing where every turn of the river reveals new dangers-downed trees, alligators, pitch black night-but those dangers pale in comparison to going another year knowing that her father is ashamed of her.

Last year, Sadie caused a disastrous wreck that ended her father’s twenty year streak of finishes, and he’s never looked at her the same. Now, she knows that finishing the race with her brother, Tanner, is her one shot to redeem herself. She’s ready for anything…except Tanner ditching her for another team at the last minute.

Sadie grits her teeth and accepts that she has to team up with Cully, her former best friend turned worst enemy. It’s irritating enough that he grew up to be so attractive, but once they’re on the river it turns out he’s ill-prepared for such a dangerous race. But as the miles pass, the pain of the race builds, they uncover the truth about their feuding families, and Sadie’s feelings for Cully begin to shift. Could this race change her life more than she ever could have imagined?

With an unforgettable heroine and an immersive setting, Holly Green’s captivating debut promises heart-stopping action and a swoony romance that will leave you cheering. 

Review:

*I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Captivating debut from Holly Green! I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book when I picked it up, but I’m so glad I did. It was hard to put down, and I read it in a couple of days. It blends together an adventure and romance just perfectly.

Sadie Scofield is so close to a huge race that she’s waited her whole life for. The Texas River Odyssey is 260 miles and several days of backbreaking canoeing with dangers lurking around every corner, such as fallen trees and even alligators. Sadie feels as though these dangers are nothing compared to going into another year with her father being ashamed of her.

All of Sadie’s family members have finished the big race, but when she and her dad partnered up last year it was a complete disaster. Sadie was injured and her dad didn’t finish a race for the first time in 20 years. Their relationship hasn’t been the same since then, and she feels that the only way to fix things between them is to finish the race this year, with her brother Tanner as her partner. At the last minute, Tanner ditches her to join another team. Sadie sucks it up, and partners with her ex-best friend now arch enemy, John Cullen or “Cully” as she used to call him. He grew up to be pretty cute, which irks her, plus when they get out on the river, he doesn’t seem very well prepared. As the miles on the river go by, and the pain of the race starts setting in, Sadie and Cully begin to uncover the truth about their fighting families and why their friendship unraveled. Sadie’s feelings toward Cully begin to shift, and she begins to wonder if this race could change her life more than she imagined.

I found myself rooting for Sadie and Cully as the race was on, and I was on the edge of my seat at times. I laughed a lot and also found myself completely teary-eyed. An epic adventure about perseverance, friendship, and family that you won’t want to miss! Preorder now or request from your local library. This wonderful story releases on July 20, 2021.

About the Author:

Holly Green is a writer from Austin, TX. She has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her YA novel, IN THE SAME BOAT is forthcoming from Scholastic, July 20, 2021.