A- Reviews / B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readsboarding school / British Indian main character / class differences / competition / diversity / Fantasy / friendship / high school sweethearts / joint review / magical powers / magical school / Naomi-Novik / POC / prickly heroine / prophecy / students / survival / YA / YA fantasy30 Comments
Jennie: Janine, Sirius, and I reviewed the first book in the Scholomance series (originally slated as two books; now a trilogy). Sirius gave it a C- and said she wouldn’t be reading this sequel, but Janine and I, though we had some reservations, ended up liking A Deadly Education quite ... more >
B- Reviews / Book Reviews1910s / Baba Yaga / Dark Fantasy / fairy tale / friendship / Historical Fantasy / quest / Russia / teens / Witches / World War I / YA fantasy / YA romance / Young-Adult3 Comments
It’s 1919, but in Edenfall, Pennsylvania, the Great War is not over — not for Vasilisa, at least. Papa is presumed dead, Mama is being courted by an absolute ogre, and now Babka, her beloved grandma, has had a bad spell. Or has she fallen under one? Only the Old ... more >
Book Reviews / Recommended Reads / Top Ten ListsAgent/Spies/Undercover / Best of 2020 / best of list / boarding school / Cold War / disabled hero / found family / genius loci / historical romance / king / Literary fiction / loner / m/m / magic users / one day courtship / passing / SF / thief / twins / UF / voting / war / YA / YA fantasy14 Comments
I spent much of 2020 grateful to books and authors for giving me a way to visit other times and places while stuck at home because of Covid. Below, listed in alphabetical order by author, are my top eight favorite books of 2020. Some grades have been adjusted since my ... more >
B- Reviews / Book Reviewsbaker / Dark Fantasy / seige / Serial-Killer / War / Military / wizards / YA fantasy5 Comments
Fourteen-year-old Mona isn’t like the wizards charged with defending the city. She can’t control lightning or speak to water. Her familiar is a sourdough starter and her magic only works on bread. She has a comfortable life in her aunt’s bakery making gingerbread men dance. But Mona’s life is turned ... more >
A- Reviews / B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / C- Reviewsboarding school / British Indian main character / class differences / competition / diversity / Fantasy / friendship / joint review / magical powers / magical school / Naomi-Novik / prickly heroine / prophecy / students / survival / YA / YA fantasy13 Comments
Jennie, Sirius and I (along with Jayne), reviewed Naomi Novik’s last book, Spinning Silver, together. Our roundtable discussion was a lot of fun and the three of us decided to reunite for Novik’s recent release, the first book in her Scholomance series, A Deadly Education. –Janine. Janine: A Deadly Education ... more >
Book Reviewsgods / Mediterranean setting / Megan-Whalen-Turner / plot twists / romantic-elements / spoilers / thief / YA fantasy111 Comments
A thread for discussing Megan Whalen Turner’s Queen’s Thief series with spoilers included. All your thoughts are welcome. For those readers who prefer spoiler-free reviews and discussions, reviews of the earlier books can be found below: The Thief The Queen of Attolia The King of Attolia A Conspiracy of Kings ... more >