Review: A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

Title: A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

Author: Laura Taylor Namey

Publisher: 30th November 2022 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 320 pages

Genre: young adult, romance, contemporary 

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Love & Gelato meets Don’t Date Rosa Santos in this charming, heartfelt story following a Miami girl who unexpectedly finds love—and herself—in a small English town.

For Lila Reyes, a summer in England was never part of the plan. The plan was 1) take over her abuela’s role as head baker at their panadería, 2) move in with her best friend after graduation, and 3) live happily ever after with her boyfriend. But then the Trifecta happened, and everything—including Lila herself—fell apart.

Worried about Lila’s mental health, her parents make a new plan for her: spend three months with family friends in Winchester, England, to relax and reset. But with the lack of sun, a grumpy inn cook, and a small town lacking Miami flavor (both in food and otherwise), what would be a dream trip for some feels more like a nightmare to Lila…until she meets Orion Maxwell.

A teashop clerk with troubles of his own, Orion is determined to help Lila out of her funk, and appoints himself as her personal tour guide. From Winchester’s drama-filled music scene to the sweeping English countryside, it isn’t long before Lila is not only charmed by Orion, but England itself. Soon a new future is beginning to form in Lila’s mind—one that would mean leaving everything she ever planned behind.

My Thoughts

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow was a Reese Witherspoon’s YA book club selection and I can see that it has a range of appealing aspects for its genre. There are many great themes in this book - family, grief, friendship, romance and especially a celebration of cultural diversity from both Cuba/Miami and England. 

‘Redeeming myself ? Is that what I was trying to do? Or was I just trying to fix the one crumbled, burned thing in my life I knew for certain I could make right?’

The main character, Lila is grieving from a lost friendship, a lost boyfriend, and the death of her Abuela. This is a story of family and friends, of the places and people that make a place a home and ways to find healing through these things. This is the story of a journey of self discovery. Apart from the obvious expectations, there were some great surprises in this book. I loved Lila’s passion for baking and how she incorporated her culture into her cooking. For a young person to be so proud of her heritage was refreshing. Then there was the contrast between the two cultures of Cuban and English (loved the tea shop) and I felt this was well done. Likewise, it was refreshing to be in Winchester, England.

“Thing is, when you put something back together it’s never exactly the same as it was before. What if she wants to fix things, but it means everything’s different from how you used to get on? Can you do that?”

 This proved a solid YA read with interesting characters and multiple layers to the story. I had a slight issue with the writing style, but otherwise it was a quick read and enjoyable story. A story of love, loss, and reinventing yourself told through good characters, settings and yummy food. 

‘I was brought up for this place, but I can change my life recipe too.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Empress of Time

Title: The Empress of Time

Book #2 The Keeper of Night duology

Author: Kylie Lee Baker

Publisher: 19th October 2022 by HQ Fiction Young Adult AU

Pages: 405 pages

Genre: fantasy, young adult, historical fiction

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami Ren Scarborough is no longer the girl who was chased out of England—she is the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. But her problems have never been greater. Her Shinigami see her as a foreigner on the throne. Her brother, Neven, is gone, lost in the deep darkness. And her fiancé, Hiro, has been killed by her own hand.

Then Ren receives the most troubling news yet—Reapers have been spotted in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before Ivy, now Britain’s Death Goddess, comes to claim her revenge.

Ren’s last hope is to appeal to the god of storms and seas, who can turn the tides to send Ivy’s ship away from Japan’s shores. But he’ll help Ren only if she finds a sword lost thousands of years ago—an impossible demand.

Together with the moon god Tsukuyomi, who shares an uncanny resemblance to his brother Hiro, Ren ventures across the country in a race against time. As her journey thrusts her into the middle of scheming gods and dangerous Yokai demons, Ren will have to learn who she can truly trust—and the fate of Japan hangs in the balance.

My Thoughts

The Empress of Time is the conclusion to Kylie Lee Baker's The Keeper of the Night duology. The story follows Ren Scarborough, who is half-British Reaper, half-Japanese Shinigami.

‘Deep down below the land of the living, in a place where light could not reach, I lived in a castle of shadows.’

I enjoyed the first book and was interested to see how Ren’s story would conclude. Readers were eager for this second book as book one had finished on such a cliffhanger. Most, including myself, were surprised that rather than picking up where it left off there was a huge time jump of many years. This was disconcerting. Although a little slow to start, the action picked up and ultimately bought the same feels as book one.

‘The night stole the parts of you that no one wanted- all your lies and broken promises and disappointments.’

The strong themes from book one continue - race, identity, neglect and acceptance - and it was satisfying that the author continued with Ren’s struggles in finding her place. The resolutions and conclusions were complete, so if you enjoyed book one it is worth your while finishing this duology.  On a personal note, I do feel that this second instalment did not have the same impact as the first. 

‘This is what love is …. love only became real when it was no longer easy. Like Death and time and darkness, it demanded payment, and I would give everything I had.’

If a weaving of Japanese folklore, mythology and dark fantasy appeals to you, be sure to check out this series. With concepts of the struggles of finding one’s place, especially for someone of mixed heritage, this is sure to speak to a wide YA audience. 

‘She had tried to live in the land where she was raised, and then the land where she was born, and finally the land that she had stolen. But every time, the soil dried up, the stars dimmed, and the tides retreated as if to say, This will never be yours. You are the queen of nowhere, and you deserve nothing.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Kingdom of the Feared

Title: Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked #3)

Author: Kerri Maniscalco

Publisher: 27th September 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 400 pages

Genre: fantasy, young adult, paranormal

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Emilia is reeling from the shocking discovery that her twin sister, Vittoria, is alive. But before she faces the demons of her past, Emilia yearns to claim her king, the seductive Prince of Wrath, in the flesh. Emilia doesn’t simply desire his body, she wants his heart and soul—but that’s something the enigmatic demon can’t promise her.

When a high-ranking member of House Greed is assassinated, Emilia and Wrath are drawn to the rival demon court. Damning evidence points to Vittoria as the murderer and she’s quickly declared an enemy of the Seven Circles. Despite her betrayal, Emilia will do anything to solve this new mystery and find out who her sister really is.

Together Emilia and Wrath play a sin-fueled game of deception as they work to stop the unrest that’s brewing between witches, demons, shape-shifters and the most treacherous foes of all: the Feared.

Emilia was warned that when it came to the Wicked nothing was as it seemed. But, have the true villains been much closer all along? When the truth is finally revealed, it just might end up costing Emilia her heart.

Two curses.

One prophecy.

A reckoning all have feared.

And a love more powerful than fate. All hail the king and queen of Hell.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stalking the Jack the Ripper series comes the steamy conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked trilogy.

My Thoughts

Kingdom of the Feared is the conclusion of the KOTW trilogy and, as always, it is somewhat bittersweet to say goodbye to characters and this world. Overall, this book provides a resolution that ties the plot together well in a satisfying way that leaves no loose ends for the central characters.

“What if I don't want to be feared?”

Sadly for me, however, this book didn't quite live up to the prequels. It just didn't have the same tension or constant edge-of-your-seat suspense that made the last two so enjoyable. I didn’t feel the same connection to the main characters. Their relationship, whilst it progressed sexually, didn’t really advance in any other way. There was a lack of sweet encounters, conversation and chemistry, which made their interactions feel less romantic and tender. Both characters had separate agendas within the storyline and, as a result, they didn't work together as much to determine who committed the murder or resolve any other plot points.

I felt like there was no real climax/crescendo; everything gets solved - very easily at times - with very little build up or anticipation, which makes the pace of this book feel quite slow. I wanted conflict, drama, action or battles but events seemed to tie up too neatly. There were some plot twists that kept things interesting, overall  however, it was  a little all over the place with the overwhelming smut/spice taking away from it and, at times, feeling extremely out of place. All the sex scenes really failed to add anything to the story and felt unnecessary. Despite this, the portrayal of Vittoria as the book progressed was amazing, and the relationship she and Emilia have was incredibly complex, layered and unpredictable. 

“Shadow witches … ‘Shadow' because you possess a mere shade or shadow of your true power. 'Witch' because with so much dilution of your magic, that is what you are. What all witches are - descendants of goddesses.”

From Kerri, readers come to expect perfection and her crown slipped a little with this final entry. Time and again she gives readers such unique worlds with dark magic and wickedness; whilst this book did have its flaws, it was no exception. The writing style and prose, as is typical of the author, was absolutely superb and totally immersive. Excitingly, there was also the sense that the journey’s of some characters remained unfinished, so perhaps we can expect some spin-offs in the hopefully not-to-distant future (YAY!!)

‘Whatever you do, you must never speak to the Wicked. If you see them, hide. Once you've caught a demon prince's attention, he'll stop at nothing to claim you. They are midnight creatures, born of darkness and moonlight. And they seek only to destroy …’

 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Blade Breaker

Title: Blade Breaker

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Publisher: 28th June 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 578 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre:  young adult, fantasy, adventure

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

The fate of the world rests on a blade's edge.

Fighting beside her band of unlikely companions, Corayne is learning to embrace her ancient lineage and wield her father's powerful sword.

But while she successfully closed one of the Spindles, her journey is far from over.

Queen Erida's army marches across Allward with her consort, Taristan, right beside them, opening more portals into nightmarish worlds, razing kingdoms to the ground.

Corayne has no choice but to assemble an army of her own if she's to save the realm as she knows it. But perilous lands await her and the companions, and they face assassins, otherworldly beasts, and tempestuous seas all as they rally a divided Ward to fight behind them.

But Taristan has unleashed an evil far more wicked than his corpse armies. Something deadly waits in the shadows; something that might consume the world before there's any hope for victory.

My Thoughts

Last year Victoria presented her fans with, Realm Breaker the first book in her new trilogy - an unlikely band of misfits who came together in their quest to save the world from impending doom and destruction. The second instalment, Blade Breaker has just come out and is the perfect next instalment. 

‘Your world is lost ….' The shadow rippled with His voice. "You do not know it yet. How can you? That wretched hope won't let you accept defeat. Oh, how I despise

that flame inside you, that restless heart of yours. She took another step, this one

a bit easier. The sword grew heavy in her hand.’

The epic adventure continues on right where the first book ended with unsung heroes and vile villains aplenty and intrigue that will have you impatiently awaiting the final reckoning. If you enjoyed the first, then you will happily continue the journey with the fight to control What Waits -  the demonic force that wants to enter the Realm. With Victoria providing a range of POV, there are twists and turns aplenty as the fate of the world rests delicately on the point of a blade. This book is rich and inviting and highlights how far some characters will go to either save or destroy the realm. 

Admittedly, some parts are slow but the ending is worth it. It still has the Lord of the Rings vibe, this time with an added Game of Thrones politicking element. I believe this is all setting up for an interesting book 3 and I look forward to seeing where Victoria eventually takes readers. This is a big book with many characters and a complex world. I will say that the main characters eg. Corayne is still not as appealing as Sorasa or Dom whom I was much more invested in. 

‘Now there is nowhere to go, and yet I keep walking forward. Into what, I do not know. And neither does anyone else.’

 

The humour is still there, the world building is huge, the plot involved and although slow in spots this is an enjoyable read for lovers of this genre. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Dark Elements Trilogy

Jennifer Armentrout’s young adult series involves a half demon, half gargoyle teenage girl risking the wrath of her adoptive clan and the trust of a boy she’s loved forever by partnering up with a sexy, dangerous demon who claims he can protect her from dark elements.

Title:  White Hot Kiss / Stone Cold Touch / Every Last Breath

Author: Jennifer Armentrout

Publisher:  Harlequin Australia

Genre: fantasy, paranormal, young adult, romance

Book One: White Hot Kiss

Synopsis: 

Layla just wants to fit in at school and go on a date with Zayne, whom she's crushed on since forever. Trouble is, Zayne treats Layla like a sister--and Layla is a half demon, half gargoyle with abilities no one else possesses. And even though Zayne is a Warden, part of the race of gargoyles tasked with keeping humanity safe, Layla's kiss will kill anything with a soul--including him.

Then she meets Roth--a demon who claims to know her secrets. Though Layla knows she should stay away, it's tough when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue. Trusting Roth could ruin her chances with Zayne, but as Layla discovers she's the reason for a violent demon uprising, kissing the enemy suddenly pales in comparison to the looming end of the world.

Book Two: Stone Cold Touch

Synopsis: 

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Book Three: Every Last Breath

Synopsis: 

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

Thoughts

Jennifer L. Armentrout's iconic series is revamped with brand-new covers! Fans of her writing will enjoy this series as it has all her notable appealing elements - paranormal shapeshifter stories of good versus evil with a love triangle. It is the kind of read that needs to fit your mood - cliched, cheesy at times, YA drama, yet good action scenes - just pure escapism packed full of action, romance and steam. 

‘There were so many risks, but as my heartbeat skipped, I realized that half demon or not, life was full of risks and I was tired of not living—of not trying.’

Gargoyles, angels, demons, and witches. A cast of stellar characters, solid world building, and steamy romance. What more could you want from a young adult fantasy? I still have issues with the pacing - slow and fast - but it’s an easy read, if somewhat predictable (and repeatable), these books are always just for fun! Not so much the plot but the character interactions are what you come for. At times books can be silly (insert eye rolling and cheese right about now), however, soon you are moved and engaged. Jennifer is a master at making silly into sassy.

‘Love is a strange creature one thinks one has a grasp on and understanding of, only to discover later that it was only the barest taste of the real thing.’

Overall, a solid paranormal series - a must read for YA readers who enjoy stories about angels, demons, gargoyles and supernatural references.If you are a fan of her other series you are sure to love The Dark Elements. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Anatomy

Title: Anatomy

Author: Dana Schwartz

Publisher: 25th January 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 335 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: young adult, mystery, gothic, historical fiction

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together.

Edinburgh, 1817. 

Hazel Sinnett is a lady who wants to be a surgeon more than she wants to marry. 

Jack Currer is a resurrection man who’s just trying to survive in a city where it’s too easy to die. 

When the two of them have a chance encounter outside the Edinburgh Anatomist’s Society, Hazel thinks nothing of it at first. But after she gets kicked out of renowned surgeon Dr. Beecham’s lectures for being the wrong gender, she realizes that her new acquaintance might be more helpful than she first thought. Because Hazel has made a deal with Dr. Beecham: if she can pass the medical examination on her own, the university will allow her to enroll. Without official lessons, though, Hazel will need more than just her books – she’ll need bodies to study, corpses to dissect. 

Lucky that she’s made the acquaintance of someone who digs them up for a living, then. 

But Jack has his own problems: strange men have been seen skulking around cemeteries, his friends are disappearing off the streets. Hazel and Jack work together to uncover the secrets buried not just in unmarked graves, but in the very heart of Edinburgh society.

My Thoughts

‘It wasn't anything novel or helpful to anyone. She hadn’t contributed to the world. She had made a frog dance for her own amusement. She had been the dancing frog all along.’

Anatomy takes place in Edinburg in 1817 and centers around a young woman named Hazel who wants more from life than most other girls her age. Hazel wants to be a surgeon. She meets a Resurrectionist - Jack Currer - who makes a living by digging up dead bodies to sell them to universities. What can I say about this book:

• Time to state the obvious, the cover art is extraordinary! Captivating!

• To be fair, I would class this read predominantly as young adult, historical fiction, there is mystery with a touch of gothic, faintly fantasy with a little romance (still …  I will put it out there now - I love Hazel and Jack).

• The final twist … OMG … I did not see it coming.

‘It’s the lesson young girls everywhere were taught their entire lives - don’t be seduced by the men you meet, protect your virtue - until, of course, their entire

lives depended on seduction by the right man. It was an impossible situation, a trick of society as a whole: force women to live at the mercy of whichever man wants them but shame them for anything they might do to get a man to want them.’

This book is easy to read with an ending that, whilst slightly too quick, took me for  quite a ride. Hazel is an incredible lead at a time when girls could not have dreams of their own outside of society’s expectations. Her life was to be all about medicine and assisting those in need. Jack makes a great partner in crime (literally!) and the chemistry between them is there. 

‘Somebody should tell you that you're beautiful every time the sun comes up. Someone should tell you you're beautiful on Wednesdays. And at tea time. Someone should tell you you're beautiful on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve and the evening before Christmas Eve, and on Easter. He should tell you on Guy Fawkes Night and on New Year's, and on the eighth of August, just because.’

The ending … the jury is out for many people. It will certainly leave you shocked and unsure. Maybe somewhat too quickly wrapped up given your investment throughout the book as a whole. Could there be more to come? I don’t think so. Still, I appreciated it. What there is no doubt about is the research Dana has gone into with regards to Edinburgh at the time, the differences in classes and the spectacular insight into the advances of medicine of the age. 

I really enjoyed this book with the last fifty pages having my eyes glued until completion. More historical fiction than fantasy/gothic, more mystery than romance it still gives off the Frankenstein-Mary Shelley vibes. Well written, cover art TDF and I would be pumped if there turned out to be a sequel. 

‘… you realize how thin the line is between everything being all right and everything being ruined forever and you just become suddenly aware that you know nothing.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.