Book Reviews by Genre: Fantasy

The second volume of Gachiakuta is about Rudo joining an organization called the “Cleaners.” He asked to join them and agreed in order to help get revenge on the person who framed him for murder. However, it’s clear that something suspicious is happening on the ground, as the monsters known as Trash Beasts have been found with vital instruments inside them.

I think this volume is a big step up from the first, as lots of information is introduced. One thing that I really like about this volume is that the information dumping isn’t nearly as bad. Some things are still spoon-fed to the audience, but it isn’t as blatant as before. The introduction of new characters and world-building really brings a lot to the story, as things are becoming more interesting. I also really enjoy it when the audience gets certain information at the same time a character does. It makes the reveals feel more impactful and important. Another really great thing about this book is the art. It’s very unique and easy to follow, and it’s clear that the artist and author, Kei Urana, is very talented. I would definitely rate this volume higher than the first, but I still want to see where the story goes.

There's suspense, action, and tragedy galore in Sonic The Hedgehog Vol. 5: Crisis City, the next installation in the fantastic comic series offshoot of the video games. This book follows the blue blur and his friends as they struggle to navigate their world as it quickly turns against them. The Metal Virus -- Dr. Eggman's new bid to enslave all life -- has been unleashed on the world, and there is seemingly no stopping it. It spreads from person to person, converting whole cities into invincible "zombots". Even Sonic has been infected, and has only survived by burning off the virus with his speed. The Restoration tries to find survivors and bring them to safety, but the virus slowly begins to take its toll on the brave rescuers. As if things can't get worse, the virus also begins to give Eggman problems as well. With city after city succumbing to infection and the problem beginning to grow out of control, can Sonic and his friends manage to survive the attacks -- or will they become infected too?
This volume in the series is particularly interesting because it catapults Sonic and his friends head-on into what is at its core a zombie apocalypse. Seeing the crew interact in this sort of survival dynamic is really interesting, as it brings out emotions in characters that normally wouldn't be seen. Surprises and exciting scenarios arise left and right. The only thing that brings the book down a notch from full-on awesomeness is that it is focused on tragedy and loss -- even though the heroes ultimately succeed at what they are trying to do, it feels as if they are continually losing for the entire book. However, this is necessary to build up for what is to come. Overall, the book is a satisfying and suspenseful read, with a great balance between high-speed action and character interactions. Gear up and steel yourself for the most terrifying Sonic conflict yet!

Gachiakuta follows 15-year-old Rudo. After being wrongly convicted of murder, he is punished by being sent to “The Pit,” where all garbage is thrown away. He ends up on the “Ground” and meets a man named Enjin, who teaches him about the existence of a group called “Givers,” who use their powers to protect the people of the Ground from monsters.

I think this book has a really good hook for a first volume. It establishes the world-building almost immediately, even if it is a little exposition-dump-y at times. Rudo is a really interesting main character for a couple of reasons, but the one that stood out to me the most is that he actually feels and looks like a fifteen-year-old boy, which isn’t something you see a lot in manga. He’s reactive and a little judgy, but he’s also very kind and receptive to feedback, and it makes the audience want to get to know him better. My rating is so low because the first volume is very short, and I really did not like how “in your face” some of the explanations felt. Otherwise, it’s quite literally the very beginning, so there’s not a lot to really form an opinion about, but I did enjoy this volume and am looking forward to reading the next.

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book in The Inheritance Games series and cannot be read as a standalone.
The final installment follows the final weeks leading up to Avery Grambs’s eighteenth birthday when she will officially inherit Tobias Hawthorne’s fortune. This book introduces a visitor from outside the Hawthorne family, adding a new mystery and extra layers of conflict.
In my opinion, while I enjoy the concept of the universe and the puzzles, this book felt somewhat unnecessary. I understand that a satisfying conclusion was required, but by this point, the mystery felt forced and the love triangle drama felt like filler. Additionally, Avery’s character still felt overly adaptable and lacked distinctive growth, and the series’ signature riddles and puzzles, while clever, no longer felt as engaging or surprising. The resolution wrapped up loose ends but did so in a way that sometimes felt rushed or convenient.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first two books in the series and enjoy puzzle-driven mysteries, family intrigue, and romantic tension.

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the second book in The Inheritance Games series and it can’t be read as a standalone.
The book is about solving the mystery of how Avery Grambs is connected to Tobias Hawthorne and why she inherited his fortune. The story introduces more riddles, puzzles, and twists, while simultaneously intensifying the love triangle conflicts between Grayson Hawthorne and Jameson Hawthorne.
In my opinion, the book was engaging and kept me turning pages quickly, with clever puzzles and moments of suspense that made it fun to read. But, while the sequel expands the mystery, it lacks the tight-pacing or the satisfying puzzle-solving of the first book, often leading to repetition of structure. The novel leans heavily into the love triangle and ongoing riddles, but the central reveal doesn’t feel as impactful as the buildup suggests. Like many middle books in a trilogy, it spends more time setting up future twists than delivering a fully satisfying story on its own.
I would recommend this book to those who have already read the first book in the series and enjoy mysteries, clever puzzles, and romantic tension.

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes follows Avery Grambs, a teenage girl living in her car, when she—out of the blue—becomes the youngest billionaire when she inherits billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s money.
The catch? She has to live in the Hawthorne Mansion alongside the family Tobias Hawthorne just disinherited while solving riddles and puzzles.
In my opinion, this book was enjoyable. The short chapters led to a fast-paced book with a love-triangle subplot. Personally, I found most of the characters likable except for Jameson Hawthorne—one of Tobias’s four grandsons—and Avery, herself. Jameson had a tendency to speak in riddles and nonsense that made no sense, and his “rebellious” behavior was, at points, irritating. While Avery Kylie Grambs is positioned as a relatable and grounded protagonist, her personality often feels too adaptable and indistinct, making it difficult to form a strong emotional connection with her.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy fast-paced mysteries, riddles and brain teasers, and love triangles.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani follows the two opposite best friends Sophie and Agatha, who are unexpectedly taken from their village home to the fabled School for Good and Evil where children are trained to become fairy-tale heroes and villains.
Sophie, who dreams of being a princess with her pink dresses and countless good deeds, is placed in the School for Evil, while Agatha, who sees herself as an outcast, is sent to the School for Good.
As they struggle to fit into their unexpected roles, the girls begin to question what truly makes someone “good” or “evil,” and their friendship is tested as they try to find a way back home.
In my opinion, this book was great. The writing style was entertaining and descriptive, and I thought it was a unique twist on common fairytale tropes. Sophie and Agatha were both likable characters for entirely different reasons—Sophie is more than what she seems while Agatha cannot see past her appearance.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy twisted fairy tales, magical school settings, and character-driven stories.

Conrad of Urwin lives in a brutal Meritocracy, where people are divided into Highs, Middles, and Lows based not only on their family's legacy, but also their strength in combat. As Conrad and his mother struggle as Lows, he soon has no choice but to turn to the person he loathes most in this world - his uncle. And while his uncle promises to reunite Conrad with his sister, the only way to save her is to enter the Selection for the Twelve Trades and prove that he is powerful enough to earn his place in the Urwin family. However, as he embarks on this dangerous journey, Conrad must decide how far he will go in order to rise...

As much as I wanted to like "Sky's End," I honestly couldn't find any redeeming qualities within the story. From the very beginning, the writing style and pacing were off, making the book extremely difficult to read, as the time skips completely interrupted the flow and action. Not only did this severely affect the story itself, but it also made significant events (like character deaths) seem to carry no weight. Additionally, there was no clear organization or climax to the story, making the entire book seem stagnant, confusing, and rushed. None of the characters (including Conrad) were likable or dynamic, and the sexist undertones throughout the book and blatant objectification of female characters did not sit right with me as a reader.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is a cozy, heart-warming story about a caseworker who investigates a top secret orphanage filled with magical children. This is not an intense read by any means, and it has a good bit of humor as well as some lovely commentary about the nature of love and chosen family. I thought it had a relatively slow start, but I'm very glad I stuck with it. I think this book is meant to open the hearts and minds of the reader alongside the protagonist. A refreshing, wholesome story that kept me hooked until the very end.

This book is really entertaining, especially in the second half. In this book, the Augurs go to the Boundary to try to fix it but end of going through and getting stuck, Wirr handles politics and preparing the capital for evacuation, Caeden discovers what he must do to save the world and struggles with his immortal friends, and Asha discover what she must do to help the Boundary effort with her new wealth of power. I really enjoyed the unique struggles Caeden went through with the friends he is enemies with but has loved for centuries, it is a very intriguing dynamic. Davian’s captivity was always exciting to read as it explored his new relationships and struggles to exist in a world they can’t survive in and Asha’s new responsibilities show important themes about the cost of power. The first half of the book can be a bit slow as the setup continues and the entire series in general can be a bit confusing with the timeline, but I think the confusion isn’t too much of an issue and the ending more than makes up for any slog in the first half. It is a somewhat sad but satisfying end that tied up any loose ends very nicely and made me want to read it again as soon as I was done.

This was a good book but some parts were a bit slow to get through. In this book, Davian and Ishelle train at Tol Shen and have to begin dealing with the issue of the failing Boundary, Caeden grapples with who he is and what his duties and past are because of that, and Wirr and Asha handle the major political fallout with the Augur Amnesty, the new Tenets, and having a Gifted as the Northwarden. This story has a lot of setup and world-building for the next book so it can sometimes feel a bit slow. However, Caeden’s journey was really satisfying, especially for people like me who enjoy the type of character that is basically immortal so have to deal more with issues of protecting their friends and the world and having complex relationships. It isn’t the best of the series but it is still good and important.

This book was very thought-provoking and interesting. It tells the story of Davian and Wirr, who run away from the boarding school for Gifted people they live at, and Davian’s journey in learning what his powers are and how to use them. It also explores Caeden, a boy on the run with strange abilities but no memory of who he is, trying to remember himself and help his friends; and Asha, maneuvering through politics in her new state as a Shadow with new friends helping her. I love the character development and writing style this book is full of, plus the plot twists I never saw coming but understood in hindsight were really nice. The characters’ journeys were very exciting, and I found myself reading this constantly, even on reread. I’m glad this whole series came out before I read it, so I didn’t have to wait for the next one.

This was a very entertaining read. In this book, Cole, Mira and the rest of the group travel to Elloweer to find Honor (Mira’s sister), find Dalton, and defeat Morgassa with the help of the resistance and other powerful characters. I would get annoyed anytime I was interrupted while reading because the sequences, especially near the end, were so interesting that I didn’t want to stop reading them. There was a lot of important character development explored in this book through the situations they had to undergo such as with Trillian the torivor and the fight against Morgassa. The exploration of Cole’s powers is interesting and really makes theories start running through my head. It makes me want to keep reading the series.

This book was an absolute page-turner. It hardly mattered that it’s written for kids and preteens. It was still very interesting at an older age. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover on a quest to get a lightning bolt back from Hades and get it back to Zeus. All the while, monsters hunt them down and they try to rescue Percy’s mom from the underworld. The characters are very likeable and relatable and this was a nice, quick read that was very enjoyable.

This story was just as amazing as the first book of the series. There were so many interweaving stories as different sides fight to put a new king on the throne after the last one died with arguments over who the heir is and whether a section should secede. It’s very complex but has nuance that was interesting and didn’t confuse me despite its complexity. It’s a long book but it feels like it goes but in a flash with how captivating and entertaining it is. This is a book I wish I could read for the first time again.

Murtagh is part of the Inheritance Cycle series, and like all the other books, is written extremely well. This book follows Murtagh and Thorn after Eragon's main story has concluded. Thorn and Murtagh have focused their lives on surviving and mostly avoiding towns. That is, until they discover something Murtagh thinks is too interesting to ignore. Their travels lead them through multiple fatal encounters with a witch, a giant fish, and requests from werecats. Not only do the dragon and Rider have to try and defeat a witch that might be even more dangerous than Galbatorix, they also need to make peace with themselves. This book, while set in a fantasy world with all its problems, still manages to focus on the main characters' feelings and emotions. Anyone returning to the Inheritance Cycle would enjoy this book.

American Royals by Katharine McGee is a story centered on the House of Washington royalty, the monarchs that sit on America’s throne, generations after George Washington was offered the crown.
Beatrice is the heir to the throne, and will become the first Queen of America. Her parents insist on an arranged marriage, but her heart belongs to someone else.
Samantha, better known as Sam, is the spare. She’s always lived in her sister’s shadow and has had her share of flings, but the one person she truly wants is the only one she can’t have.
Jefferson, Sam’s twin, is America’s favorite prince. Charming and charismatic, he seems to have it all—except he has no idea that two very different girls are both in love with him.
In my opinion, this book was amazing! Katherine McGee’s writing style was engaging and easy to read, and the concept of an American monarchy felt fresh, unique, and completely intriguing. The shifting perspectives between characters kept the story dynamic and dramatic, making it hard to put down. I will definitely be reading the next books in the series.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy royal drama, love triangles, and glamorous contemporary romance with a twist of political intrigue.

This book, while it wasn’t my favorite, was definitely good in a way that feels almost objective. The War of the Five Kings continues to rage on and Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion create plans for power, bringing the other sides to submission, and to get what they want. Sansa wants to escape her captivity and takes on a new identity once free and Arya explores her new life in Braavos. My only issue with the book was personal preference for characters and stories I wish had been more prevalent, such as Arya, but the writing style is still incredible and the politics so common in this book are definitely appealing to a lot of people and to me a large portion of the time. This was a bit of a slower and harder one to read, but it was still quite interesting.

This book absolutely changed everything about how I read. Any time I tried to pick up any other book before finishing this one, all I could feel was a distinct desire to be reading this instead. Ned Stark tries to navigate politics as the Hand of the King, Bran recovers from a traumatic injury and begins discovering capabilities he never knew he had, Jon works his way up the ladder as a recruit at the Wall, Arya tries to live in King’s Landing while still pursuing her passions, and Sansa is stuck between love, hurt, and loyalty between her betrothed and her family. The storylines were complex and nuanced but understandable and the writing style was so good it made many other books after it feel like children’s books in comparison. Truly an incredible read.

This book was pretty good and really funny. It is a graphic novel, so it is a pretty fast read. Plain Jane and the Mermaid is about a girl with deceased parents in the 1800s who can't inherit her own house due to the fact that she is a woman. So, she goes to find a man to marry. Naturally, she chooses Peter, whom she has loved for a long time and he would gladly say yes, if only to get away from his father. This was a great plan... up until Peter was kidnapped by a mermaid. This book balances humor and sadness all while keeping the reader captivated. Although some places were a little less exciting and slow. Overall, this is a great book for graphic novel and mythical creature lovers.

This book is quite captivating. The main character, Cole, follows his friends into another a world after they were kidnapped, is enslaved, is sold to a company that has him doing dangerous work where he meets Mira. The idea of escape prevalent throughout the book builds up a desire to see it happen for these two characters and their friends. My only wish for this book is that it had the ability to explore Cole’s relationship with his two best friends more beyond just Cole’s thoughts and maybe a bit more of his experiences as a slave. Beyond that slight lack, however, it has an interesting storyline that makes you just want to keep turning the page.

Ever since he was taken in by the enigmatic, reclusive billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall, Evander has never known anything except the walls of his room in his guardian's large gothic mansion known as the Hazelthorn Estate. Physically sick, traumatized, and orphaned, he remembers next to nothing about his childhood - except that Byron's grandson, Laurie, once tried to kill him by burying him alive. For Evander's safety, Byron has given him a strict set of rules he must abide by, including that he must never leave his room or go anywhere near Laurie alone. And he cannot, for reasons unbeknownst to him, go into the ever-growing, ominous gardens of Hazelthorn.

Then one day Byron dies a gruesome death right in front of Evander. And a look in Byron's will reveals something strange: all of Hazelthorn Estates and his riches will be inherited by Evander, leaving nothing to the rest of his family, including Laurie. Horrified by the sudden turn of events, Evander is certain that his caretaker must have been murdered, leaving him to find the killer. But other threats appear as Byron's eerie relatives begin to move into the estate, clearly wanting a claim on Evander's newfound riches, and as Hazelthorn's strange garden, previously off-limits to Evander, continuously grows, threatening to swallow up the Estate - and Evander himself. As unsettling family secrets begin to reveal themselves one by one, Evander is forced to figure out the ugly truth behind Hazelthorn Estates before the garden - or Byron's supposed murderer - gets to him, and he might just have to put his trust in Laurie, the boy who tried to kill him years ago, to survive.

I must start off by stating that Drews' writing style was very immersive in my opinion - I loved the dark, psychological style of the book, although at some points it felt a little overdone and edgy. The plot was, in simplest terms, insane: there were definitely twists that I never could have predicted, and each one was more surprising than the last. The body horror elements in the novel managed to spook me a little, which is rare for me. The book is fast paced, especially the second half, and each chapter left me with so many questions that I just had to keep reading for want of finding out. Evander and Laurie's relationship was also very complex - it was a genuine lovers-to-enemies story, and both of the characters slowly letting out their traumas and vulnerabilities gave the story emotional output and catharsis. I also enjoyed Evander's journey to self-acceptance, that feeling of finally breaking free from the confines one's been put in and learning to love oneself. Overall, it was personally a good read and a nice introduction to the body horror genre for me. I also look forward to potentially reading Drews' previously published work of a similar genre, Don't Let the Forest In.

Imagine Me provides a clear, satisfying ending for the second arc of Shatter Me books. However, I expected Imagine Me to be action packed and to make me not want to put the book down. Instead, everything felt slow and calculated, almost how you would expect the second book in a trilogy to go. Some scenes and plot arcs felt underdeveloped, or completely unnecessary.

While the plot was slow, and it was sometimes a struggle to pick up the book, Tahereh Mafi was still able to do what she does best: develop her characters. She established new relationships that built off previous experiences, developed all of her characters from the supreme leaders to the main characters we've been rooting for since day 1. I felt the characters are what made the book enjoyable, not the plot.

Despite Imagine Me's underdeveloped plot, I would still recommend it if you want to finish the series on a good note, with most if not all plot points resolved in a satisfying way. It just didn't have the same emotional punch in my opinion as the previous Shatter Me books, which is why I rated it 3 stars.

This book was one of the best I have ever read. After four books of buildup, it is finally time for the finale. Follow Qibley one of the smartest dragons who has ever lived as he races against time trying to stop Dark Stalker. You also finally get to see who moon will choose, Winter or Qibley, for love. Finally finished the grappling pot that has been going on for four books.

Dominic Barrow has a bad reputation. At Alderland's most prestigious academy, he is known for being the rebel and player that skips classes and doesn't have a care in the world. On the other hand, Ellery Caldwell is the academy's golden girl. Coming to Alderland as a refugee, she has quickly gained the reputation of one of the brightest magicians of her class. However, as the winter cataclysm approaches, Dominic and Ellery's lives are changed forever as the most powerful Summer wand awakens - and an unprecedented Winter wand is created. As the Chosen Two, Dominic and Ellery must find a way to thwart the cataclysm together... while grappling with their feelings for one another.

"A Fate So Cold" by Amanda Foody is a YA fantasy-romance novel. I really enjoyed reading the first part of the book - the characters were engaging, Dominic and Ellery's romance plot was sweet, and I wanted to know what would happen next. However, I became increasingly disappointed as the story went on. The world Ellery and Dominic live in is really interesting, and the culture around the academy, wands, and Summer-Winter conflict are unique. However, there was little to no world-building, leaving me confused about the setting and traditions in the book, which Foody seemed to assume the reader already knew. Additionally, Ellery and Dominic's romance was incredibly undeveloped - before they got together, their trope was sweet and engaging, but as soon as they actually started dating, the relationship became toxic, repetitive, and confusing. Finally, the ending of this story was anticlimactic and unsatisfying - it didn't seem to relate to the rest of the story at all.

On the day of the fifteenth annual Hunger Games, the nation of Panem is in turmoil. In light of the second Quarter Quell, Haymitch Abernathy has been set up for failure, with double the tributes in the most brutal bloodbath of the Hunger Games. But despite the impossibility of his odds, Haymitch only has one goal: to cause the downfall of the Capital.

Oh my gosh, Haymitch’s story is so unbelievably heartbreaking, but definitely a story worth being told. Suzanne Collins continues to blow my mind with all the parallels between the original Hunger Games series and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Finally knowing Haymitch’s side of the story gives his role in The Hunger Games a whole new meaning and depth that breaks my heart even further. The only complaint I would have would be how long the first half of the book took. I know there needs to be some lead up that happens before the games, but it just felt a little too long compared to the second half. The epilogue though was one of the most compelling I think I’ve ever read, as it helps finalize his character within the entire Hunger Games franchise. I cannot wait for the movie!

What happens to the world if a deadly pandemic were to rush through the world? What happens when the world and civilization as we know it collapses? Station 11 attempts to answer that question by following the lives of many characters through the past and present. Arthur is a celebrity who can't seem to keep a marriage. Kirsten was only a child when the flu hit but now she is traveling in a traveling symphony sharing their love for the arts with the few towns that exist. The Prophet, obsessed with airplanes, wants to make the world normal again in... interesting ways.

The idea and the events behind Station 11 are amazing and the pandemic made me very interested in what this book could be. I find the characters to be interesting to learn about and see how they grow and change overtime. The themes of relationships, family, civilization, memory and reminiscing are powerful and make you think. Unfortunately I find that the plot of the book is nonexistent at times and can sometimes drag on. It also can feel very confusing at times as almost everything in the book is connected to every other thing making it hard to keep tract of the plentiful amount of characters and objects on top of the non linear format . Overall I would say that this novel is overall a good read with very captivating stories and themes but with some issues with plot.

Defy Me is the fifth book in the Shatter Me series. Defy Me is a great follow up read after the cliffhanger Restore Me ends on. Answers and action are well paced throughout the book, with no part feeling too slow or too fast. Most questions asked in Restore Me, and some that you might not realize you had, are answered through flashbacks and knowledge from older characters.

The action is fast paced and serves to help develop the characters and their relationships. Every character has a clear defined goal, and while they have different goals Tahereh Mafi is still able to make them work together without ideals clashing. I finished this book in 2 days right after finishing Restore Me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the Shatter Me series. Not only are new continents introduced, but newer characters are developed as well as the original characters that were present in the first book. Tahereh Mafi does a wonderful job of not spending too much time developing her main characters, and focusing on the new ones, while also not leaving the original characters how they were at the end of Ignite Me and further developing them as well.

This was one of my favorite books in the entire series, and I would recommend any fan of Shatter Me continues the series with this read.

Restore Me is a continuation of the Shatter Me series. It has the same characters, same setting, but the enemy is more than just Anderson, it is now the entire Reestablishment. Juliette is now the commander of Sector 45, and is working to destroy the Reestablishment from within. However, she still has much to learn about her friends, her enemies, and herself.

Restore Me is not as action packed as the previous Ignite Me because it serves as a bridge to set up a new story arc that introduces new problems, new revelations, and new characters. I had previously heard the second arc of the Shatter Me series was not worth reading because it was too confusing and it seemed like the author was only writing this plot for money. I disagree. Tahereh Mafi expands her world from Sector 45 and shows the characters grappling with the new information they are learning, especially Juliette.

This book includes nonstop reveals about popular characters, like Juliette, Warner and Kenji, that made it almost impossible to put down. Every chapter I learned something new that didn't feel forced, but rather enlightening. I didn't rate this book 5 stars, because at times the action is slow while Juliette is learning more about the world around her. I think it is well worth your time to read Restore Me if you loved the first three Shatter Me novels and want to continue your adventure with the characters and world.

“The Screwtape Letters” is a satire Christian fiction told in an epistolary format about a demon mentoring his nephew to corrupt a Christian man. I had to read this book for my honors English class, and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Not only are there a variety of Christian themes explored, Lewis writes with a sardonic humor that made the novel very immersive. I especially enjoyed Screwtape’s character, and it was fascinating to see how his characterization changed throughout the book. Despite the novel not following typical writing patterns such as prose or even the development of side characters, I found that it was a very fast and easy read that grew more interesting with the annotations I made. I would recommend this book to those with an interest in Christian philosophy, or those who may be seeking a relatively simple novel within the classic genre.