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I loved that THE DAVENPORTS was inspired by a real family, the C.R. Pattersons who owned C.R. Patterson & Sons Carriage Company. All of the main characters are Black which was great to have that representation as I haven’t read much historical fiction from this time period lately and liked that it was focused on African American history. The narration rotates between each of the four young women. The characters are well-developed and felt very genuine. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and their families and the ways they questioned their places in the family and society, daring to challenge status quo while they explored how they aimed to move forward in life. Despite having wealth, the young women as well as their families faced difficulties and dangerous situations, giving a reminder that the power of money only goes so far during this turbulent time in the U.S., especially for Black families. There were parts that were difficult to read but are pieces of history that are necessary to be acknowledged. The plot moved along at a good pace that had me eagerly turning pages. I liked how the romance aspects were written. When I reached the conclusion, my heart sank as I had forgotten that this is the first book of a series. I was disappointed to not find out how each of the girls’ plot lines resolved, but that just leaves me with something to look forward to in the next book. Thank you to Dial Books for the giveaway ARC.

Surrounded by a poisonous lake and living with a bloodthirsty forest, the residents of Endla will do anything to protect their island from outsiders including killing them. Anyone who doesn’t possess Endlan magic is banished from the island. Leelo’s brother is about to meet that fate and although it’s the way things have always been done, Leelo finds it difficult to accept. When Leelo discovers an outsider about to drown in the lake, she has to make a choice. Will she stay true to her community and walk away to let them die, or will she take a chance that not every outsider brings harm and help the person? THE POISON SEASON was an engrossing fantasy read. I felt immersed in the land of Endla, traveling along with Leelo and the other characters thanks to the wonderful worldbuilding. The characters were fantastic and well developed. For being in a fantasy world and having non-human characteristics, they felt very real – their actions, conversations, thoughts. There is some romance in the book along with quite a few dark but thought-provoking scenes. I enjoyed the progression of the plot and that it gave me things to ponder along the way. The ending wraps the story up satisfactorily. I really enjoyed THE POISON SEASON and would recommend it to fantasy fans. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking into her other works.

When geek club member Cameron and student council president Karla start hooking up over the summer, they think it’s just a fling between coworkers. But now it’s senior year and they’re hiding what they’re doing from their friends because each group does not mix well with the other. Cameron meets Mackenzie and is intrigued by her confidence in not caring what others think about her. Will he continue what’s going on with Karla or is there potential for something with Mackenzie? THE WRONG KIND OF WEIRD is full of teenage angst, nerdy fun, and romance. I liked that there was diversity amongst the characters. I wasn’t familiar with many of the anime references but from context could still grasp what was being conveyed. Someone who’s a fan of anime will likely have even greater enjoyment. The story bounces between fun rom-com, dramatic moments, and social commentary, ultimately leading to an ending with a meaningful message. Important topics that highschoolers face are discussed in a thoughtful manner. What didn’t work for me in the execution of this book was the amount of cursing found throughout. It didn’t seem necessary for plot or character development and after a while was making me cringe due to the volume. I found the writing to be enjoyable otherwise. THE WRONG KIND OF WEIRD is a nerdy YA rom-com, perfect for anime fans. Thank you to Inkyard Press for the giveaway copy.

Iselia “Seelie” and Isolde are not your average twin sisters. Seelie is an autistic changeling with unpredictable magic. When the pair end up in the middle of a heist gone awry, they make some new acquaintances and find themselves on a mysterious journey full of fae secrets. Will Seelie find a way to control her magic so she can keep her sister and herself safe? UNSEELIE was a very interesting YA fantasy book. I loved the premise, especially that the main character was a neurodivergent female. There was great character development for Seelie. I enjoyed the other characters as well, though they were less developed. The worldbuilding was well done and I liked the different fantasy aspects. The beginning and end of the book had quite a bit of action while the middle felt pretty up and down in pace. The book is advertised as being “swoony” which I didn’t get a sense of but perhaps there will be more of that feeling in the sequel. UNSEELIE is book one of Ivelisse Housman’s The Unseelie Duology. I’d recommend it to fans of YA fantasy and anyone looking for neurodivergent representation. I will be looking forward to reading book two in the future.

In an affluent suburb, a young woman is discovered dead. The three teenagers last with her are suspects of the investigation. What really happened while they were partying that lead to her death? What lengths will their parents go to in order to protect them? I was a bit taken aback by the opening of LOCUST LANE but am glad that I kept reading as it turned out to be a gripping mystery/thriller. I liked how the narration alternated the focus through a rotation of the adult characters. It was an interesting choice not to include the teens in this being that they are suspects in the death investigation. I liked the dynamics between the characters and the exploration of what parents are willing to do to protect their children and how privilege influences decisions. The characters felt real. The plot moved along rapidly and I was eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next. I guessed the outcome of the investigation prior to the end of the book but still enjoyed finishing reading. LOCUST LANE was an excellent mystery/thriller. This is the first book of Stephen Amidon’s that I’ve read. I will definitely take a look at some of his other work. Thank you to Celadon Books for the giveaway ARC.

Set in Xin Dynasty year 414, Zephyr, a strategist of the warlordess Ren, infiltrates enemy camp to protect Ren and her followers. What happens when she encounters an opposing strategist? Does she know who her enemies really are? STRIKE THE ZITHER was an interesting fantasy read inspired by the Chinese literature ‘Three Kingdoms.’ I really liked the first half of the book with all of the war strategy. It kept me turning pages to see how the action was going to play out and what plans were going to be made next. Then around halfway through, a twist occurs that unfortunately changed my enjoyment of the book significantly and left me feeling like the later half was a slog to read. I lost all connection to the characters and didn’t feel the same excitement as when I first started reading. STRIKE THE ZITHER is the first book in Joan He’s Kingdom of Three duology. I will probably read the second book at some point out of curiosity to see what the conclusion is, though it’s not on the top of my list. While this wasn’t the best book for me overall, fans of YA fantasy may want to give this book a try as they may like the twist.

After being fired from his job as a police officer for being caught in a gay bar raid, Andy is offered employment investigating the death of the head of a famous soap empire. Andy finds himself staying at Lavender House, home of a queer family where no one hides who they are within the house but all fear what will become of them if the outside world finds out their secrets. As he works to uncover if there’s a murderer among them, Andy contemplates if the freedom of Lavender House is truly free. I greatly enjoyed LAVENDER HOUSE. The story sucked me in from the first pages with an immediate feeling like I was in a film noir. The setting of 1950s San Francisco was fantastic. I loved the queer representation amongst all the characters. There’s a lot of social commentary and thought-provoking moments which I found to make the book very engaging. The plot moved at a great pace. I didn’t have the murderer figured out right away which is always a plus. The ending was satisfying and also open-ended enough that it could smoothly lead into a sequel if the author does so. I would happily read a second book if this became a series. If my home responsibilities had not been in the way, this is a book that I easily would have read in one sitting as it kept me turning pages. LAVENDER HOUSE was a great queer historical fiction mystery that I’d highly recommend.

In FRIZZY, a middle-grade level graphic novel, Marlene struggles with the conflict between her family’s expectations of what makes her “presentable” and her desire to wear her hair as its natural curls. She hates going to the salon to have her hair straightened. Will Marlene figure out how to feel comfortable being herself and be able to convey this to her family? FRIZZY is a fantastic graphic novel with an overall positive message. Despite being simplistic in nature due to the middle-grade audience level, the writing conveys what needs to be said in an effective manner and can appeal to a larger audience. The graphics are wonderful and really pull the book together. Graphic novels aren’t usually my preference, but this one was really great. It’s hard to read this book and not feel empathy for Marlene. I’d recommend FRIZZY to anyone looking for a middle-grade graphic novel with a meaningful message.

Alice Sun is different from the other students at her elite boarding school. They come from rich families and Alice’s parents while once barely able to afford her tuition, now cannot afford to keep her in school. Something changes though and Alice becomes even more different – she turns uncontrollably invisible. Realizing that she can use this to her advantage, Alice discovers her classmates’ secrets and sells them. But how far will things go? IF YOU COULD SEE THE SUN was filled with action, intrigue, and social commentary which made for an engaging read. I love academia settings so the premise of this book sounded interesting right from the start. I liked the writing style. The plot moved along at a good pace. I would have liked to see a bit more character development. The social commentary was nicely wrapped in and brought up some though-provoking subjects. I’d recommend IF YOU COULD SEE THE SUN to those looking for an entertaining YA read with magical realism.

Giada’s family has magical powers that they use for healing. On the cusp of her thirteenth birthday, Giada must decide whether she will follow her family legacy of healing humans or follow her heart’s desire to heal animals, something that is not allowed. HOW TO HEAL A GRYPHON was a delightful middle-grade fantasy book. I loved the adorably spunky main character, Giada. I’m a fan of books that explore family dynamics and tradition especially when the conflict between characters leads to character development. The writing flowed well and the plot moved along at a good pace. I liked how the fantasy aspects of Giada’s world were created. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t more focus on Giada’s healing of animals. Given the premise of the story, I thought this would have played a larger role in the book than it did. HOW TO HEAL A GRYPHON is a well-written and appropriate/enjoyable book for a middle-grade audience. Despite being targeted for that age range, this is a book that I liked reading as an adult. I would recommend it.

Headed into senior year, Avery’s life abruptly changes as her family moves from DC to small-town Georgia to be with her grandmother who’s terminally ill. Things aren’t going well due to longstanding conflict between Avery’s mom and grandmother and no one is willing to talk to her about it. She finds solace in new friendships with her neighbor, Simone, and Jade, a classmate. As Avery begins to discover things about her family’s past, her friendship with Simone turns into romance. Will Avery keep searching for the truth about what happened years ago at the risk of affecting her relationships or will she let it go? WE DESERVE MONUMENTS was a fantastic YA contemporary fiction book. The author captured an array of emotions in a raw and vulnerable way that felt so real. The characters were great. I really loved Mama Letty and how her relationship with Avery developed. The story is very character-driven so for those used to action-packed books, it may be slow, but I felt the pacing worked well overall. Many themes are explored including family, racism, trauma, and coming-of-age. Something that was revealed toward the end surprised me and was completely not on my radar which made the conclusion interesting. Upon finishing reading and reflecting, it’s easy to see why the title chosen is the perfect fit. WE DESERVE MONUMENTS would be a great read for fans of YA or queer fiction. Thank you to Roaring Book Press for the giveaway copy.

Avril’s mother drowned when she was five years old. At seventeen, she returns to the scene of the incident – a theater camp – hoping to discover the truth of what really happened all those years ago. The death was determined to be an accident but Avril has always had the feeling that is not accurate. SECRETS SO DEEP was a slow burn, hauntingly atmospheric thriller. Despite the slow pace, I found myself quickly turning pages, engrossed in the story. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships with each other, though they didn’t always make the best choices. Theater settings can be hit or miss for me. Sometimes they are too over-the-top dramatic and it detracts from the story but in this case, I found the level of the theater setting and theme to be good. There were lots of little twists that kept the plot interesting. I’d recommend SECRETS SO DEEP to YA thriller fans.

THE PICTURE BRIDE was a fantastic historical fiction read. I found Willow’s story to be captivating and loved that her connections to her friends were also included so that we were able to see how other picture brides found their way as well. I can’t imagine being in Willow’s situation, uprooting my life and traveling so far away to marry someone I’d only seen a photo of. As if the disappointment in finding out the matchmaker lied to her about being able to attend school and that her husband was a land owner wasn’t enough, Willow faced challenge after challenge yet somehow still persevered. Her strength was phenomenal and kept me turning pages to see how she would navigate whatever was thrown at her next. The pacing was well done. There was a twist toward the end of the book that took me by surprise. I liked that the author noted how this book came to fruition and the translator gave notes on the methods of translation. Given that I do not speak or read in the original language, it’s difficult to comment on the quality of translation. I can say that I appreciate the careful thought and detail taken by the translator as described and I found the notes to be an interesting insight into the process. This is the first of Lee Geum-Yi’s books to be translated to English. I would certainly read others should they be translated in the future. I enjoyed THE PICTURE BRIDE very much and would definitely recommend to fans of historical fiction.

The families that own two neighboring bakeries, Salt and Sugar, are in a feud that has spanned generations when big changes happen that threaten both businesses. Can Lari from Salt and Pedro from Sugar find a way to work together to save the bakeries despite the rest of their families at each other’s throats? SALT AND SUGAR is a YA romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope. The premise in the synopsis was enough to catch my attention but overall, this book did not deliver for me. I found the world building to be lacking. I kept forgetting where the book was taking place as the setting didn’t seem to strongly or consistently speak of Brazil outside of the food. There wasn’t significant character development and the family feud was overly dramatic. The constant yelling or miscommunication got to be a bit much. An overwhelming amount of time was spent detailing food. The first ¾ of the book was very slow paced and didn’t feel like much was driving the plot forward. It was great that themes of grief, family, and community were included, but it felt like they got lost within the drama and cooking descriptions. The last part of the book finally picked up in action, culminating in a somewhat rushed feeling conclusion. SALT AND SUGAR was a cute concept for a YA romance but ultimately wasn’t a favorite of mine. Fans of Romeo and Juliet retellings might enjoy it more.

It’s the summer before senior year and Hannah’s boyfriend has just broken up with her because he doesn’t think they have anything in common. He loves K-pop and K-dramas and Hannah has never embraced that part of her Korean identity. Her childhood best friend, Jacob, is the star of a K-drama and is visiting from Korea for the summer. They haven’t seen each other in years and had a falling out after he moved away. How will Hannah cope with having Jacob back in her life? Will she win her boyfriend back? SEOULMATES is a quick and cute YA childhood friends-to-lovers read. I liked the premise of the story. Having virtually no knowledge of K-pop or K-drama culture, I appreciated that the author gave snippets of info that helped a reader such as myself have a better handle on important aspects. I did find some of the dialogue to feel awkward and the character development a bit lacking. Overall, SEOULMATES was a good read for a YA romance.

A group of teenage semidioses are chosen for The Sunbearer Trials – a competition to determine who will be sacrificed to Sol to fuel the Sun Stones for the next ten years. THE SUNBEARER TRIALS started out on a good note but quickly went south for me. There were so many characters that all of the introductions began feeling cumbersome. I didn’t know if it was someone important to the story that I needed to remember or someone that was just being mentioned in passing. The largest issue I had with this book was not knowing whether it was trying to be middle grade, YA, or something else. The writing felt chaotic with respect to the target audience. There was far too much foul language to be middle grade and some of the topics discussed were more appropriate for YA or adult, yet the writing was often very simplified as if for a younger child. I find enjoyment in reading across a variety of genres and age groups but the inconsistency of this book definitely hindered my ability to really enjoy it. One redeeming quality was the abundant LGBTQIA+ representation. THE SUNBEARER TRIALS is the first book in Aiden Thomas’ The Sunbearer Duology. It ends with “To Be Continued” to allow for continuation to the second book. It’s unlikely that I will continue reading this series.

Shay, a teenage witch, competes for a scholarship that will allow her to attend the college of her dreams – one that she couldn’t afford otherwise. When asked to star in the school’s musical, Shay feels pressured to say yes because the director is on the scholarship committee. Once rehearsals begin, Shay starts to experience unwanted behaviors from him. Can she put a stop to it without jeopardizing her scholarship hopes? HOW TO SUCCEED IN WITCHCRAFT was a great YA fantasy read filled with fantastic social commentary. Brophy created a high school world with realistic issues that teens experience and weaved in the magic of the characters being witches with the added witch-related problems they face. It was the perfect level of fantasy and romance. I liked the dynamics between the characters who were either love-to-love-them or love-to-hate-them. The setting of musical theater wasn’t over-the-top which was nice. Brophy writes in a way that invites the reader to have empathy for the characters even if they can’t personally identify with the same struggles. She’s hit the mark with this book for the YA audience, though it will still be appealing to some adult readers. HOW TO SUCCEED IN WITCHCRAFT is recommended for fans of YA fantasy, rivals-to-lovers romance, sapphic romance, queer rep, or witchy books. I really enjoyed this debut and will keep an eye out for future works by Aislinn Brophy. Thank you to G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the finished copy.

L.A. Times reporter, Paul Pringle, receives a tip that turns into a monster of an investigation into crimes, cover-ups and scandals involving high-profile employees of the University of Southern California. The corruption hits close to home when Pringle and his colleagues run into trouble reporting their stories in their very own newsroom. BAD CITY reads like a thriller but it’s horrifyingly nonfiction. Pringle is clearly a skilled investigative journalist. I’m not sure how anyone can read this book and not come away with an appreciation for the intense amount of work that those such as Pringle put into the pieces they research and write. I was angered the entire time while reading BAD CITY. I know that corruption runs rampant in many areas but to read such a detailed account just hurts. The only negative I can say about this book is that there were a few parts that started to feel a little tangential. Otherwise, this is an excellent read. I’d recommend BAD CITY to those looking for a nonfiction thriller.

After his wife receives some devastating health-related news, she makes him promise that they will go on a grand adventure. And thus begins YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE; a true story of the author and his wife’s journey to bike The Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath trails – all 350 miles. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE hit close to home for me in several ways, making it hard to put down. The author writes with such an easy-going tone that it feels like a good friend is telling you their story. He’s candid when speaking about his upbringing, family, religion, marriage, and feelings about the bike trip. The witty writing balanced out more serious parts. It’s hard not to think about your own relationships and how you respond to hardships while reading. This book is a nice reminder that humor can ease the burden of our difficulties and help us persevere. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE is a heartwarming story of love, friendship, and what it means to truly keep a promise. I’d recommend this book. Thank you to Zondervan for the finished copy.

After Aria ends up in a bad position during a graduation party, her parents send her to live with her grandmother in California for the summer. Her disappointment in being away from her friends soon ends when she meets her grandmother’s gardener, Steph, and is introduced to the queer community that Steph is a part of. A SCATTER OF LIGHT is a companion novel to Malinda Lo’s LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB. I thought LAST NIGHT was fantastic and was very excited to read A SCATTER, however it fell somewhat short of my expectations. In LAST NIGHT, I felt completely swept up in the world Lo built as though I was experiencing things along with the characters. A SCATTER had more of a disconnect for me in that aspect. There were areas that I wish had gone deeper. I was left with an overall sense of superficiality which was disappointing because Lo certainly has the writing talent. With regard to being a companion novel – there’s minimal reference to LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB, so little that it really could have been cut and A SCATTER OF LIGHT could have been advertised as its own entity void of connection. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more that way. It’s possible that I’m too heavily comparing it to LAST NIGHT. A SCATTER OF LIGHT would be recommended for those looking for a queer coming-of-age book. I’m glad that I gave it a chance, though my preference is for LAST NIGHT AT THE TELEGRAPH CLUB. Thank you to Dutton/Penguin Random House for the finished copy.

At sixteen years old, Selestra spends her days trapped in the king’s castle, awaiting her fate to become his next witch upon turning eighteen. Having always been told she is destined to follow in her mother’s footsteps of stealing souls to feed the king’s immortality, Selestra’s world is upended when she sees a prediction linking her death to that of Nox, a soldier in the king’s army. Selestra and Nox must join together to fight the king. PRINCESS OF SOULS is a YA fantasy romance inspired by the tale of Rapunzel. I liked how the Rapunzel aspect was weaved into the book ever so slightly, giving a touch of influence to the story but ultimately allowing PRINCESS OF SOULS to have its own uniqueness. There’s a lovely map of The Six Isles at the beginning of the book. The world building was fantastic. I felt like I was on the journey with Selestra and Nox. The characters were well written. Being dual POV narration, there was insight into both Selestra’s and Nox’s thoughts. The romance was slow burn, enemies to lovers, and included playful banter throughout. The action and the fantasy world kept me turning pages. I really enjoyed PRINCESS OF SOULS and would recommend to fans of YA fantasy romance. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I plan to check out some of her other works. Thank you to Feiwel and Friends for the finished copy.

“We all live in cages. Only those of us who are lucky get to choose which one.” After watching a murderer flee the crime scene, Catrin helps the investigator assigned to the case, Simon. They soon find themselves tracking a serial killer. Simon knows far too much about the mind of a killer and Catrin keeps her supernatural sight abilities secret. How long can secrets last when there’s a killer running around? BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT is a YA fantasy mystery-thriller that doesn’t read like a typical angsty YA book. I quickly became engrossed in Catrin’s world, turning pages to see if I could solve the mystery of who the murderer was. I was guessing up to the end. I enjoyed the world building. The idea of Catrin’s supernatural ability to have increased sight being granted by the moon was interesting and I liked how it was executed within plot. There are some deeper topics to think about when reading – how do we treat people with mental illness? How do we treat s3x workers? Our own actions towards these populations as well as society as a whole are called into question. I always enjoy when a book is thought provoking. BLOOD AND MOONLIGHT was an enjoyable read that I’d recommend to fantasy mystery-thriller fans.

SEND HER BACK is a collection of 16 short stories about black women’s immigrant experience in the US. Although fiction, the book seems as if it’s non-fiction. Munashe Kaseke excels at creating characters that feel real, making it hard not to empathize. Both poignant and hopeful, SEND HER BACK is a read that deals with some heavy topics including racism, sexism, and abuse. Kaseke chooses an interesting format of using first- and third-person narration as well as a couple of stories in the not often used second-person. A few things kept this from being a higher rated read for me. There was an inconsistency in the writing with some stories being significantly stronger than others. After a certain point, the protagonists meshed together. Though each story centered on a different Zimbabwean woman’s experience, many of the stories felt too similar. I may have preferred several novellas instead of this larger short story collection so that there could have been more character development and less overlap between story themes. Altogether, this was a good read to learn more about Zimbabwean culture and the immigrant experience. I will keep an eye out for any future books by this author. I’d recommend SEND HER BACK to anyone looking to read about black women’s immigrant experience in the US with an emphasis on Zimbabwean culture.

“ ‘If you don’t come with me, I might die.’ Those were the last words my sister ever said to me.” Nerdy horror movie lover Alice watches her sister’s murder on Halloween night in a corn maze. One year later, she’s set to testify against the accused but before she can take the stand, a Sidney Prescott look-a-like knocks her unconscious in the bathroom of the courthouse. Alice is transported back to the night of the murder and the clock starts ticking. Can she figure out who the killer really is before midnight and also save her sister? HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR MURDER is a fun YA horror book. The pace keeps up well throughout with some twists and turns that culminate in a surprising ending. Tons of horror/slasher movie references litter this book, so if you’re a movie buff, you’ll likely find extra enjoyment. The book reads a lot like a movie – I was yelling at the book in my head… “don’t do that” or “don’t go in there” and it felt the same as reacting to a movie. I’m not super huge into horror movies but still knew almost all the references so things made sense. Someone who is not a movie watcher at all may lose some of the context. There’s definitely a nostalgic feel. Some parts felt predictable but not so much that it ruined the book for me overall. I found HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR MURDER to be a fun horror read and would recommend to those looking for a YA horror book, especially anyone who is a fan of horror/slasher movies.

At seventeen-years-old, Adanna Nkwachi feels pressure in many areas of her life. Her parents have high expectations of her schooling. Her fellow debate team members rely on her to win. Her cousin needs help with her over-the-top Nigerian wedding to a celebrity. Her love life is beyond confusing. To top all of this off, her brother left home years ago with no explanation and since then she has felt extra pressure to please her parents. But what does dealing with all of this cost Adanna? “My name at school is Sophie. My name at home is Adanna. Everyone at school calls me Sophie, my middle name, and whenever I hear it, it’s my trigger to put away the Skeleboy and brazen Afrobeats playlists, to stop slipping in and out of pidgin English, and turn on my white voice.” TWICE AS PERFECT is a heartfelt coming-of-age story that explores what it means to grow up in two worlds and how to find a sense of self. The title fits perfectly with the theme of the book which was well developed. Louisa Onome has created characters that are hard not to empathize with, despite them being unlikeable at times. The Nigerian culture is wonderfully conveyed, including snippets of pidgin dialogue interspersed throughout the book. I found this to be a very satisfying read and would recommend it. This is the first book I have read from this author. I will be checking out her other work. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the copy.

Dr. Marks writes in a friendly tone, systematically presenting the material in a textbook-like format. Though this is an interesting read for anyone, the following readers specifically should find benefit from this book: those with anxiety looking to better understand their diagnosis, those who are undiagnosed and wondering if what they are experiencing is anxiety, those who are interested in exploring alternative treatment options/tools for managing anxiety, those who are unsure when to seek professional mental health assistance, family/friends of someone with anxiety looking to better understand what their loved one experiences. Overall, WHY AM I SO ANXIOUS? is an informative read. Thank you to DK Penguin Random House for the finished copy.

Mukana Press has put together an eclectic mix of short stories in its anthology of African writing entitled THE NEWLYWEDS’ WINDOW. In the Southern African language of Shona, “Mukana” means “opportunity.” With the goal to give underrepresented authors the opportunity for their work to be published and shared the world over, this anthology packs a good punch. The collection has a story for everyone and while the genres vary greatly – horror, mysticism, and speculative fiction to name a few – each story is connected by our shared human experience. These authors have unique voices, differing writing styles, hail from countries thousands of miles and oceans away from me, with cultures that I only know pieces of, yet I still feel a connection to their stories. Though we all experience things in our individual ways, there are still universals that are common everywhere – family, coming-of-age, tradition, superstition, fear, panic, curiosity, friendship. Some of the stories had cliff-hanger endings. I really liked this. I am not one to shy away from books that don’t give a happy-ever-after ending and the unsettling feeling that the end of several of these pieces gave actually made me appreciate them more. It’s hard to pick a favorite. I’d recommend THE NEWLYWEDS’ WINDOW to fans of short stories, African literature, or anyone looking to diversify their reading. Thank you to Mukana Press for the copy.

Ziva, an 18-year-old blacksmith with severe social anxiety, goes on the run with her sister, a hired mercenary, and a scholar after finding out her latest creation, an all-powerful magic sword, is intended to be used for evil by the warlord that commissioned it. I found BLADE OF SECRETS to be a mediocre YA fantasy read. Although the concept of the story was enticing, the world building was lacking. Though there was some action, none of it was very intense so I didn’t find the book to be a gripping page-turner. There is also a romance sub-plot. This is book one of a duology and does end on a cliff-hanger. Even so, I don’t feel very motivated to pursue the second book. BLADE OF SECRETS wasn’t the best fit for me but fans of YA fantasy or those looking for social anxiety character representation might like to give it a try.