The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

Available May 7, 2024

CW can be found here on The StoryGraph

Look at this gorgeous cover!

From the Publisher:

In a country divided between humans and witchers, Venus Stoneheart hustles as a brewer making illegal love potions to support her family.

Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her.

Then an enemy's iron bullet kills her mother, Venus's life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother's killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. The cost? Brew poisonous potions to enslave D.C.'s most influential politicians.

As Venus crawls deeper into the corrupt underbelly of her city, the line between magic and power blurs, and it's hard to tell who to trust…Herself included.

Reader Friends, this book is incredible. No lie, I started this book months ago and was just a few pages in when I knew I had to put it down because this is such an amazing and special book that I wanted to be sure I was giving it the attention it deserved. I finally had a couple of days to really sit down and immerse myself in this emotional, heartbreaking, and powerful novel. If you are one of those readers who immediately disregards YA, this book will change your mind on the genre.

Baptiste crafted an alternate world that uses magic to explore themes of racism, classism, sexuality and generational trauma. Venus, still so young but straddled with such responsibility, literally puts her body and life in danger to support her family by brewing love potions. Her younger sister, Janus, wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and lead a revolution to guarantee the rights and freedom of witches, but her youthful overconfidence often puts both sisters in danger, adding to Venus’s stress and sense of responsibility. Adding to that tension is the fraught relationship both girls have with their mother. A mother who is more often terse, controlling, and detached when dealing with her two daughters. This complicated relationship drives much of the story and really packs an emotional punch.

The magical system is well developed and very interesting. I really enjoyed the lore of the brewers and their importance in history. There was just information given to keep the reader invested in the story without being too cumbersome with overly detailed rules. The magic was expertly woven into the story and always felt integral, not at all like it was used for convenience or to fill plot holes.

This is definitely a well paced, emotionally charged, and thought provoking book that will stay with you long after the last page. If you’d like to add it to your shelf, you can click on the cover above or here for ordering information.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post may contain links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

Available now

From the Publisher:

When Jade Nguyen arrives in Vietnam for a visit with her estranged father, she has one goal: survive five weeks pretending to be a happy family in the French colonial house Ba is restoring. She's always lied to fit in, so if she's straight enough, Vietnamese enough, American enough, she can get out with the college money he promised.

But the house has other plans. Night after night, Jade wakes up paralyzed. The walls exude a thrumming sound while bugs leave their legs and feelers in places they don't belong. She finds curious traces of her ancestors in the gardens they once tended. And at night Jade can't ignore the ghost of the beautiful bride who leaves cryptic warnings: Don't eat.

Neither Ba nor her sweet sister Lily believe that there is anything strange happening. With help from a delinquent girl, Jade will prove this house--the home they have always wanted--will not rest until it destroys them. Maybe, this time, she can keep her family together. As she roots out the house's rot, she must also face the truth of who she is and who she must become to save them all.

Look at that cover! Isn’t it incredible!

This book comes to you from not just me, but also recommend by my two fabulous, real-life teenage interns at the Library! It’s definitely one of the most compelling, horrifying, and imaginative books I’ve read this summer. It delves into the complexities of colonialism, identity, belonging, and intergenerational trauma. Jade is a very complex character that is dealing with SO MUCH. Her relationship with her father is strained even more with her bargain to stay in Vietnam with him for the summer in exchange for tuition money. She’s scared to come out to her mother but also wants to live her life as she wishes. She feels the need to protect her siblings as much as she possibly can. She also has a house that is actively trying to do her harm. You know, life stuff.

It’s beautifully written, incredibly compelling, and very fast paced. The highly descriptive writing makes you feel like you are right beside Jade as she’s learning more about her ancestors and the horrors they faced. Also, don’t read this book hungry! The food descriptions alone are worth reading for. I learned so much about Vietnamese culture from this book and for that, I’m so grateful.

I loved this book, as did my fabulous interns, and if you want to add it to your shelf, you can click on the cover or here for ordering information.

As always, this post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

Pride Reads: The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

There are numerous lists (yay!) of amazing books to read during Pride Month, and all year long! Here is one of my favorites!

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

Reader Friends! Buckle Up! This is a glorious, captivating wild ride through the lives of the rich and elite.

When Mars’ sister dies under mysterious and bizarre circumstances after unexpectedly returning home from her elite summer camp, Mars becomes consumed with the need to find answers to their twin’s death. On the night of Caroline’s death, she brutally attacked Mars, seemingly intent on ending their life. But in a moment of clarity, she apologizes to them before tragically dying. After her death, a brain tumor seems to be the cause of her erratic behavior but Mars is convinced there is more to the story.

After convincing their parents to let them take Caroline’s place at Aspen, the exclusive summer camp for the children of the wealthy and connected, Mars returns to the place that is a great source of trauma and pain. Mars’ gender fluidity and nonbinary identity goes against the very core of Aspen and it’s incredibly gendered values. Once at Aspen, Mars does their best to get in with the girls from Cabin H, better known as the Honeys. Caroline was a part of the Honey’s and they are convinced they have all the answers. But the Honey’s exist outside of the rules of Aspen and Mars is constantly shadowed by Wyatt, a leader in training and nephew to the camp’s director. As Mars gets closer to the answers they seek, they discover a world where people disappear, memories are altered, and the power of the Honeys seems to know no bounds.

This is a dark, twisting, captivating story of love, power and betrayal. I was so enthralled by the darkness in the story that I flew through this book in one sitting. The Honeys is a perfect blend of the horror, mystery, and paranormal genres told through the eyes of a grieving twin. It’s so much more than a story of a mysterious death. It’s an examination of greed, wealth, family expectations, toxic masculinity, and the way societal expectations about gender and generational wealth impacts teens. Nearly every activity at Aspen is based on gendered roles and expectations and how someone like Mars, a nonbinary teen who refuses to change for others, is forced into unsafe situations and ridicule when they reject the pressure to conform.

It’s also a lesson in underestimating the next generation-they are terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

This book is fantastic-definitely give it a shot. If you’d like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover or here for ordering information.

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. As always, these are just my opinions and ramblings and all mistakes are my own.

Pride Reads: The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

There are numerous lists (yay!) of amazing books to read during Pride Month, and all year long! Here is one of my favorites!

Available Now

Set during the wonderous and enthralling Chicago World’s Fair, The City Beautiful is a beautifully written story of young love, self discovery, and the barriers of social class. Alter Rosen came to America to help his father build a business empire, but their hopes and dreams ended with his father’s unexpected death. Now, Alter works at the newspaper as a typesetter and barely earns enough to share a small apartment with four other men, let alone enough to bring his mother and sisters to America. When young men from the neighborhood go missing, the local police claim they are runaways but Alter believes there is more to the story. When his roommate Yakov is found dead on the fairgrounds, Alter is convinced it was more than an accident. While helping with Yakov’s burial ceremony, Alter becomes possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk and finds himself in the middle of a dark conspiracy.

Now Alter must race against the clock to find Yakov’s murderer while battling against horrific racism and threats against himself and his friends. When an old friend resurfaces and offers his help, Alter finds himself battling his own desires and attraction to the handsome and mysterious Frankie.

This is a fascinating story. As someone who is not Jewish, I learned so much about the history of the Jewish community in Chicago and appreciated such an intimate look at the religion and their way of life. Alter lived a complex yet simple life. He came to America on the belief that his father had created a successful business and was going to set his family up with wealth and standing. What he found instead was an incredibly ill father and mountains of debt. All he wants is to make enough money to bring his mother and sisters over from Romania and provide a comfortable life for them. But along with that familial duty, Alter is facing his own inner conflicts over his attraction to other men. Trying to reconcile his true feelings with societal expectations is incredibly difficult. What I really loved, were Frankie’s explanations of how their relationship was completely fine in the eyes of their religion and gave evidence from their religious text. I completely understand that is probably only new information to me, but I hope that it also helps provide comfort for anyone else who may find themselves in Alter’s position.

Polydoros provides such vivid detail of the fair and Alter’s neighborhood that it made you feel like you were walking through the exhibits with Alter. You could feel the wonder that everyone felt at the technical and engineering advancements being created, but that was also balanced against the racism and degradation of many of the exhibits. This is a wonderfully written and well-researched novel that will keep any reader completely engrossed from start to finish.

Highly, highly recommend.

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and as an Amazon associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

Reader Friends! Buckle Up! This is a glorious, captivating wild ride through the lives of the rich and elite.

When Mars’ sister dies under mysterious and bizarre circumstances after unexpectedly returning home from her elite summer camp, Mars becomes consumed with the need to find answers to their twin’s death. On the night of Caroline’s death, she brutally attacked Mars, seemingly intent on ending their life. But in a moment of clarity, she apologizes to them before tragically dying. After her death, a brain tumor seems to be the cause of her erratic behavior but Mars is convinced there is more to the story.

After convincing their parents to let them take Caroline’s place at Aspen, the exclusive summer camp for the children of the wealthy and connected, Mars returns to the place that is a great source of trauma and pain. Mars’ gender fluidity and nonbinary identity goes against the very core of Aspen and it’s incredibly gendered values. Once at Aspen, Mars does their best to get in with the girls from Cabin H, better known as the Honeys. Caroline was a part of the Honey’s and they are convinced they have all the answers. But the Honey’s exist outside of the rules of Aspen and Mars is constantly shadowed by Wyatt, a leader in training and nephew to the camp’s director. As Mars gets closer to the answers they seek, they discover a world where people disappear, memories are altered, and the power of the Honeys seems to know no bounds.

This is a dark, twisting, captivating story of love, power and betrayal. I was so enthralled by the darkness in the story that I flew through this book in one sitting. The Honeys is a perfect blend of the horror, mystery, and paranormal genres told through the eyes of a grieving twin. It’s so much more than a story of a mysterious death. It’s an examination of greed, wealth, family expectations, toxic masculinity, and the way societal expectations about gender and generational wealth impacts teens. Nearly every activity at Aspen is based on gendered roles and expectations and how someone like Mars, a nonbinary teen who refuses to change for others, is forced into unsafe situations and ridicule when they reject the pressure to conform.

It’s also a lesson in underestimating the next generation-they are terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

This book is fantastic-definitely give it a shot. If you’d like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover or here for ordering information.

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. As always, these are just my opinions and ramblings and all mistakes are my own.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

I have seen this book everywhere and for good reason-it’s a perfect book. Just perfect. If you are someone who is remotely interested in a young adult paranormal romance, you must pick this up. Now. Go get it. 

Yadriel believes with all his heart that Lady Death will see him for what he truly is: a brujo. When his father refuses to listen to Yadriel and bans him from participating in his quinces ceremony, he knows the only way to prove himself is by performing in his own ceremony. With the help of his best friend and cousin Maritza, Yadriel defies all expectations and receives the blessing of Lady Death. When his cousin Miguel goes missing, the community begins a search for him but they are quickly overcome with the feeling of his death. Yadriel knows that he can help by summoning Miguel’s spirit and solving the mystery of his death but when Yadriel performs the ritual, he summons a ghost...the ghost of the high school bad boy Julian. 

Now, Yadriel must hide the existence of Julian’s ghost from his brujx family, no small feat, solve the mystery of both Julian and Miguel’s death, and prove himself to his father. I mean, no big deal right?

This is a fantastic book! I loved every page, every word. Yadriel is such a wonderfully written character. He is determined to live his life as his true self-a boy who wants to become a brujo. His mother was the understanding parent who accepted his transition but he still has his father and grandmother who struggle to see him as a boy and use his real name, not his dead name. The connection between Maritza and Yadriel is so pure and accepting. They are cousins, family, best friends, and completely honest with each other. Aiden Thomas gives readers an honest and frank look at the life of a trans teen and all of the ways their identity dictates everyday decisions. There is a scene where Julian finds out that Yadriel hasn’t used the boys’ bathroom at school because he’s afraid and it just broke my heart. Julian’s presence has a significant impact on Yadriel. He is openly gay and quite blunt about Yadriel’s interactions with his family and their treatment of Yadriel. Julian questions his loyalty to a family that is holding him back from becoming a brujo because he is trans and the two have conversations that provide incredible insight into Yadriel’s life.

The descriptions of the family’s belief system were rich and detailed. I love magic in all its forms and learned so much about Yadriel’s history and culture. The tight knit community and the closeness of the family members creating such an elaborate set of festivities to honor their dead was fascinating and beautiful. Be prepared for some incredible descriptions of food-I was starving the entire time I read this!

The story takes place on a very quick timeline-they must find Miguel’s killer and release Julian’s spirit before Dia de Muertos. I love YA that has a tight timeline the characters have to follow but still have to go to school. I love it. This urgency is really felt in the development of Yadriel and Julian’s relationship. What do you do when you fall in love with a ghost who only has a few days to remain on earth? It’s pretty incredible Readers. 

This book checks a lot of boxes: found family, family friendships, magic, history, culture, romance, coming of age, and so much more. Best part-this is a debut! I can’t wait to find out what wonderful novels Thomas has in store for us next. 

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Available Now

Hey all! This week is the #TransRightsReadathon and I’m rounding up some of my favorite books by, or featuring, trans people. If you’d like more information about the origins and goals of this movement, you can find it here.

This is a brutal, violent book that deals with death, abuse, suicidal ideation, assault, alcoholism, and torture.

If you, like me, get excited when you find out a book is 400 pages of feminist rage, this is the book for you! Zetian Wu has lived her whole life at the mercy of her family. Her sole purpose is to sacrifice herself so the family may succeed. When her older sister dies, Zetian focuses her rage on the person responsible and vows revenge.

Set in a future China, a battle rages between humans and the massive aliens beyond the Great Wall. Using Chrysalises, giant mechanical robots (kind of, it’s so complicated) that require one male and one female to join their life forces to pilot. One extremely unfortunate side effect of this arrangement is that the female pilots die in nearly battle, sacrificing themselves to save the male pilot. Shortly after enlisting, much to the disappointment of a young, wealthy man who offered to marry her, Zetian is given her chance to kill the pilot who sacrificed her sister. His death was fast, brutal, and gave her the title of Iron Widow. Unfortunately for the higher ups, Zetian is an incredibly powerful warrior and with nothing to lose, they have no leverage against her and she’s too valuable to kill.

When Zetian is paired with the terrifying and notorious Li Shimin, Zetian believes it’s a death sentence. Addicted to alcohol, known for violent outbursts, and convicted of killing his entire family, Li Shimin appears to be as volatile as he is deadly. What Zetian quickly realizes, is that Li Shimin is a pawn in a twisted government plot and feels deeply about the girls who have died as his partner. Luckily for both Zetian and Li Shimin, that young, wealthy man who wanted to marry Zetian has found his way to her and is able to work with both of them in an official capacity.

As Zetian points out over and over again, is a triangle is the strongest shape…

Iron Widow is a fast paced, thrilling, scream of a book. Zetian’s rage is palpable and she holds nothing back. She is an absolute force and a joy to follow in her adventures. I loved this book so much! It looks like it’ll be part of a duology and I’m really excited to see how the story moves further.

If you would to hear the author pronounce all the characters names, you can find it here.

If you would like your own copy, you can find ordering options here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

Available Now

Reader Friends! Buckle Up! This is a glorious, captivating wild ride through the lives of the rich and elite.

When Mars’ sister dies under mysterious and bizarre circumstances after unexpectedly returning home from her elite summer camp, Mars becomes consumed with the need to find answers to their twin’s death. On the night of Caroline’s death, she brutally attacked Mars, seemingly intent on ending their life. But in a moment of clarity, she apologizes to them before tragically dying. After her death, a brain tumor seems to be the cause of her erratic behavior but Mars is convinced there is more to the story.

After convincing their parents to let them take Caroline’s place at Aspen, the exclusive summer camp for the children of the wealthy and connected, Mars returns to the place that is a great source of trauma and pain. Mars’ gender fluidity and nonbinary identity goes against the very core of Aspen and it’s incredibly gendered values. Once at Aspen, Mars does their best to get in with the girls from Cabin H, better known as the Honeys. Caroline was a part of the Honey’s and they are convinced they have all the answers. But the Honey’s exist outside of the rules of Aspen and Mars is constantly shadowed by Wyatt, a leader in training and nephew to the camp’s director. As Mars gets closer to the answers they seek, they discover a world where people disappear, memories are altered, and the power of the Honeys seems to know no bounds.

This is a dark, twisting, captivating story of love, power and betrayal. I was so enthralled by the darkness in the story that I flew through this book in one sitting. The Honeys is a perfect blend of the horror, mystery, and paranormal genres told through the eyes of a grieving twin. It’s so much more than a story of a mysterious death. It’s an examination of greed, wealth, family expectations, toxic masculinity, and the way societal expectations about gender and generational wealth impacts teens. Nearly every activity at Aspen is based on gendered roles and expectations and how someone like Mars, a nonbinary teen who refuses to change for others, is forced into unsafe situations and ridicule when they reject the pressure to conform.

It’s also a lesson in underestimating the next generation-they are terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

This book is fantastic-definitely give it a shot. If you’d like to add this book to your shelf, you can click on the book cover or here for ordering information.

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases. As always, these are just my opinions and ramblings and all mistakes are my own.

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

Available Now

This is a brutal, violent book that deals with death, abuse, suicidal ideation, assault, alcoholism, and torture.

If you, like me, get excited when you find out a book is 400 pages of feminist rage, this is the book for you! Zetian Wu has lived her whole life at the mercy of her family. Her sole purpose is to sacrifice herself so the family may succeed. When her older sister dies, Zetian focuses her rage on the person responsible and vows revenge.

Set in a future China, a battle rages between humans and the massive aliens beyond the Great Wall. Using Chrysalises, giant mechanical robots (kind of, it’s so complicated) that require one male and one female to join their life forces to pilot. One extremely unfortunate side effect of this arrangement is that the female pilots die in nearly battle, sacrificing themselves to save the male pilot. Shortly after enlisting, much to the disappointment of a young, wealthy man who offered to marry her, Zetian is given her chance to kill the pilot who sacrificed her sister. His death was fast, brutal, and gave her the title of Iron Widow. Unfortunately for the higher ups, Zetian is an incredibly powerful warrior and with nothing to lose, they have no leverage against her and she’s too valuable to kill.

When Zetian is paired with the terrifying and notorious Li Shimin, Zetian believes it’s a death sentence. Addicted to alcohol, known for violent outbursts, and convicted of killing his entire family, Li Shimin appears to be as volatile as he is deadly. What Zetian quickly realizes, is that Li Shimin is a pawn in a twisted government plot and feels deeply about the girls who have died as his partner. Luckily for both Zetian and Li Shimin, that young, wealthy man who wanted to marry Zetian has found his way to her and is able to work with both of them in an official capacity.

As Zetian points out over and over again, is a triangle is the strongest shape…

Iron Widow is a fast paced, thrilling, scream of a book. Zetian’s rage is palpable and she holds nothing back. She is an absolute force and a joy to follow in her adventures. I loved this book so much! It looks like it’ll be part of a duology and I’m really excited to see how the story moves further.

If you would to hear the author pronounce all the characters names, you can find it here.

If you would like your own copy, you can find ordering options here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

Available now

I barely made it through the first chapter of A History of Wild Places before I was on my Library’s app and putting every book by Shea Ernshaw on hold. The Wicked Deep is a YA supernatural thriller full of witches, teenage angst, and the effects of centuries of lies and mistrust.

When three gorgeous and enchanting sisters are accused of witchcraft in 1822, the townspeople are quick to bring about their execution. The waters they are drowned in quickly become cursed to kill young men for centuries to come.

Now, in the present day, 17 year-old Penny Talbot feels stuck in her life on the small island off the coast of Oregon. After her father’s disappearance three years ago, Penny’s mother has become lost to her grief and unable to care for herself and her daughter. Juggling the obligations of high school, friends, and the island’s lighthouse is difficult, but Penny knows that this is just the beginning of a long and lonely life on the island. As the Swan season draws near, that deadly time of year when the three Swan Sisters come back to take over the bodies of young women only to kill at least three young men in retribution for their unfair deaths, Penny finds herself drawn to Bo Carter, a young man who has just arrived in Sparrow with no knowledge of the centuries old myth. As Penny’s feelings for Bo begin to grow, the tensions on the mainland grow to new heights as victims of the Swan Sisters are discovered and a young woman is accused of their deaths. How can Penny keep Bo safe when no one is safe during the Swan season?

The Wicked Deep is eerie, dark, and very atmospheric. Penny and her mother living on the island alone, without cell phones and needing to boat across to the mainland for everything really reinforces how remote and cutoff from help they are. The entire town knows that young men will die and yet no one can truly do anything against the supernatural threat their ancestors created. Adding to the tension is how young the victims are. The Swan sisters were 17-19 years old and chose victims of similar age. Young enough to be stuck in their little town, yet so close to being old enough to escape. Penny and her mother are devastated by her father’s disappearance and the way the town doesn’t care about outsiders, including those that tried to settle roots in their community. I really loved how Ernshaw pulled off a big dramatic twist at the end and just drove home the power of love and hope.

If you would like to add this amazing supernatural thriller to your list, you can find ordering information here:

This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon Associate links, and I may earn from qualifying purchases.

A Dark and Starless Forest by Sarah Hollowell

Available Now

CW: child abuse, child death

I had so many reasons to be excited to order A Dark and Starless Forest for the Library:

• It’s a magical story centered around witches

• Wonderful fat girl rep

• Tight knit group of siblings

• Queer, ace, nonbinary and trans characters

• Moody, magical forest

• Amazing reviews from other readers

So it came as no surprise that while cataloging the book, I instead started to read the first few pages and was instantly hooked. I highly recommend reading this book in front of a fire with a spooky playlist, Pandora has one literally titled “Spooky Forest,” but I am sure that you will fall in love with this story no matter where you read it.

Derry lives with her eight siblings in a lake house far from town and prying eyes. They spend their days honing their magical abilities, guided by their ever present guardian Frank. Frank protects, clothes, and shelters Derry and her siblings from harm, but he is far from a fatherly figure. When her oldest sister goes missing, Derry refuses to give up hope of finding her. She is convinced that her sibling is somehow lost in the forest in a way that can’t be seen and the mysterious girl that Derry sees there holds the answers Derry seeks. But as the days go on and another sibling goes missing, Derry and her siblings find Frank’s behavior more and more disturbing and Derry finds herself drawn to the forest and it’s mysterious inhabitant.

This book is absolutely amazing! I loved every minute of Hollowell’s masterful worldbuilding and the mystery surrounding the witches and their magical abilities. The siblings all had very different lives before they came to live with Frank and their magical abilities were just as diverse. Even a power as deceptively simple and gentle as growing flowers quickly became dark and ominous when you realized how many flowers were also poisonous. It was fascinating to see how Hollowell was able to show both the light and dark sides to each person’s magic and how that weighed on them. The characters were so well written and complex that they truly felt like real people with real lives.

Hollowell has delivered a truly compelling story that instantly grabbed my attention and had me invested in the characters. The outside world was an ever-present threat to Derry and her sisters and you could feel how that impacted all of their decisions. No matter how hard Frank pushed them or how isolated they felt, the threat of other people constantly hung over their heads. They fully realized they were children and teens with no one to help them and no way to survive on their own. While it broke my heart over and over again, I knew that this story was not going to end tragically-how could it? Underneath everything, this was group of powerful witches who practiced their skills daily. I knew an epic ending had to be waiting for me at the end and Hollowell did not disappoint.

This is an absolutely fabulous magical adventure that definitely left room for more stories within this universe. I highly recommend you add this to your reading list and the list of anyone who loves dark, witchy tales.

If you would like to add this amazing story to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon Associate Links, and I earn from qualifying purchases.

The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros

Available Now

Set during the wonderous and enthralling Chicago World’s Fair, The City Beautiful is a beautifully written story of young love, self discovery, and the barriers of social class. Alter Rosen came to America to help his father build a business empire, but their hopes and dreams ended with his father’s unexpected death. Now, Alter works at the newspaper as a typesetter and barely earns enough to share a small apartment with four other men, let alone enough to bring his mother and sisters to America. When young men from the neighborhood go missing, the local police claim they are runaways but Alter believes there is more to the story. When his roommate Yakov is found dead on the fairgrounds, Alter is convinced it was more than an accident. While helping with Yakov’s burial ceremony, Alter becomes possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk and finds himself in the middle of a dark conspiracy.

Now Alter must race against the clock to find Yakov’s murderer while battling against horrific racism and threats against himself and his friends. When an old friend resurfaces and offers his help, Alter finds himself battling his own desires and attraction to the handsome and mysterious Frankie.

This is a fascinating story. As someone who is not Jewish, I learned so much about the history of the Jewish community in Chicago and appreciated such an intimate look at the religion and their way of life. Alter lived a complex yet simple life. He came to America on the belief that his father had created a successful business and was going to set his family up with wealth and standing. What he found instead was an incredibly ill father and mountains of debt. All he wants is to make enough money to bring his mother and sisters over from Romania and provide a comfortable life for them. But along with that familial duty, Alter is facing his own inner conflicts over his attraction to other men. Trying to reconcile his true feelings with societal expectations is incredibly difficult. What I really loved, were Frankie’s explanations of how their relationship was completely fine in the eyes of their religion and gave evidence from their religious text. I completely understand that is probably only new information to me, but I hope that it also helps provide comfort for anyone else who may find themselves in Alter’s position.

Polydoros provides such vivid detail of the fair and Alter’s neighborhood that it made you feel like you were walking through the exhibits with Alter. You could feel the wonder that everyone felt at the technical and engineering advancements being created, but that was also balanced against the racism and degradation of many of the exhibits. This is a wonderfully written and well-researched novel that will keep any reader completely engrossed from start to finish.

Highly, highly recommend.

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and as an Amazon associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Available April 6, 2021

Content warnings for child abuse, suicide, child abduction, child death

Not going to lie, I was in the mood for a book exactly like this when I picked it up and it couldn’t have been more perfect for my mood. This is a deliciously creepy and twisted fairy tale-like story of three sisters who disappear in the blink of an eye from a street in Scotland, only to return one month later with no memory of their time gone. Their story instantly became a news frenzy with the girls at the center of the storm. They were stalked, assaulted, accused of lying, and threatened. When their parents are proven by authorities to have nothing to do with their disappearance and winning a large defamation suit from a newspaper, the girls begin attending an expensive and prestigious private school where the abuse continues. Grey and Vivi quickly leave school to pursue modeling and musical careers, but Iris stays and tries to be both the perfect daughter and perfect student. But there’s nothing perfect about any of the sisters. Upon their return on that cold, rainy night, the girls changed. Their hair turned white and their eyes became an inky black and they developed a constant hunger. The girls know they are strange but only Iris tries to fit in.

Now, ten years after their reappearance, Grey, the oldest of the Hollow sisters is missing. Leaving behind a bizarre set of clues, Iris and Vivi must find their sister before it’s too late for all of them. Along the way, they discover that their connection to the supernatural is far greater than they realized and they are far from the only ones looking for their sister.

I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this gruesome thriller. It’s dark and twisty and plays with the concept of power so well. These sisters know they are different and strange but it’s so much darker than that. They have the ability to compel people which sounds like an incredible power to have, until it goes too far and makes people obsessed with them. This power helps both Grey and Vivi in their modeling and music careers, but for someone who is quiet and mild-mannered like Iris, it’s frightening. This book is incredibly dark. Very quickly we learn the girls’ father dies by suicide and was obsessed with the idea that the girls were not his daughters. Cate, their mother, is estranged from both Grey and Vivi is hyper protective of Iris. This dynamic makes it incredibly difficult for Iris to maintain relationships with her sisters and she is constantly pulled between the two relationships. All three girls are also incredibly beautiful and they use that beauty to manipulate others. When the girls discover that Grey found where they were held during their disappearance, they also discover more about their time there and it’s the darkest thing possible. I cannot emphasize enough how dark this book is, but if you can handle it, you won’t be disappointed.

This is a fast read. I was immediately engrossed in the story and intrigued about where the girls had disappeared and what happened to them while they were there. I couldn’t wait to see how everything was tied together and how far the author was willing to take this story. Iris and her sisters were great characters. You can feel how abrasive Vivi and Grey found their home life and how much of a mediator Iris plays for the family. Cate, their mother, seems so cold and distant but you soon realize how much she has to cope with and it’s all a defense mechanism. I really liked how the author made Grey’s boyfriend completely immune to her supernatural charm. It made for a great and snarky dynamic between him and the other two sisters.

If you love dark fantasy, twisted fairy tales, and deliciously dark YA, this is definitely one to try. If you would like to add this book to your shelf, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire by Joy McCullough

Available Now

CW: rape, bullying, intentional misgendering

Many novels have tackled the trauma inflicted upon victims of sexual assault, but this is the first I’ve read that focuses on how the family members deal with that trauma. When a rapist’s guilty verdict lands him no jail time, the Morales family finds their hopes for justice for Nor completely devastated. After an already excruciating public trial, the public backlash against them for “disrupting” the beloved local college team is overwhelming for the entire family. While Nor tries to find some sense of peace and stability at college, Em finds herself obsessed with seeking justice online for her sister. As Em discovers that the wide online support she and her family received during the trial has waned for other victims of crimes, her ability to cope with the trauma becomes more than she can bear. As she spirals out of control with unauthorized columns in the school paper, onlines posts that create an unsafe environment for her sister, and a new found obsession with a legendary French noblewoman turned warrior, Em will push everyone who loves her away. It is only at her very lowest point that Em will find the strength and focus to help her family heal and move forward.

The Morales family felt incredibly real and relatable. Nor and Em’s relationship becomes increasingly strained as Em’s reactions to Nor’s silence make life harder for Nor, triggering a vicious cycle of Nor becoming angry and hurt and pushing Em away. Em parents are at a complete loss over how to handle any of it, both frustrated that they can’t get justice for their daughter and long to move on and go back to being a happy family. They’re an incredibly close family with strong bonds over food cooking. It’s that bond that slowly brings them back together when Em’s new friend Jess begins to spend more and more time at the Morales home. Jess has their own struggles with their family. Parents who are divorcing and possibly moving far apart, coming into their own sense of self and identity, and losing their best friend for the summer to a performance camp. As Em and Jess try to find the balance in their friendship, Em begins to find the way toward mending her relationship with her sister and parents. 

As Em struggles to find a way for her family to heal, which is a burden she has taken on herself, Jess introduces her to a fascinating historical figure and triggers an obsession. Em writes the life story of a fifteenth-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de Bressieux as Jess illuminates the pages. Marguerite’s story is written in verse and the back and forth between the prose and verse was beautiful to read. Em holds nothing back in describing the pain and hardship of Marguerite’s journey, just as McCullough holds nothing back in describing the pain and anguish of the Morales family.
We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is an incredible story of revenge, trauma, and the bonds of family. It is an unflinching look at how women are treated within the legal system and how misogyny infiltrates our everyday lives. 

If you would like to add this to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Across the Green Grass Fields by Seanan McGuire

Available Now

Seanan McGuire is back with another installment in the Wayward Children series. In this stand alone novella, Regan discovers a doorway leading to the Hooflands after facing a devastating betrayal by her best friend. In a world inhabited by centaurs and unicorns, Regan’s appearance can only mean that something big is going to happen as humans are seen as true heroes and must begin their heroic journey immediately. But as time goes on, Regan convinces her new centaur family that she isn’t a hero, merely a young girl who wants to be accepted for who she is and to find a place where she truly belongs. 

This novella truly can be read without any knowledge of the previous installments in the series, though all of the books are definitely worth reading. Like the other books in this series, McGuire takes great care to create relationships between characters that are loving, kind, and accepting. Regan learns from her parents that she is intersex after an emotional discussion about her lack of physical development as compared to her friends. Her parents are incredibly honest and supportive in answering Regan’s questions and remind her repeatedly that she is perfect as she is. After Regan shares this information with her best friend Laurel, Laurel’s shameful and outraged reaction sends Regan reeling. It’s through this haze of hurt and disbelief that Regan discovers her doorway, as all the series’ characters do. On the other side, Regan is seen as a hero and any differences she may have from her new family solely stem from her being human and have little or nothing to do with her gender. Regan’s humanity makes her a target for other centaurs to capture and be taken to the fabled queen, but Regan’s newly found family accepts her belief that she isn’t a hero and provides her protection and training. The world building is incredibly well done and I loved the support and love found among the cast of characters. One of my favorite parts of the world is in the Hooflands, Regan learns that unicorns are silly creatures that need constant attention from their farmers, the centaurs, and this information is a delight to watch unfold.

McGuire has given us a wonderful twist on the classic “horse girl” trope and plays with the classical hero’s journey. Regan has no desire to be a hero, even as all the centaurs around her firmly believe that she is the harbinger of some big change as all humans are heroes. It’s an honor for Pansy to have been the first to see her and claim her as her own. It’s no surprise then, that when the time comes for Regan to fulfill her hero’s duty, she does it her way without any regrets. 

Perfect for young adult fantasy readers, this is a wonderful invitation to pick up this amazing series. 

If you would like to add this book to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Vampires Never Get Old Edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker

Available Now

Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker have put together a stellar list of authors for this young adult anthology centered around vampires. In fact, this collection is so well done, even the verso page has a curse for anyone who dares steal this book. A curse. On the verso page. Chef's kiss.

Included in this anthology are some of the most influential YA authors: Tessa Gratton, Rebecca Roanhorse, Julie Murphy, Heidi Heilig, Samira Ahmed, Kayla Whaley, Zoraida Córdova, Natalie C. Parker, Laura Ruby, Mark Oshiro, Dhonielle Clayton, and Victoria Schwab. A few of these authors were new to me-I'm still working on upping my YA reading-but many were authors on my favorites list. If you love to learn more about authors and what influences their writing, I highly recommend the podcast Vampires Never Get Old: The Podcast. Each episode is an interview with one of the authors about the vampires books and movies that they love and influenced their writing. It's really, really good.

I have grown to love anthologies for their exposure to new-to-me authors and the way short story collections allow you to dip in and out form a book without guilt. Only have a few minutes? You can fit in one story and come back for more later. It's really hard to pick a favorite story from this collection, they are all so well done. This collection is as far from your typical collection as you can get-you will not find any white, straight, cis-gendered, buff men here. There's vampires of all skin colors, body sizes, sexual identities, and physical abilities. At the end of each story, Córdova and Parker include historical context and notes on the tropes found in the story.

This collection is a wonderful reimagining of the vampire myth and the variety of stories guarantees there's something for everyone.

Some fun t.v. news-"First Kill" by Victoria Schwab is going to be adapted!

Want to add a copy to your collection? You can find ordering information here:

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (Copy)

Available Now

I have seen this book everywhere and for good reason-it’s a perfect book. Just perfect. If you are someone who is remotely interested in a young adult paranormal romance, you must pick this up. Now. Go get it. 

Yadriel believes with all his heart that Lady Death will see him for what he truly is: a brujo. When his father refuses to listen to Yadriel and bans him from participating in his quinces ceremony, he knows the only way to prove himself is by performing in his own ceremony. With the help of his best friend and cousin Maritza, Yadriel defies all expectations and receives the blessing of Lady Death. When his cousin Miguel goes missing, the community begins a search for him but they are quickly overcome with the feeling of his death. Yadriel knows that he can help by summoning Miguel’s spirit and solving the mystery of his death but when Yadriel performs the ritual, he summons a ghost...the ghost of the high school bad boy Julian. 

Now, Yadriel must hide the existence of Julian’s ghost from his brujx family, no small feat, solve the mystery of both Julian and Miguel’s death, and prove himself to his father. I mean, no big deal right?

This is a fantastic book! I loved every page, every word. Yadriel is such a wonderfully written character. He is determined to live his life as his true self-a boy who wants to become a brujo. His mother was the understanding parent who accepted his transition but he still has his father and grandmother who struggle to see him as a boy and use his real name, not his dead name. The connection between Maritza and Yadriel is so pure and accepting. They are cousins, family, best friends, and completely honest with each other. Aiden Thomas gives readers an honest and frank look at the life of a trans teen and all of the ways their identity dictates everyday decisions. There is a scene where Julian finds out that Yadriel hasn’t used the boys’ bathroom at school because he’s afraid and it just broke my heart. Julian’s presence has a significant impact on Yadriel. He is openly gay and quite blunt about Yadriel’s interactions with his family and their treatment of Yadriel. Julian questions his loyalty to a family that is holding him back from becoming a brujo because he is trans and the two have conversations that provide incredible insight into Yadriel’s life.

The descriptions of the family’s belief system were rich and detailed. I love magic in all its forms and learned so much about Yadriel’s history and culture. The tight knit community and the closeness of the family members creating such an elaborate set of festivities to honor their dead was fascinating and beautiful. Be prepared for some incredible descriptions of food-I was starving the entire time I read this!

The story takes place on a very quick timeline-they must find Miguel’s killer and release Julian’s spirit before Dia de Muertos. I love YA that has a tight timeline the characters have to follow but still have to go to school. I love it. This urgency is really felt in the development of Yadriel and Julian’s relationship. What do you do when you fall in love with a ghost who only has a few days to remain on earth? It’s pretty incredible Readers. 

This book checks a lot of boxes: found family, family friendships, magic, history, culture, romance, coming of age, and so much more. Best part-this is a debut! I can’t wait to find out what wonderful novels Thomas has in store for us next. 

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (Copy)

Available Now

I have seen this book everywhere and for good reason-it’s a perfect book. Just perfect. If you are someone who is remotely interested in a young adult paranormal romance, you must pick this up. Now. Go get it. 

Yadriel believes with all his heart that Lady Death will see him for what he truly is: a brujo. When his father refuses to listen to Yadriel and bans him from participating in his quinces ceremony, he knows the only way to prove himself is by performing in his own ceremony. With the help of his best friend and cousin Maritza, Yadriel defies all expectations and receives the blessing of Lady Death. When his cousin Miguel goes missing, the community begins a search for him but they are quickly overcome with the feeling of his death. Yadriel knows that he can help by summoning Miguel’s spirit and solving the mystery of his death but when Yadriel performs the ritual, he summons a ghost...the ghost of the high school bad boy Julian. 

Now, Yadriel must hide the existence of Julian’s ghost from his brujx family, no small feat, solve the mystery of both Julian and Miguel’s death, and prove himself to his father. I mean, no big deal right?

This is a fantastic book! I loved every page, every word. Yadriel is such a wonderfully written character. He is determined to live his life as his true self-a boy who wants to become a brujo. His mother was the understanding parent who accepted his transition but he still has his father and grandmother who struggle to see him as a boy and use his real name, not his dead name. The connection between Maritza and Yadriel is so pure and accepting. They are cousins, family, best friends, and completely honest with each other. Aiden Thomas gives readers an honest and frank look at the life of a trans teen and all of the ways their identity dictates everyday decisions. There is a scene where Julian finds out that Yadriel hasn’t used the boys’ bathroom at school because he’s afraid and it just broke my heart. Julian’s presence has a significant impact on Yadriel. He is openly gay and quite blunt about Yadriel’s interactions with his family and their treatment of Yadriel. Julian questions his loyalty to a family that is holding him back from becoming a brujo because he is trans and the two have conversations that provide incredible insight into Yadriel’s life.

The descriptions of the family’s belief system were rich and detailed. I love magic in all its forms and learned so much about Yadriel’s history and culture. The tight knit community and the closeness of the family members creating such an elaborate set of festivities to honor their dead was fascinating and beautiful. Be prepared for some incredible descriptions of food-I was starving the entire time I read this!

The story takes place on a very quick timeline-they must find Miguel’s killer and release Julian’s spirit before Dia de Muertos. I love YA that has a tight timeline the characters have to follow but still have to go to school. I love it. This urgency is really felt in the development of Yadriel and Julian’s relationship. What do you do when you fall in love with a ghost who only has a few days to remain on earth? It’s pretty incredible Readers. 

This book checks a lot of boxes: found family, family friendships, magic, history, culture, romance, coming of age, and so much more. Best part-this is a debut! I can’t wait to find out what wonderful novels Thomas has in store for us next. 

If you would like to add this amazing story to your collection, you can find ordering information here:

This post contains affiliate links and I earn from qualifying purchases.