Genre: Young Adult Speculative

Minnie Kim: Seoul Demon by Ali Cross

Loving this Series This is book three in the Minnie Kim: Vampire Girl series. I am loving the entire series. It’s cute. It’s fun. But there’s also drama and suspense. There are vampires, after all. [br] [br] In this book, Minnie and her parents have a tentative truce—making Minnie hope she can win back their love and acceptance of her vampire status. They travel to Korea to meet family and to help them with a ghost problem. [br] [br] The ghost isn’t the only problem […]

September 7, 2019 | 0 Comments

Dangerous by Shannon Hale

Awesome Super Heroes! I read this back in 2015 but didn’t post a review. Not sure why because I liked it. But I recently re-read it and I’m remedying that oversight. [br] [br] I still love this story. It’s starts like a superhero origin story, then morphs into Sci Fi. I won’t say more about that because I don’t want to have spoilers. The five teens that being the story are interesting, diverse, and believable. Great character arcs, especially for Maisie and Wilder. I also […]

February 1, 2019 | 0 Comments

Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

Excellent Historical Fantasy I’m used to reading Jessica Day George’s middle grade and YA fantasy books—that have a lighter feel to them. This one is darker and more violent, and deals with vampires and werewolves. I loved the story. I thought it was a great twist to the whole vampire/werewolf tradition, and a wonderful basis for why most stories have vamps and were as enemies. Loved the ending. [br] [br] The characters were interesting and believable. The plot was wonderful. I was enthralled and stayed […]

January 31, 2019 | 0 Comments

Slayer by Kiersten White

Buffy!!! What’s not to love! First, waving my geek flag here—I’m a true blue Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. This is a spin-off and I was a little worried that I wouldn’t like it because it’s always a gamble when your fav fandom gets a reboot. But it worked. It was great! [br] [br] There were several references and connection to the original Buffy characters and events. That was fun. Buffy herself only shows up in dream sequences. [br] [br] If you remember the end […]

January 17, 2019 | 0 Comments

Smoke & Summons by Charlie N. Holmberg

Interesting take on demons and possession This is the story of a girl who was sold to a man who wants the power of a demon. Guilt and responsibility for one’s actions when forced upon them is one of the themes of this book. Sandis is strong and courageous. She hates what she has to do in the service of an evil man and demon. But is it the demon that is evil? Or the man commanding it? The book is very well written. Great […]

January 11, 2019 | 0 Comments

The Girl Who Heard Demons by Janette Rallison

A YA Suspense with Paranormal Elements Based on the title, I was expecting horror; based on the author (I’ve read her before), I was expecting it to be mild. While there are mild horror elements (because, demons), for me, this read more like a suspense story that just happens to have paranormal abilities thrown in. Yes, Adelle hears demons, and yes, they are slimy and a little freaky. Through the course of the story, she eventually sees and hears angels, as well. But the meat […]

April 21, 2016 | 0 Comments

First Light by Michele Paige Holmes

A Unique & Enchanting Mixed-Up Fairy Tale! I went into this blind. Other than knowing First Light was a Young Adult fairy tale romance by Michele Paige Holmes, an author I’ve previously enjoyed, I didn’t know what to expect. I was pleasantly entertained and enthralled throughout! First Light is not a straightforward retelling of a traditional fairy tale. There were some common elements—good and evil fairies, three wishes, a heroine who doesn’t know her true identity—but the way they were woven together made it fresh […]

April 13, 2016 | 1 Comment

Solstice by Jane Redd

An Awesome YA Dystopian/Romance! I love this type of story—young adult characters trying to survive post-disaster. In Solstice, the disaster is climate change—nearly constant rain and flooding. I would DIE in this world! The political/community setting is typical dystopian, a society where the adults are controlling (and ruining) everything. The basic conceptis emotion control via implanted chips. Although the chip thing has been done before, I still really liked it. I had high hopes for this story line, and guess what? It met all of […]

March 18, 2016 | 0 Comments

Escape to Eden by Rachel McClellan

A Fun, Plot-twisty Young Adult Dystopian Thriller Enhanced DNA can give you awesome superpowers, but it comes with a price—a shortened lifespan. When “Primes” have been genetically designed to the point that they’re no longer altogether human, pure human DNA to extend your life becomes a priceless commodity. If you’re one of the remaining few “Originals,” everyone is hunting you. Escape to Eden takes a few of the tropes from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld (two of […]

February 19, 2016 | 0 Comments

Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram

Fun Female Superpowers! This book has been on my To Read list for several years. I finally got to it—and I really liked it! This is a pretty great read if you like super-powers and teenagers. A good mix of high school angst, young love, and dealing with the sudden onset of powers you can’t control. What did I think? The characters were interesting and funny. I loved the interplay between Jamie and Ryan. I liked the super-powers part of the story. There were some […]

February 16, 2016 | 0 Comments

Nameless by Jennifer Jenkins

A girl. A boy. Clans at war—and things get complicated. In a near primitive society, the four clans are at war. Three of the clans decide to work together against the violent Rams. Zo is a healer and will do anything to stop future violence and killing—including becoming a slave to the Ram clan, a guaranteed death sentence. But… of course, there’s a but. And there’s a boy—a Ram named Gryphon. And things get complicated. What did I think? This is such an awesome story. […]

February 12, 2016 | 0 Comments

Woven by Michael Jensen

A Delightful YA Fantasy! This is a wonderful Young Adult book, but Middle Graders and adults will enjoy it, too. It has classic fantasy elements, as well as lots of original ideas. I loved the magic system—with sorcerors, witches, and even ghosts. Filled with adventure and intrigue, I’d definitely place this in the epic fantasy category, but without the longer passages that sometimes bog down that category in books targeted to adult readers. This is great writing from two debut authors. I look forward to […]

February 11, 2016 | 0 Comments

{Review + Giveaway} The Undead Road by David Powers King

A Clever & Not too Freaky Zombie Book! Some zombie books are just too much—too freaky, too scary, too much blood and guts. For example, The Walking Dead. (Yes, I know. It’s a tv show, not a book.) After the first season, I quit watching because it quickly became a weekly bloodfest and I just got tired of it. The Undead Road by David Powers King is NOT like that. It’s a wonderful story of family, courage, friendship and loyalty, set against a backdrop of […]

January 21, 2016 | 0 Comments

Review: Followed by Frost by Charlie N. Holmberg

I totally loved this book! It may very well make my Top 10 of 2015 list. I don’t know if this was based on a fairytale−if it was, it’s not one I’m familiar with. But the rhythm and cadence of the story is very reminiscent of some of my favorite classic fairy tales. Although the concept of a girl whose touch freezes those who get too close makes Disney’s Frozen immediately leap to mind, this is not at all the same story. It reminded me […]

September 16, 2015 | 0 Comments

Review: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This book was recommended by friends who know I love Young Adult dystopian/futuristic stories. While the geek in me loved the tech in this book (there are days when I think I might prefer a world like that), and I could certainly appreciate the references to 70s/80s culture (Rush 2112 was my favorite album in high school), this is going to be a slow read for teens and a lot of parents will not approve. We see the world from the point of view of […]

May 8, 2015 | 1 Comment