Review: The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh

Title: The Beautiful Series: The Beautiful #1 Written by: Renee Ahdieh Published: October 8, 2019 by G.P. Putnam Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In 1872, New Orleans is a city ruled by the dead. But to seventeen-year-old Celine Rousseau, New Orleans provides her a refuge after she's forced to flee her life as a dressmaker in Paris. Taken in by the sisters of the Ursuline convent along with six other girls, Celine quickly becomes enamored with the vibrant city from the music to the food to the soirées and—especially—to the danger. She soon becomes embroiled in the city's glitzy underworld, known as La Cour des Lions, after catching the eye of the group's leader, the enigmatic Sébastien Saint Germain. When the body of one of the girls from the convent is found in the lair of La Cour des Lions, Celine battles her attraction to him and suspicions about Sébastien's guilt along with the shame of her own horrible secret. When more bodies are discovered, each crime more gruesome than the last, Celine and New Orleans become gripped by the terror of a serial killer on the loose—one Celine is sure has set her in his sights . . . and who may even be the young man who has stolen her heart. As the murders continue to go unsolved, Celine takes matters into her own hands and soon uncovers something even more shocking: an age-old feud from the darkest creatures of the underworld reveals a truth about Celine she always suspected simmered just beneath the surface. At once a sultry romance and a thrilling murder mystery, master storyteller Renée Ahdieh embarks on her most potent fantasy series yet: The Beautiful.

I really enjoy Renee Ahdieh's writing so when I heard she was coming out with a book about vampires set in New Orleans I was so excited to read it. And then I was even more excited to get a copy at ALA in June. And while the writing was beautiful and the concept is fantastic but it didn’t quite deliver on what I was hoping for.

One thing that I did like about this book is Renee’s writing. I have red all her books and she is an incredibly descriptive writer. Everything really comes to life in her books. In this case she is taking New Orleans in the 1870’s and adding supernatural elements. I remember going to New Orleans and hearing all the stories about ghosts, vampires, and witches so it made for the perfect setting for a book like this. And while I don’t know that there was a real feeling of time and place, I do feel like the setting was lush and engaging.

However, the plot was a little lacking for me. There really could have been a fantastic murder mystery to this book but it just didn’t deliver on that. I felt like the main character wasn’t really trying to figure out who was responsible for what happened. She was just sort of on the periphery of what was going on. I wish she had been much more involved in everything. When it comes down to it, this just felt like a serious case of first book syndrome when it came to the plot.

I think my biggest issue is that I am realizing how hard I am to please when it comes to books about vampires. To be honestX I really cannot handle the dramatic irony involved in most of the stories that involves vampires. I know there are vampires, and the characters do not so they look obtuse and it gets in the way of me liking them and the book.

And as far as the characters go, I think think they other thing that I didn’t love was the romance. This really felt like a throwback to an mid-2000’s YA with the romance. Not only did we have a love triangle but it was with two guys who were former best friends turned rivals who are obsessed with this girl after first meeting her. See what I mean about it all being a throwback? It just felt so trope-y and that really is not my thing. If it played with and attempted to subvert the tropes I would be here for it but it bought into them too much for my taste.

On the whole, I didn't enjoy The Beautiful as much as I was expecting. I know a ton of people loved this book, it just wasn’t for me. I wanted more from the plot and less from the romance. I think I am just the black sheep here.

I give The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh 7.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Borrow. If you are a fan of supernatural romances and are looking for something with a throwback YA vibe then check this out. But if you want a dark and gothic adventure and mystery, look elsewhere.

Have you read The Beautiful? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: City of Ghost by Victoria Schwab

Title: City of Ghosts Series: Cassidy Blake #1 Written by: Victoria Schwab Published: July 28, 2018 by Scholastic (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Cassidy Blake's parents are The Inspectres, a (somewhat inept) ghost-hunting team. But Cass herself can REALLY see ghosts. In fact, her best friend, Jacob, just happens to be one.  When The Inspectres head to ultra-haunted Edinburgh, Scotland, for their new TV show, Cass—and Jacob—come along. In Scotland, Cass is surrounded by ghosts, not all of them friendly. Then she meets Lara, a girl who can also see the dead. But Lara tells Cassidy that as an In-betweener, their job is to send ghosts permanently beyond the Veil. Cass isn't sure about her new mission, but she does know the sinister Red Raven haunting the city doesn't belong in her world. Cassidy's powers will draw her into an epic fight that stretches through the worlds of the living and the dead, in order to save herself.

This was a really good and fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Victoria is an auto-buy author for me. Every book from her I have read I have lived and this one was no exception.

Just like every book from Victoria, this did a great job in terms of its world-building and setting. Most of this book take places in Edinburgh, Scotland and it is very clearly a love letter to the city. It’s such an interesting place and that really comes across here. Throughout the book you get to explore the history and mystery of the city and it really comes alive in Victoria expert writing. I could definitely picture the city and it made me want to visit it so badly.

The their interesting this about the setting in this book was the supernatural elements. I’m not a big fan of books about ghosts and haunting but when it’s middle grade and it comes with a slice of history I am all for it. What I liked about this book in particular is that there were clear rules and structure to the ghosts and the shots hunting. It’s something that I have come to expect in a Schwab book, the magic has rules. Plus it had a fun Casper vibe to it which I honestly really enjoyed.

I also like the characters here. Because this is a middle grade novel, I feel like there was less of the character development I expect in YA but I did still think the characters were complex and easy to connect with. My favorite character was Jacob, who is basically the sidekick but super lovable. He’s sassy and sarcastic often being the comic relief but that was fine with me. I loved the irony of a ghost being afraid of everything. And Cass was a good heroine. She’s reckless and headstrong, but that’s kind of the girl you want in your middle grade adventure.

As far as the plot, it was really engaging and full of action but definitely on the simpler side of things. It’s the kind of book that you could easily breeze through and finish in a day if you are the kind of reader who does that thing. There were lots of thrills and plenty of adventure to keep you reading from beginning to end. I did however wish there was more of a mystery to it though. Things were very focused on one antagonist, which was a good antagonist for sure, but I think there were some missed opportunities here. I wish it had used some of the other characters a little bit more but maybe it will get there in future books.

All in all, I think this was a really good and fast middle grade novel that is perfect for fall. It has a spooky setting rooted in history, an engaging plot, and likable characters.

I give City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think fans of Victoria's work will find it enjoyable as well. But this is also the perfect book for fall. Teens and middle grade fans of all ages should check it out.

Have you read City of Ghosts? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Timeless by Gail Carriger

*** This is the fifth book in a series, so if you haven't read these books, proceed with caution. But seriously, has my marathoning of the series not convinced you to read it if you haven't yet? No? Then I have failed you.***

Title: Timeless Parasol Protectorate #5 Written by: Gail Carriger Published: March 1, 2012 by Orbit (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a dampener on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.   Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

This series is over and I'm sad. My marathoning of it has taken a little over a month and I'm not ready to let it go. I may need to start reading Prudence right away! Because I really did love reading it. It's such a fun and thrilling series and the last book did not disappoint.

For one thing I love these characters so much. I was already attached to a few of them after reading the Finishing School books and I got quickly attached to the rest in these five books. Carriger definitely knows how to develop a quirky cast of characters and make them likable and complex. Every last one of the characters in this book is amazing in their own way. I loved learning more about them in the course of this book but there are still so many questions I need answers to.

As far as the characters go, no one makes a bigger impression that Alexia, the main character in this series. I loved her immediately and enjoyed her just as much five books later. She's the perfect strong female protagonist, tough, resourceful, and mouthy. But at the same time she's caring and reckless. I appreciated more than I thought I would seeing her as a mother. It was a different dimension for her. And on that note, Prudence? Baby Prudence was so fun. I am anticipating all the sass from her in the Custard Protocol, which I could not be happier about.

But while the characters are amazing, that's just the tip of he iceberg for this series. I continue to be incredibly impressed by the depth of this world. In every book we explore one more facet of the supernatural and steampunk Victorian era. It's such a perfect combination of Urban Fantasy and Historical Fiction. And the corner of the world we got to experience her was fascinating. I loved going to Egypt and learning more about the God-Breaker Plague, among other things. It combines history, mythology, and fantasy in such a brilliant way which I really enjoyed. Although I do still have a ton of questions about stuff.

And the plot too here was really compelling. It may not have been as thrilling as some of the other books but it was definitely engaging. As always there was an interesting mystery element that kept me guessing and a good amount of action scenes that had me on the edge of my seat. I also think it did a really good way of wrapping up the series by bringing back up and resolving elements that were introduced much earlier in the series. It didn't totally have an overarching plot point but it was complex enough that I enjoyed the callbacks and ultimate resolution.

All in all this was a really great read and a good ending to a series that I loved. It's been such a fun and exciting series to read. I wish I had read it years ago when I was first introduced to it but I'm glad that I took the time to read it now.

To be honest, I loved t so much that I'm not ready to let it go. I kind of want to now terra the Finishing School series and then read Prudence. Or maybe I'll read all the short stories! Oh Gail Carriger, I wish I knew how to quit you. No I don't. I never want to quit you!

I give Timeless by Gail Carriger 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you haven't read this series you absolutely need to. I totally loved it. It is the perfect comnbination of humorous and thrilling, history and fantasy. I absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it enough.

Have you read Timeless? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Heartless by Gail Carriger

*** This is the fourth book in a series so if you have not read Soulless, Changeless, and Blameless proceed with caution. But seriously, read them because I am obsessed with this series and I'm only marathoning it now.***

Title: Heartless Parasol Protectorate #4 Written by: Gail Carriger Published: July 1, 2011 by Orbit (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.  Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

So good! This book was oh so good! This may have just outpaced Soulless as my favorite book in this series. It was really phenomenal. I have been marathoning this series for the past few months and I am absolutely loving it and this book is the perfect example as to why.

I have always absolutely loved Gail Carriger's books for the characters and that was totally the case in Heartless. You will often find me complaining about books with large casts of characters being confusing and it hard to keep the characters straight and that is not the case here at all. There's a massive cast of characters here and they are all memorable, unique, and amazing. I honestly get excited when someone comes back into the story because they are so fun and quirky. And of course I loved this one because two of my favorite secondary characters, Lord Akeldama and Madame Lefoux, had a bigger part in the book and the eventual plot development (more on that later). We also got to learn a lot more about some of the characters which made them all the more engaging and interesting.

However the focus of the book is of course Alexia. I am absolutely in love with her as an MC. Her voice is specific and in the course of four books I have become so enamored with it I think I'm adopting some of her speech patterns. But honestly, a person could do worse for a role model than Alexia Maccon. She is brash, tough, and intelligent. She gets up to all kinds of adventures and even being nine months pregnant she didn't let that stop stop. I just love how tough, resourceful, and kickass she is. I'm a fan, big fan.

Speaking of adventures, this book is so full of them. There are some serious shenanigans in this book. Like all the rest of the books in this series, the main plot is full of mystery and adventure. But I think my favorite thing was that it slowly developed into a really thrilling conclusion. I mean it really all some together during the last couple of chapters in the most interconnected and inopportune way. I was actually stressed out by how it was all going to be resolved, that's how exciting it was. And the even better thing about this plot was how it is self-contained and so subtly connected to the larger plot of the series. There were so many unexpected callbacks to previous books and I could not have been more excited about that.

A lot of why I think it all connected and that those callbacks were so interesting because this is a series with a truly amazing world. This is a series with tremendously complex world. I keep saying this but it keeps being true, it shouldn't all work together but it does. The steampunk, the historical elements, and the supernatural elements all combine to make something complex and interesting. But there is also a real history to this world. It's honestly no surprise to me that there are two separate spinoff a from this series, one prequel and one sequel, because the world is so well-formed. In this one we learn so much about the past, including more than one surprise and twist. It's a little strange to me because I have read the Finishing School series before and the fore have knowledge that readers who read the series in release order don't have but it still had me intrigued and surprised. But then again, I love this world so much that the more I learn the better.

I'm really loving this series and am so glad I decided to take the time to finish it after years of wanting to read it. It a seriously thrilling and hilarious read with amazing characters, a plot full of adventure, and an intriguing world. This book was amazing and I can't wait to read the last book to find out how it all ends!

I give Heartless by Gail Carriger 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy! I have been marathoning this series and every book I tell you to buy it so this one should come as no surprise. But in the rare case that you have not completed or started this series yet, do that now. It is such a fun and action-packed series with amazing characters. I am loving it.

Have you read Heartless? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Blameless by Gail Carriger

*** This is the third book in a series so if you have not read Soulless and Changeless proceed with caution. But seriously, read them because I am obsessed with this series and I'm only marathoning it now.***

Title: Blameless Parasol Protectorate #2 Written by: Gail Carriger Published: September 1, 2010 by Orbit (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.   Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.  While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.  BLAMELESS is the third book of the Parasol Protectorate series: a comedy of manners set in Victorian London, full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

Another fantastic book in the Paradol Protectorate series. I am absolutely spying through these book. They are so fun and the perfect combination of action, adventure, mystery, and silliness.

For one thing, I just adore these characters. I have become so attached to them in the last three books (7 books for some of you count the Finishing School series). First and foremost I love Alexia. She really is such a spitfire. She's sassy, intelligent, and resourceful. I love seeing her in action and she continues to make me smile. Lord Maccon too is fantastic despite the fact that he was very frustrating in this book. I still love him and love their relationship. I can't wait to see them develop, especially as parents.

I also really enjoy the secondary characters here. Some of my favorite from the Finishing School series are still favorites here like Madame LeFoux, who will always be Vieve to me. I feel like there is still more to learn about her and I like learning it. Same thing with Lord Akeldama who was only minimally involved but affected the book in a big way. In this book too we got a lot more of Professor Lyall which was really interesting as well.

But the characters are not the only interesting thing about this book. This is a book full of action and adventure. By now I should expect the hijinx and shenanigans that this series is capable of and yet it still manages to surprise me. This is a plot where you have to expect the unexpected. There was a lot of different perspective and storylines here but in the end they came together in a complex and interesting way that was full of thrilling moments that had me surprised and enthralled.

But I will say, this felt like a middle book. As far as the pacing of the larger story it did feel a little bit basic. There was a lot of attention spent on something that I'm sure will come into play later but it didn't feel like it was enough to fell a whole book. It felt a little bit like filler or the kind of book that serves as a bridge between books. These kind of books are needed for the series as a whole, but when you're reading them it can seem a little stunted. I'm ready to continue on with it though.

And I'm also ready to explore more of the world. I continue to be blown away by how well Gail Carriger is able to create a world and a setting that brilliantly combines elements of historical fiction, steampunk, and supernatural fantasy. It shouldn't all work together but it does. It works to make a fascinating backdrop for the story. There was a lot of focus on preternaturals here and this kind of scientific approach to them that the book has been touching on and was explored even further. I'm also so curious to learn more about what their child will be and what they will be capable of as they only are just starting to explore that and why the other supernatural set, particularly the vampires, are not happy about this. I know there is more to learn and I am really excited to learn it as the series develops.

I am really loved this book and I'm definitely enjoying this series. I'm so glad that I'm finally taking the time to read it and I can't wait to see what happens next. I'm so invested in these characters and it's a series that is full of action, humor, and mystery.

I give Blameless by Gail Carriger 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are following along with my marathoning of this series you will know that I am loving these books. If you are late to the party like me and you like steampunk or supernatural fantasies then get your hands on these books.

Have you read Blameless? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: As I Descended by Robin Talley

Title: As I Descended Written by: Robin Talley Published: September 6, 2016 by Harper Teen (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Maria Lyon and Lily Boiten are their school’s ultimate power couple—even if no one knows it but them. Only one thing stands between them and their perfect future: campus superstar Delilah Dufrey. Golden child Delilah is a legend at the exclusive Acheron Academy, and the presumptive winner of the distinguished Cawdor Kingsley Prize. She runs the school, and if she chose, she could blow up Maria and Lily’s whole world with a pointed look, or a carefully placed word. But what Delilah doesn’t know is that Lily and Maria are willing to do anything—absolutely anything—to make their dreams come true. And the first step is unseating Delilah for the Kingsley Prize. The full scholarship, awarded to Maria, will lock in her attendance at Stanford―and four more years in a shared dorm room with Lily. Maria and Lily will stop at nothing to ensure their victory—including harnessing the dark power long rumored to be present on the former plantation that houses their school. But when feuds turn to fatalities, and madness begins to blur the distinction between what’s real and what is imagined, the girls must decide where they draw the line. From acclaimed author Robin Talley comes a Shakespeare-inspired story of revenge and redemption, where fair is foul, and foul is fair.

So much about the synopsis of this book caught my eye and I'm glad that it did because, oh this book was everything I wanted it to be and probably more. It was exactly what I had hoped for in a "lesbian YA Macbeth set in a haunted boarding school." It was super fantastic. Dark, creepy, and compulsively readable.

Lately I have been all about YA Shakespeare retellings. Give them all to me now! Give me more, especially if they are going to be like this one. Because Robin Talley's Macbeth retelling was fantastic. I usually like my retellings to at least stick really close to the original source material when it comes to the plot or take it in a totally creative direction. Talley managed to do both. You can see exactly the moments Macbeth that were used to craft this story but at the same time it is something all it's own that people not at all familiar with the original will enjoy.

And that creativity came in the form of a totally creepy Gothic ghost story. If you are looking for a dark and atmospheric read for fall, look no further. This book is full of vengeful ghosts, unexplained occurrences, and a great mystery. But as much as I enjoyed these elements that was also one of my criticisms of the book. I felt like there were some questions left unanswered and plot points when it came to the supernatural elements. I would have liked more resolution or even answers about the ghosts. There were a little but in the end there wasn't much explanation about them and the why about them. But that did add to the creepiness factor. There are so many moments here that had me catching my breath, gasping, covering my mouth, and biting my nails out of worry. It's a dark and creepy story with an atmosphere to match.

If you are familiar with the story of Macbeth then you know that as one of Shakespeare's tragedies there is a lot of turmoil in that book. I mean it has a serious body count. And if you are wondering if this book goes there, yes it does. The plot is full of suspense and thrills. It slowly builds to a thrilling conclusion that will have you on the edge of your seat concerned and curious. And of you're like me then you'll be hoping it varies a little from the original.

But the setting and the plot are not the only dark and complex things about this book, the characters fit right in. I will say that when it came to the characters, I did miss some of the relationship building. We were dropped into something already established and I didn't quite buy into it in some instances. However this is mostly a book about ambition gone wrong so you have a book full of overly-ambitious schemers, something I absolutely love. But you also have unreliable narrators and characters who walk a very fine line between right and wrong. And no matter how they might justify it, they definitely cross that line. But that's what makes them so interesting and honestly likable. I surprisingly wanted them to succeed. All of them. Which made it very difficult when there was a conflict among them. And there plenty of conflict which made for an interesting read for sure.

All in all, As I Descended was a fantastic read that I really enjoyed. I was hoping for a dark and dramatic story with complex characters that would creep me and that's what I found. This book totally hooked and I really enjoyed it.

I give As I Descended by Robin Talley 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you are at all interested by this synopsis, check this book out for sure. It is a must read for fans of Macbeth but even if you don't like or have never read the original, check this out of you are looking for a creepy and complex story full of atmosphere and suspense.

Have you read As I Descended? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather

Title: How to Hang a Witch Written by: Adriana Mather Published: July 26, 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (Penguin) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: For fans of Conversion and Mean Girls, comes a debut novel where the trials of high school start to feel like a modern day witch hunt for a teen with all the wrong connections to Salem’s past.  Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York City, Sam and her stepmother are not exactly welcomed with open arms. Sam is the descendant of Cotton Mather, one of the men responsible for those trials and almost immediately, she becomes the enemy of a group of girls who call themselves The Descendants. And guess who their ancestors were?  If dealing with that weren't enough, Sam also comes face to face with a real live (well technically dead) ghost. A handsome, angry ghost who wants Sam to stop touching his stuff. But soon Sam discovers she is at the center of a centuries old curse affecting anyone with ties to the trials. Sam must come to terms with the ghost and find a way to work with the Descendants to stop a deadly cycle that has been going on since the first accused witch was hanged. If any town should have learned its lesson, it's Salem. But history may be about to repeat itself.

**** I recieved an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

How to Hang a Witch was one of my most anticipated debuts. It absolutely sounds like a "me book" so I was really excited to see copies at BEA. And in fact I really loved this book, I think I even liked it more than I expected which is a strange thing to say for a book that has been on your TBR for about a year. But I was cautiously pessimistic going into this book after seeing some mixed reviews and having a few debuts not live up to my anticipation. However, How to Hang a Witch was a compulsively readable YA historical mystery full of magic, mystery, and an atmospheric setting that hooked me.

 The setting of this book was one of the things that attracted me to it and is absolutely one of it's best parts. How to Hang a Witch takes place in Salem, Massachusetts which is the perfect place for this kind of story. I felt transported to the town which came alive throughout the book. I could perfectly visualize the cobblestone streets, the clapboard style colonial buildings, the narrow alleyways, and the excessive amounts of cemeteries. It desperately made me miss New England. You see Mather captures the atmosphere and history of New England in this book. You can tell that she is not only intimately familiar with the town itself, but the Witch Trials, other historical happenings, and the spooky and unexplained stories from the town throughout it's more than 300 years in existence. This book is a love letter to a place that embraces its history even when it's a little dark and complicated.

But the already atmospheric and dark setting was further developed with fantastic supernatural and magical elements. And while there were some elements of the story that felt like they could have cliche, they mostly worked to build the atmosphere. There are all kinds of unexplained (and explained with supernatural reasons) events throughout the book that give it this spooky kind of feeling that helped establish the world. It's not scary but it did have me looking over my shoulder and thinking about peculiar events and that feeling you sometimes get when you walk into an old house and wonder if you're alone. It gave a kind of a subtle spookiness to the book that I really appreciated. Then as the book develops more and more magic comes into the world further building that supernatural feel. The magic also connected to the plot and mystery which I really appreciated. It's a slow build that pulls you in an fantastically engaging way.

Not to mention that the plot and pacing itself really builds in a similar way. It starts slow and then totally explodes. There were so many exciting and thrilling steps along the way which built upon one another to make a really engaging plot. Seriously, it just kept building and building. There was a point where I was so anxiously anticipating the big twist that I didn't think I could handle it anymore, which is when Mather hits with the reveal and then a climax that had me on the edge of my seat. It was surprisingly suspenseful which I really loved.

However, I think maybe my favorite thing about this book was the mystery. I love a good historical mystery and this absolutely fit the bill. It perfectly combined the historical occurrences, which you can tell the author did a lot of research on, and connected them with events in present day. Plus it had me curious and questioning everything throughout the book like most mysteries but it was also solvable. And there was so much to solve here. There was more than one crazy twist throughout the book and lots of subtle clues that led you to the conclusion. Plus when it was finally revealed you were left surprised but not totally caught off guard. One of my first thoughts ended up being right, but the reason was wrong.  All and all it was definitely a fantastic mystery which helped further establish the atmospheric setting and thrilling plot.

I think my only small criticism here would be with the characters. It's got a pretty big cast of characters all focused around the main character of Samantha Mather. Sam is an interesting character in that she kind of grows on you without any obvious character development. At first she feels a bit cliche but then without even realizing you see that there's more to her. That was kind of the case with a lot of the characters. We just didn't spend enough time with each of them and I think just sort of blended together for me. In the end they did feel complex when you could see that they weren't good or bad, but it was so subtle. And I get that this isn't a character-driven story, something that I honestly liked because I'm a plot-driven reader, but I would have maybe liked a little bit more with the characterizations.

But on the whole, I really loved How to Hang a Witch. It's a fantastic historical mystery full of thrills, magic, an atmospheric setting, and a truly engaging plot. I was really excited about this book going into it and I am happy to report that it lived up to and maybe even exceeded my expectations, something a lot of debuts have not been able to do this year.

I give How to Hang a Witch by Adriana Mather 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a really engaging YA historical mystery that I would definitely recommend to fans of the genre. But I think this would also be the perfect read if you are looking for a complex and mysterious witch read. It's the perfect fall read or really any time of year.

Have you read How to Hang a Witch? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.

ARC Review: Worlds of Ink and Shadows by Lena Coakley

Title: Worlds of Ink and Shadows Written by: Lena Coakley Published: January 5, 2016 by Amulet Books (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been inseparable. After all, nothing can bond four siblings quite like life in an isolated parsonage out on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend them escape from their strict upbringing, actually transporting them into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go.  Gorgeously written and based on the Brontës’ juvenilia, Worlds of Ink & Shadow brings to life one of history’s most celebrated literary families.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

I am a fan of Gothic literature and therefore the Bronte sisters (well mostly Emily but you get the idea) so when I saw on Netgalley a historical fantasy about the Brontes in their teens travelling to their own imaginary worlds I knew I needed to read it. And this books definitely did not disappoint. It was a fantastic dark fantasy with subtle historical elements.

There was even more interesting elements of the plot that bookish people will appreciate. I went into this book expecting more on the historical elements but that's not what the focus of the book was, it was much more about the fantastical and supernatural elements which perfectly suited me. The book switched back and forth between the real world and the fictional worlds with spill over into both, but a lot of the plot was the goings on in the fantasy worlds that the Brontes created. I loved being able to explore the worlds, both Verdopolis and Gondal, despite only briefly seeing the latter. They were such different worlds and you could see which Bronte had created them based on their appearance. Verdopolis was a group effort and it had many different elements of Regency and Gothic literature including lots of romance and mystery. But both worlds had dark elements just like you would expect from these authors. I usually enjoy dark fantasies that have a basis in real history so I enjoyed that about this book as well.

It also probably comes as no surprise that this is the kind of book for bookish people, it is about three (well four) authors after all. I'm not very familiar with the juvenalia of the Brontes, nor any of their works beyond theier most well-known but this book made me want to read more of their books. The stories they created here were truly imaginative and if their actual books are anything like these then I'm sure they are fantastic. And I'm sure they are because you can see the progression of their work. You can see the characters who influenced Charlotte's Mr. Rochester and Emily's Heathcliff and Cathy. As a fan of Wuthering Heights (it's one of my all-time favorite books) I loved seeing the precursors to these characters and these books. Fans of the Brontes will also enjoy seeing that and appreciate this book for that reason.

This of course meant that there many interesting characters within both the real world and fictional worlds. Within the fictional world we had the heroes and heroines that the Brontes created. Zamorna who was Charlotte's main protagonist was this great hero but with his own weaknesses, for one thing he was a bit of a womanizer. Branwell's main hero who then became Emily's was more of a villainous type. He is the aptly named Rogue and while we are told about his kidnapping attempts and swashbuckling past you can't help but like and root for him. The most interesting character to me was probably the mysterious S'Death just because he seemed to be in the middle of everything and you knew so little about him, just that he was Rogue's partner in crime.

Then you had the Brontes. The book took you through the minds and lives of all four surviving Brontes including the lesser known Anne and Branwell. I know very little about Branwell, I have to admit that I didn't even know he existed until now, so it was great to see him be a big part of the story. Anne was a smaller part of the book but still a really interesting contrast. She was the more grounded of the group and was a good foil for the others. Then there was Charlotte who was basically the main character. It was her who spurred a lot of the writing and imagination within the group. She did however fall a little flat for me but that may have been because I never really liked Jane Eyre as much. I was always more of an Emily Bronte kind of reader and that reflected in my enjoyment of the characters too. I loved Emily. She was a little rash and reckless but a hopeless romantic at heart. The book switched perspectives a lot and while I enjoyed seeing the different sides it did kind of make things muddled sometimes.

On the whole this was a good read that bookish people, especially fans of the Brontes will probably enjoy. It did start a little slow for my taste but when the mystery and darker elements kicked in, it was really interesting and enjoyable.

I give Worlds of Ink and Shadows by Lena Coakley 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. This is a book for bookish people, especially fans of the Brontes and/or Gothic literature. It's got great characters and interesting dark fantasy worlds that fans of supernatural or fantasy books will enjoy. It was a really creative book and I would definitely recommend it.

Have you read Worlds of Ink and Shadows? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!