Brief Synopsis “City of Gold” is the fifth and final book in the Aru Shah series. With their celestial weapons gone, the Pandavas feel hopeless to stop the Sleeper from acquiring the nectar of immortality and destroying the world. How do they stand a chance? Content Warnings: Violence (PG) What Do I Think? In my … Continue reading Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality, by Roshani Chokshi
Brief Synopsis “The Empty Grave” is the fifth and final book in Jonathan Stroud’s “Lockwood & Co.” series. On the hunt for answers, Lockwood, Lucy, George, Holly, and Kipps find themselves thrown into one grand conspiracy after another…one that might even define the Problem itself. Content Warnings: Violence (PG-13), Horror, Death What Do I Think? … Continue reading The Empty Grave, by Jonathan Stroud
Brief Synopsis “The Secrets of Star Whales” by Rebecca Thorne sees young Maxion Belmont living on the space station Azura, two years after the loss of his father. When a foreign starship appears, with its eccentric captain Mr. Hames, it at first just seems like any other day. But then Mr. Hames starts talking about … Continue reading The Secrets of Star Whales, by Rebecca Thorne
Brief Synopsis “The Creeping Shadow” is the fourth book in Jonathan Stroud’s “Lockwood & Co.” series. Having quit the company and struck out on her own, Lucy Carlyle (along with a talking skull) is finding the freelancing life to be frustrating. But when she gets an offer to work with her former colleagues, should she … Continue reading The Creeping Shadow, by Jonathan Stroud
Brief Synopsis “The Hollow Boy” is the third book in Jonathan Stroud’s “Lockwood & Co.” series, wherein ghost hunter Lucy Carlyle works for the eponymous Lockwood & Co. to eradicate ghosts that are plaguing the London area. A massive cluster of ghosts causes greater trouble than ever, but most frustrating for Lucy is how distant … Continue reading The Hollow Boy, by Jonathan Stroud
Brief Synopsis “The Shadow of Kyoshi” by F.C. Yee follows the events of the first book, as Kyoshi works to continue her development into a fully-fledged Avatar. But ghosts of the past threaten to undo all of her hard work… Content Warnings: Violence (PG-13) What Do I Think? In my review for this book’s predecessor, … Continue reading The Shadow of Kyoshi, by F.C. Yee
Brief Synopsis “Witchlings” is Claribel A. Ortega’s second novel, which sees the young Seven Salazar as she desires to join the most powerful coven in her town. When the ceremony goes awry and she is not only cast as a Spare, but also tasked with finding and defeating a Nightbeast, she’ll have to work together … Continue reading Witchlings, by Claribel A. Ortega
Brief Synopsis “The Marvellers” is Dhonielle Clayton’s middle-grade debut set in a magical world. Ella Durand is an 11 year-old Conjuror, the first allowed to attend Arcanum Training Institute, which previously was only open to Marvellers. With tensions rising, she’ll have to navigate a strange new world of rules and magic… Content Warnings: Violence (PG), … Continue reading The Marvellers, by Dhonielle Clayton
Brief Synopsis “The Rise of Kyoshi” is the first of a duology, focusing on the early life of Avatar Kyoshi as she comes into power as the Avatar. Content Warnings: Violence (PG-13), Major Character Death What Do I Think? I have long been a fan of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” I loved the initial series, … Continue reading The Rise of Kyoshi, by F.C. Yee
Brief Synopsis “City of Gold” is the fourth book in the Aru Shah series by Roshani Chokshi, and sees Aru Shah struggling to grapple with the war against her father, the evil Sleeper. Content Warnings: Violence (PG) What Do I Think? This review is hard. Up until now, I have been singing Chokshi’s praises with … Continue reading Aru Shah and the City of Gold, by Roshani Chokshi
Jacob Ryckman 