"Into the Sunken City" by Dinesh Thiru

 A great addition to the Dystopian genre!

In a world of constant rain and danger, only one thing is certain: the waters will continue to rise. 

Jin and her younger sister, Thara, are all that's left of their family. After their father died in an attempt to pull up lost treasure from the depths of the ever expanding ocean, Jin promised herself and her sister that they would never dive again. Instead, they will run the dilapidated inn their father left them and continue to scrimp and save so they can pay their taxes and avoid being conscripted by the navy. 

But surviving in this world of water isn't easy. So when a suspicious woman shows up at the inn offering gold in return for an indefinite stay, Jin knows the stranger is trouble and she should throw her out. But times are hard, and her younger sister is getting closer to conscription age with everyday that passes. Without the stanger's money, Jin may not be able to save herself or her sister from a life of forced service at sea.

However, this stranger wants more than just a warm bed and a meal. She is looking for a crew to help her retrieve the largest treasure ever to be discovered in the depths of what used to be Las Vegas, and she wants Jin and Thara to once again put on the diving suits their father left them and help her retrieve it in return for part of the treasure. 

Jin swore she would never go back in the water, but Thara is desperate to go in the hopes that the treasure will buy them a new life far from the coast and the inn. Jin is torn until one night the stranger's past catches up with her, and Thara, Jin, and her hot ex-boyfriend are drawn into the adventure of a lifetime. 

Sea beasts, pirates, deadly storms and much more. 

If you are looking for an exciting adventure story, then look no further! 

This book was fast paced with engaging characters, and engaging plot and intricate world building. Jin was a little hard to like at times, but with everything that had happened to her in her life, it is totally believable that she would be such a hardened character despite her young age. 

I give this book 4.5 stars!

"Hatchet Girls" by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Lizzie Borden took an ax. 

And gave her mother forty whacks, 

And when she saw what she had done, 

She gave her father forty-one.

This book would have made an excellent horror movie!

I love horror stories that are inspired by true events.  I love making connections between the true story and the author's reimagined story as they twist and mold those events into something completely new.

"Hatchet Girls" is based on the real life events of the Borden family.  The Borden family was a rich and prosperous family, but not a very happy one. Andrew Borden, the father and family patriarch, was a somber and tight fisted man who like to control his money and his family. His first wife passed away when his two girls were quite young, and he eventually remarried a woman named Abby. 

No one really knows what happened that fateful day, but the popular belief is that Lizzie Borden just snapped. She was fed up with her father controlling every aspect of her life, so while he was out, she went upstairs to her stepmother's room and killed her with an axe, striking her multiple times. Her father came home later, having no idea of his wife's fate, and laid down on the couch to rest. While he was resting, Lizzie Borden killed him with the axe as well. 

However, Lizzie Borden was never convicted for these murders. 

During the trial, there was never enough information to prove that Lizzie was the murderess, and fingers were also pointed at Lizzie's uncle and even disgruntled business partners as the potential murderers. 

So someone got away with murder.

"Hatchet Girls" is a novel inspired by the mystery surrounding the Borden family and intertwines those events with the supernatural as history repeats itself in a present day setting.  

One hundred years after the Borden murders, tragedy has struck again. 

In the town of River Falls, a wealthy businessman and his wife have been murdered in their upscale home that is located just miles from the historic Lizzie Borden home. And when Tessa's older brother Vik is the prime suspect in the double homicide, Tessa knows she is going to have to do everything in her power to prove his innocence and expose the real murderer.

Tessa's hunt for the truth leads her into the dark history of River Falls, and the supposedly cursed forest that her brother was hiking in on the night of the murders. There is something different about that forest, something sinister.  

Did something happen to her brother that night in those woods? Or is some sinister force reaching out from the beyond to ensure that history repeats itself?

Gothic vibes, VERY creepy descriptive scenes, and a engaging method of storytelling that flashes back and forth between the night of the murder and the aftermath makes this a quick and compelling read. 

Perfect for fans who love horror, murder mysteries and the supernatural. 

"The House of Salt and Sorrows" by Erin A Craig

 "A House Of Salt and Sorrows" is a haunting Gothic retelling of the fairy tale classic "The Twelve Dancing Princesses". 

This book definitely get 5 stars for its creep factor. 

Our introduction to the story begins with a funeral. 

The Duke of Highmoore, Orten Thaumas, once had twelve beautiful daughters, a loving wife, and an almost perfect life on their island estate. But tragedy struck when his beloved wife died giving birth to their 12th daughter, Verity, and since that fateful night death seems to follow the Thaumas women.

 One died of plague.

One died in the bathtub.

One died after falling from a library ladder.

And now the fourth eldest daughter, Eulalie, has died under questionable circumstances after falling from a high cliff and smashing into the rocks below. 

Was it an accident?

Did she jump?

Or was she pushed?

Annaleigh Thaumas, now the 2nd eldest daughter of the Duke of Highmoore, is determined to find out what really happened to Eulalie and why her sisters keep dying.

The towns people whisper that their family is cursed, and that anyone who gets too close to the Thaumas girls risks meeting the same fate. But Annaleigh doesn't believe in curses. 

That is, until she starts seeing the spirits of her departed sisters. And these spirits are definitely not at peace and seem to have sinister intentions towards the household occupants. 

However, only Annaleigh and Verity can see their spirits, and no one believes Annaliegh when she tries to tell them that her sisters' death were no accident. 

While trying to solve the mystery of the "Thaumas curse", Annaleigh also tries to comfort her sisters, especially her oldest sister Camille. While Camille is also grieving the deaths of her sisters, she is also lamenting the fact that every eligible bachelor on the island believes them to be cursed and it is unlikely that she will ever find love. And with the near constant deaths of her sisters, the remaining Thaumas sisters are never able to end their mourning period to attend balls and functions where they could meet potential beaus. 

So when Annaleigh hears rumors of a magic door used by the gods that can transport a person anywhere they wish in the entire world, she and her sisters begin to search for it, hoping to find a way to leave their island home and their grief behind for just a few hours so they can enjoy their lives and search for love. 

What follows are nights filled with music, dancing, and handsome partners who escort them around ballrooms throughout the entire world. For the first time in a long time, the Thaumas girls are happy. 

But death never seems to be far from Annaleigh and her sisters, and something far more sinister than they could ever imagine is waiting for them. 

This book is a great choice if you are looking for a spine-tingling supernatural read. I kept thinking to myself as I read this book that it would make a great horror movie. The descriptions of the spirits and the scenes they appear in are down right chilling. And what is creepier that a small child talking about the ghosts of her dead sisters and making drawings of those ghosts in their death states? Eerily accurate drawings of sisters who died when she was just an infant and she should have no memory of. 

I was immediately pulled in by the mystery surrounding the curse, and the cute romance included in the story provided a nice break from the sinister ghosts, the deaths, and the grief that surrounded Annaleigh. 

The only downside of this story was that is got a little confusing at the end. This is in no part the author's fault, it is simply a natural result of the plot and the reveals that are made toward the end. I had to read several parts a couple of times to keep track of what was happening and what had already happened. I can't really say more without giving too much away, but overall, it was a satisfying conclusion to the story. 

This was a great retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" and the dark Gothic elements just pushed it to the next level. I will definitely be recommending this one to other readers. 

The narrator for the audiobook version of this story did an amazing job as well! 

"The Inheritance Games" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 Jennifer Lynn Barnes has done it again!

There's a reason that Jennifer Lynn Barnes is one of my top 3 favorite young adult authors. 

It's because her books are AMAZING!!!

I fell in love with Barnes's storytelling with her "Naturals" series.

I highly enjoyed "The Fixer" duology and I was captivated by "The Lovely and the Lost".

But it is possible I may have a new favorite. 

"The Inheritance Games".... aahhhh, how do I even describe it? I feel like my brain is still spinning from all the puzzles, riddles, and revelations that are woven through the fabric of the story. The story is a mystery in the truest sense of the word. It will leave you guessing until the very end, and if you think you've figured it out... think again. 

"The Inheritance Games" centers around 17 year old Avery Graham, who is doing everything she can to save money for college while still making the grades she needs to get accepted.  Avery lives with her half sister after her mother passed away, and their deadbeat dad isn't in the picture. Despite Avery's brilliant mind, her future is anything but certain due to her current financial situation. 

But then everything changes.

Grayson Hawthorne has tracked Avery down and informed her that she has been named a beneficiary in his late grandfather's will. Tobias Hawthorn was one of the richest men in the world when he passed away.

And Avery has no idea who he is.

Avery and her sister fly to Texas, courtesy of the Hawthorne family, to hear the will read. The rest of the Hawthorne family is waiting for them: the two daughters of the late Tobias Hawthorne, his four handsome, brilliant grandsons, as well as several members of the staff. 

And no one is more surprised than Avery when Tobias Hawthorne's lawyer announces that other than a mere pittance left to his family and his staff, the Hawthorne fortune, the businesses and the sprawling mansion now belong to Avery Kylie Graham. 

Avery is now one of the richest women in the world.

The disinherited family isn't sure what to make of this revelation. Who is Avery? Why did Tobias Hawthorne leave his immense fortune to this stranger? 

Grayson Hawthorne, the heir apparent, thinks Avery is little better than a con woman, who has some how tricked, conned, or manipulated her way into a fortune. Jameson Hawthorne, the third grandson,  sees Avery as a puzzle, as one more riddle left behind by the old man for his grandsons to figure out and solve. 

What happens next is a series of puzzles, secret passages, hidden messages, and daunting riddles that begin to reveal family secrets and haunting tragedies. Avery starts down this path, working with Grayson and Jamie to solve the mystery behind Tobias Hawthorne's bizarre decision regarding his will, and discovering that the rabbit hole that is the Hawthrone family goes much deeper than she ever could have imagined.

Despite being an amazing book, there was one downside to this book.

I did not like the insta-attraction between Avery and two of the Hawthorne grandsons. It felt a little bit rushed and I never like it when a character is attracted to multiple people in the same family. There is no way that ends well for anyone. 

This book kept me turning pages late into the night. Tension and suspense is interwoven masterfully throughout the plot and the engaging and sometime quirky characters has me reaching for book two even as I am finishing this review. 

"Girl on the Run" by Abigail Johnson

Perfect for fans of April Henry!!!

Girl on the Run is a YA thriller that is perfect for readers who are looking for a quick, fast paced mystery full of family secrets, shocking discoveries, and nearly nonstop action.  

Seventeen year old Katelyn Reed thinks she is doing something nice when creates an online dating profile for her overly cautious, slightly neurotic mother in an attempt to help her find love again. Her mother can be a bit over protective.

No social media. 

Only sleepovers with approved friends.

No boys.

The list goes on.

However, when Katelyn reveals to her mother what she has done, Katelyn's whole world changes. Instantly, Katelyn's mother becomes someone that Katelyn almost doesn't recognize. She tells Katelyn they have to leave, right now,  and her fear is written all over her face. Katelyn has no idea why her mother is reacting this way. She knew her mom would be resistant to an online dating profile, but she never expected this reaction. 

The next thing Katelyn knows, her mother has stolen her neighbor's car and they are abandoning their home for the past year in the middle of the night. Katelyn doesn't understand what's going on, and her mother isn't giving her any clues either. She is just frantic to get Katelyn away. 

When another car smashes into the side of their car, trying to force Katelyn and her mom off the road, Katelyn realizes that her mother's fears are very real.

Someone is coming after them, and her mother has been keeping secrets.

This YA thriller is perfect for anyone who is looking for suspense with a lighter feel to it than most thrillers. There is definitely some violence in the book as Katelyn and her mom are pursued by the mysterious people chasing them, but the violence is usually referenced in past tense, injuries are sustained merely trying to get away, or threats are made about future violence with most never being carried out. The final showdown at the end of the book is a little bloody, but overall a solid conclusion to the story. 

There is also a small romantic side story that plays a part throughout the book, and I wished this had been a little more fleshed out at the end of the book. But overall, it added a sweet element to help balance the nonstop action and fast pace of the book.

Once again, this is a great story is you are looking for a light fast paced thriller that you can get through quickly and enjoy.  

Girl on the Run is a 2022-2023 Gateway Award Nominee.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

“Welcome, welcome to Caraval! The grandest show on land or by sea. Inside you’ll experience more wonders than most people see in a lifetime. You can sip magic from a cup and buy dreams in a bottle. But before you fully enter into our world, you must remember it’s all a game.”

Two sisters. One magical adventure. The chance of a lifetime.
Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, the once-a-year magical performance put on by the mysterious showman who is only known as Legend. Just weeks before Scarlett's marriage to a complete stranger, Tella and Scarlett receive personal invitations from Legend himself to attend this year's performance on his island home.  Seeing a chance to escape their abusive father and their dismal futures, Tella, with the help of a handsome sailor, whisks Scarlett away to Caraval.

However, Caraval is much different than the sisters expected.  Instead of a fun filled magical adventure, the sisters find that Caraval is much more deadly than they expected. Upon arrival, Tella is kidnapped by Legend and made the prize for this year's Caraval. Whoever finds Tella first is the winner and gets one wish. But if Scarlett can't find Tella before the 5 days of Caraval are up, then she may never see her sister again.
***
Caraval is one of those books that has been in my TBR pile for a while. It was always kind of in the back of my mind, whispering, "You need to read me." I finally pulled Caraval to the top of my TBR pile when one of my students told me, "Mrs. White, you need to read this. Like, right now." So I pushed aside all my other waiting books and started Caraval.
I went in to this book expecting to enjoy the story, but it was more fun than I even anticipated.

First of all, I really enjoyed to closeness between the two sisters, Scarlett and Tella. I mean, there were times when I would have liked to smack each of them upside the head, but I appreciated the positive sibling relationship that was represented in this book. Scarlett and Tella, despite their obvious differences, were both willing to sacrifice everything if it meant saving the other.

Caraval is one of those stories that keeps you guessing, theorizing, and speculating about the characters, the plot, and who can be trusted, and I found myself constantly questioning what was real in the story, what was part of the game, and what the master of Caraval really wanted with the sisters. I found myself thinking about the book whenever I had free time trying to puzzle out how the story was going to turn out. So be sure to have a nice chunk of time set aside when you start this book, and pay close attention as you go.

I found the romance in this book to be sweet, but I feel like it is nowhere near resolved. I am looking forward to reading the next two books and seeing how the relationship that began in this book develops.

So if you are looking for a magical fantasy story with dark elements and twists and turns, this may be the book for you. It is filled with deception, manipulation, betrayal and constant surprises set against the magical backdrop of Caraval. As you read, remember just one thing:

"IT'S ONLY A GAME..." 😏

"Things I Should Have Known" by Claire LaZebnik

 Strong sibling bonds. Enemies to lovers romance. Finding balance in a dysfunctional family. A strong message about what is means to be "normal".

If these topics appeal to you, then you will LOVE "Things I Should Have Known". I found this gem when it was recommended to me by a student at my school. While I typically gravitate towards fantasy and science fiction, I thoroughly enjoy stories that feature strong family ties, and that is exactly what I got with Chloe, Ivy, Ethan and David. 

Things I Should Have Known centers around Chloe, who is a beautiful, popular high school student with the hottest guy in school as her boyfriend. On the outside, Chloe looks like she has the perfect life, but of course that is not the case. To begin, Chloe's mother just got remarried and Chloe cannot stand her new stepfather or the way her mother acts around him. But more importantly, Chloe is worried about her older sister Ivy, who is on the autism spectrum and attends a special school with other specials needs students. Ivy never does anything without Chloe, and Chloe's main worry is what is going to happen to Ivy after she goes off to college. So Chloe comes up with a brilliant idea.

 She is going to set Ivy up on a date.

After selecting a good candidate, Ethan,  from Ivy's school, Chloe arranges a date for the couple at the local ice cream parlor. Everything is looking up. That is until Chloe realizes that Ethan brought his rude and arrogant older brother David along as well, who Chloe absolutely cannot stand. But her view of David begins to change as she realizes that David is just as devoted to Ethan and she is to Ivy, and that David may be the only one to truly understand what Chloe's life is really like. 

So Chloe has to make some decisions about her life and her future. Will she hold on to this "perfect" life she is trying to project or will she reevaluate her ideas on what it is to be "normal"?

The thing I loved most about this book was the strong relationship between Ivy and Chloe. Chloe truly wanted what was best for her sister, and loved her deeply despite her not being completely "normal".  Yes, there were times where Chloe was frustrated with Ivy or was even embarrassed by her, but I think this made their relationship more realistic because all siblings act that way at some point or another. 

"I'm her younger sister, but I can't remember a time when I didn't feel like I needed to protect and take care of her."

The relationship between David and his brother Ethan just pulled me in even further. Even though David came across as an arrogant jerk in the beginning, it was hard not to fall in love with him as you witnessed his fierce protection of his bother. 

The sparks between David and Chloe practically flew off the page as they fought, bickered, and then slowly formed a tenuous friendship. I couldn't get enough of these two as I am a sucker for an enemies to lovers romance.  

"We should give David a break," I say, addressing Ms. Camp, but making sure everyone can hear me. "It's not his fault he doesn't get it. I mean he doesn't get It. Ever." Lots of laughter at that - the crowd's on my side.

"Oh, gee," David retorts. "I've missed out on all the delights of a public high school relationship. What will I have to cringe about in my old age?"

 "I'm sure you'll find something."

 *****

"You told me your college plans depend on Ivy. Not a lot of kids our age worry about their siblings."

I shrug. "Most people aren't in my situation. You're the only other person I know like me. "

"Yeah, I'm basically the male version of you." He cocks his head at me. "And a look of horror crosses her face. Don't worry, Mitchell. I was joking." 

Although the storyline sounds pretty straightforward, there were several surprising twists that added suspense and complications to the plot that kept my nose in this book until I finally reached the end.

I hope this book finds its way into many people's hands because it is a remarkable story about love, family, loyalty, and acceptance.

Do yourself a favor and pick up Things I Should Have Known. It was a highly enjoyable read and I will recommend it often. 

"Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco

 Witches, Prophecies, Curses, Steamy Demon Princes, and a compelling mystery trying to find out who is responsible for witches having their hearts ripped out?

I am IN!

This week I found "The Kingdom of the Wicked" by Kerri Maniscalco. I will admit that I didn't actually "read" this one, I listened to it on Audible (the narrator is AMAZING by the way). I typically listen to audiobooks while I am doing chores around the house, i.e. laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc. and I was actually looking for more things that needed to get done around the house just so I could keep listening!

"Kingdom of the Wicked" is a dark tale about twin witches Vittoria and Emilia. When Vittoria is brutally murdered, Emilia starts down a dark path as she begins using the dark arts in her quest for vengeance. Her inexperience with the dark arts leads her to be inadvertently bound to a Prince of Hell, Wrath. While witches and demons are natural enemies, they find themselves aligned with the common goal of discovering the being that is possible for ripping witches' hearts out. As Emilia spirals down her dark path, she finds herself drawn to Wrath and battles her desire for the prince with the knowledge that Princes of Hell can't be trusted. 

The story did start off a bit slow, but I was okay with that as I really enjoyed getting to know twin sisters Vittoria and Emelia and learning a little bit about their life before the action started. The food descriptions had me frequently raiding the pantry in search of something that sounded half as good.

 

Once the murders began, the story really takes off. I love all the scenes with Wrath, although I did find him pretty tame for a Prince of Hell.

“He was death and rage and fire and anyone stupid enough to forget that would be consumed by his inferno.”

 (I would LOVE some fan art of Prince Wrath if anyone has seen any 😍 )

There were times that Emelia would do something or say something that had me shaking my head or grabbing my hair in frustration, but I loved her growth over the course of the novel and the hints of the person she is becoming.  And I am pretty sure the person she is becoming in NOT a good person... and I love it! It is a nice change to see such a "good girl" head down a dark path because of tragedy instead of a flawed person finding redemption and hope. 

“There are victors and victims. Decide who you want to be. Or the choice will be made for you, witch. And I doubt you’ll like it.”

I will admit I was able to guess who was killing the witches pretty early on, but that didn't diminish how much I enjoyed the story. The ending KILLED me and I am kicking myself now for not waiting until the next book was released before starting this series. 

While this story did wrap up the major plot line for this novel, there are still so many questions left unanswered that I am dying to get answers to. I will definitely be purchasing a hardback copy of this book for my bookshelf and I will be pre-ordering Book 2.