Rachel Reads & Reviews

A Tale of Two Castles Review

This was unlike any other fairytale Levine has created! Very loosely inspired by Puss in Boots (and by inspired, it has cats, and that’s where the similarities end), Levine creates a distinct new kingdom where 12-year old Elodie sets off to apprentice herself as a mansioner. That’s the word for actor over there. But apprenticenships…

rachelbeerwoman

September 12, 2023

Reviews

#ataleoftwocastles, #fairytale, #fantasy, #gailcarsonlevine, #harpercollins

Author Highlight: Kody Keplinger

There are some authors who just get the teen experience. Keplinger is one of those authors which makes sense since she made her debut, The DUFF, when she was seventeen. You may have heard of The DUFF movie, but the book, like always, is so so much beter. The movie just takes the phrase “Designated…

rachelbeerwoman

September 11, 2023

Book/Author Highlight

#comingofage, #kodykeplinger, #lyingoutloud, #poppy, #rachelreads&reviews, #theduff, #YA

Perfect Scoundrels Review

Worlds collide in the thrilling conclusin to The Heist Society trilogy when one of their own becomes the mark of an insidious long con and tests the line between business and personal feelings. And for once, Kat may not be able to steal it back.

rachelbeerwoman

September 1, 2023

Reviews

#allycarter, #disneyhyperion, #perfectscoundrels, #rachelreads&reviews, #theheistsocietytrilogy, #YA

Aug Books

Huck: The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Traught a Family-and a Whole Town-About Hope and Happy Endings by Janet Elder As I’ve said multiple times. I’m a sucker for dog memoirs even if they’re a bit sad because, with all the variations, it harbors the same theme. Dogs teach us more about…

rachelbeerwoman

August 31, 2023

Book Suggestions

#aconytebooks, #amandabridgeman, #annasortino, #awjantha, #beckyalbertalli, #blackflame, #broadwaybooks, #centaurrising, #comingofage, #cradle, #debcaletti, #disneyhyperion, #gennmcmenemy, #ginnyrorby, #girlunframed, #givemeasign, #hocuspocusandtheallnewsequel, #howtospeakdolphin, #huck, #janeyolen, #jarrettkrosoczka, #jennywilliamson, #jimmybeason, #josephbruchac, #juliemerberg, #kateinwaiting, #kimberlygriffithslittle, #marvelcomics, #memoir, #nativeamerican, #nativeamericansinhistory, #nicejewishgirls, #nonfiction, #penguinrandomhouse, #putnam'ssons, #rachelreads&reviews, #reycraft, #rockridgepress, #scholastic, #scholasticgraphix, #soundoflight, #sunshine, #thetimeofthefireflies, #voicesofthepeople, #willwight, #womenofmythology, #worldmythology, #YA

Guardians of Ga’Hoole #11-15

Well this series was not what I was expecting and so it absolutely blew me away with how Lasky was willing to go there. I already talked about it in my previous posts but Lasky doesn’t shy away from showing the terror and violence evident in living as a wild animal. But she also humanizes…

rachelbeerwoman

August 22, 2023

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#animalbooks, #exile, #fantasy, #guardiansofga’hoole, #kathrynlasky, #rachelreads&reviews, #thegoldentree, #theriverofwind, #thewaroftheember, #tobeking

Guardians of Ga’Hoole #6-10

The second set of Guardians of Ga’Hoole books really leans into the World War II-esque/fantasy premise of the book by higghlighting the depravity of the Pure Ones and how one owlet manages to break free from the hateful ideology to help the side of good. That owlet is Nyroc, Kludd and Nyra’s sole son. And…

rachelbeerwoman

August 22, 2023

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#animalbooks, #fantasy, #guardiansofga’hoole, #kathrynlasky, #legendofhoole, #rachelreads&reviews, #theburning, #thecomingofhoole, #thefirstcollier, #thehatchling, #theoutcast

Guardians of Ga’Hoole #1-5

After reading pretty much all the Warriors books in the library, I decided to get into another animal-based series that ccombines fantasy, comprehensive world system and survival of the fittest mantra. Yes, I’m talking about Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’Hoole series as if the title wasn’t enough of a hint. The series starts with Soren’s birth…

rachelbeerwoman

August 21, 2023

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#animalbooks, #fantasy, #guardiansofga’hoole, #kathrynlasky, #rachelreads&reviews, #thecapture, #thejourney, #therescue, #theseige, #theshattering

Warriors: Super Specials

This forway into the Warriorverse was limited as the library only had 4 super specials but each offered deeper insight to the clans, characters and forshadow future events (or retcon them depending on your perspective).

rachelbeerwoman

August 20, 2023

Book Suggestions, Book/Author Highlight

#animalbooks, #bluestar’sprophecy, #bramblestar’sstorm, #erinhunter, #firestar’squest, #harpercollins, #interquels, #mothflight’svision, #prequels, #rachelreads&reviews, #superspecials, #warriors, #YA

The Legacy of Yangchen Review

After the unsteady state Yangchen left Bin-Er with her companion’s betrayal and the secret cover-up of one enemy allowing another advisary to take economic stage, Yee has a lot for the readers (and the characters) to balance. It’s all about diplomacy, geopolitics and deception and it keeps you at the edge of your seat the…

rachelbeerwoman

August 19, 2023

Reviews

#amuletbooks, #avatartheastairbender, #f.c.yee, #fantasy, #rachelreads&reviews, #theavatarchronicles, #thelegacyofyangchen, #YA

Extras Review

Three years after Tally unleashed the mind-rain, Japan is running on a reputation econnomy. Whether you’re a neofoodie, techhead, mangahead, reputation bomber or kicker, you gain money and privileges based on your face ranking. Basically, Westerfeld predicted influencers and people being paid because they’re instagram/tiktok famous. Decades before it happened! Amazing and really surreal. Aya…

rachelbeerwoman

August 18, 2023

Reviews

#dystopianfiction, #extras, #rachelreads&reviews, #scifi, #scottwesterfeld, #sequel, #simon&schuster, #simonpulse, #ugliesseries, #YA