An Ignorant Witch by E.M. Graham

Witch Kin Chronicles 

An Ignorant Witch

Publish Date: July 17th, 2019
Publisher: OneEar Press
Format: Kindle Edition
Series: Witch Kin Chronicles
Author: E.M. Graham
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

Introduction

Dara goes to school, has a best friend, and has an average life. She shouldn't. She's a half-witch, untrained, and shunned by her witch father. Magical creatures also reside in her hometown in Newfoundland and she is capable of magic, but forbidden to venture into such territory. Her mother disappeared years ago and she resides with her aunt. Then her best friend's brother disappears and Dara becomes entangled in a magical mess she's not equipped to deal with. 

Audience

I'm not sure who the audience is supposed to be. Dara is 20 but immature, the book occasionally uses curse words, and the writing is straight forward and mostly easy to read. It makes it difficult to recommend because it sounds New YA based on story/ages but it reads like a young YA book. It's the same issue I had with The New Keeper. It really could have been written to strongly suit one specific audience.

Setting

The book has a strong setting on Granby Island, Newfoundland. Graham does a fantastic job describing Newfoundland's landscapes, people, and berry pail quirks. I've never been there so I can't confirm, but Dara lists off the directions she's taking by naming streets and local points-of-interest, along with the names of various hills and describes the terrain. I also enjoyed the juxtaposition of her aunt's cozy kitchen/home and Dara's step-mother's home. I know Dara points it out, but I still enjoy how the sterility of their home is not "witchy" but Edna's home has more of said qualities.   

I don't remember there being Newfoundland
dogs in this, but there should be. They are
good bois.

Writing

The book does a lot of telling rather than showing. The beginning pages of the book goes into her appearance, her house, her family drama - Dara just tells the reader. She legitamitely talks to the reader and that drives me bananas. All this information could have been explored naturally such as: she gets a glimpse of herself in the mirror, brushes her unruly hair, comes home to her aunt's house so she can describe it, a slow dribble her family history to the reader to keep interest and mystery. Dumping it on the reader was jarring, but if you can take the dumps of information and run with the story, I think you can have a fun time.  

Final Verdict 

If you're looking for a new book of witches who aren't instantly over-powered and who make mistakes, and even a book set in Newfoundland, this book may strike your fancy. The core story is what kept me reading. This author has a lot of potential and I sincerely hope they continue writing. As for this book, I hope this is Dara's introduction to the Witch Kin in terms of magic and politics that will follow in book 2. 

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: September 1st, 2010
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads
Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

This book is not typically found in the YA section of a library as the characters are older (MC is 26). It has some sexual content. Not as much as Soulless, but it is there. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

Introduction

Cast out from Woolsey Castle after her husband accuses her of infidelity, Alexia returns to her parents' home. She is desperate for answers to her pregnancy, and when she seeks her friend Lord Akeldama, she discovers that he is missing. Thus she turns to her last remaining allies to seek the truth of her "infant inconvenience" to prove to her husband that he is wrong (and an idiot). Together they travel to new territory with murder constantly on their heels.

Biffy

The best thing this book did was with Biffy. Not with the main characters, the setting, or the explanation of the pregnancy. It's Lord Akeldama's favourite drone. I hated that the book had so many POVs, because I just wanted to know about Biffy and how it would be worked out with Lord Akeldama. Best couple: Biffy and Lord Akeldama.       

Ivy

Alright, so the second-best thing that this novel did was redeeming Ivy. She isn't nearly as annoying. I stand by that this is the life that she was always supposed to have, but she was confined by her station at birth. I'm happy that she's happy. Perhaps the author realized making her absurdly stupid in the second book was a mistake. 

Romance Genre?

No romance here, unless you count the cringy steamy scene at the end. I was hoping someone else would come along to test/hit on/be with Alexia, but it didn't happen. I'll admit though, I don't need romance in every book I read, I just want Alexia to be with ANYONE else (alas, I know what happens because I've read Prudence). She has a beautiful French inventor who is into her, is totally cool with the pregnancy/raising kids, and STANDING RIGHT BESIDE HER. But no, let's be boring.

Final Verdict

I'm extremely impressed that maternal instincts just don't magically spring up on Alexia. She was resigned to never having children, probably before she ever met with Lord Maccon. I don't see this in fiction nearly as often as I ought to. In this one there's tonnes of fighting and fleeing, near escapes, and fantastical gadgetry. It's adventurous (fun) fluff, that's all, and if that's what you're looking for, you may have a good time. 

SPOILER RANT

If you don't want to read any spoilers, please don't read anything beyond this point. Three things in this book really bothered me.

Piping hot, loose-leaf tea.

1. Connal

He just shows up at the end and they...just make up? Making up implies that she did something wrong, which she didn't. And he didn't do much to convince her to take him back, she was just willing to do so. If he could have dashed in during one of the fights that were taking place just minutes before, it would have been a tad bit more convincing.

2. The Little Dog

So why did the little white dog have to die? He was doing what dogs do and that's reason enough to murder it? Ok, psychopaths. How did beta readers/agents/the publisher let that slide?

3. The Vampires

Ok...why are the vampires trying to kill her too? The werewolves don't seem to give a hoot...but the vampires do. Did I miss something? I feel like this wasn't explained.

Changeless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: April 1st, 2010
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads
Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

This book is not typically found in the YA section of a library as the characters are older (MC is 26). It has some sexual content. Not as much as Soulless, but it is there. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

Introduction

Alexia Maccon, muhjah to the queen and bluestocking extrodinare, takes up nighttime hours to manage werewolf pack dynamics and vampire politics. One morning, her husband wakes Alexia with an angry conversation with a ghost. Then, he up and returns to Scotland, leaving her to navigate the current crisis: the widespread loss of immortality. Along with her own problems, Ivy and Alexia's family also bring their own issues to her that she has to deal with. With an entourage in tow, she travels to Scotland to unravel a few mysteries.

Characters

All I really have to say about this book is regarding the characters. The first book, Soulless, did a fairly good job of creating characteristics for everyone that were simple but concrete. This book tosses it all out. Perhaps this section will only be useful to writers who want to do better. The final verdict is at the end of the post.

Lord Maccon was a fairly simple character before: gruff and not easily swayed by sentiment. Emotions? Ew. Alright. Now, he has been sitting on information that Alexia should have been told, and he's just so flippant about it. He calls Alexia "Wife" all the time, which to me is demeaning. In public he says he married her for her body and to shut her up. Their dynamic is awful. And then the ending is beyond infuriating. Why would he act this way? He's with BUR and is fully aware that bizzaro creatures like WEREWOLVES (which he is one!), vampires, and ghosts exist. I saw the plot twist coming very early on, but the reaction to it was astonishingly stupid. I don't think it was properly written into Maccon's character/the world. IF she had given him cause to worry, it would have made a bit of sense, but she had literally never given him reason to question her loyalty. I officially hate him. Unfortunately, because I have already read Prudence, I know the ultimate outcome. I wish she would run away with anyone, including the lovely lady introduced in this book.

Ivy turned into an absolute dolt and I'm not sure why. Any why would Alexia be friends with someone that ridiculous? I did enjoy her ultimate action at the end of the book, as I think she would find it all romantic and against societal rules that she so stringently abided by. One of my favourite scenes in this book is this:

But the author did Ivy a disservice and I don't know why she was so poorly written. The character became unbearably annoying when Ivy could have filled her purpose in the story without the mind-numbing stupidity. Perhaps some of the ignorant comic relief that she's supposed to be providing could have been shifted to Alexia's sister.

Madame Lefoux and Lady Kingair are two new characters that are actually amazing. Each has their own histories, personalities, and ambitions. I think some things with Madame Lefoux (like Alexia undressing her and commenting on her bust) was cringy. Perhaps Ivy being so stupid was to balance out these two other women? 

Final Verdict

This book loses the romance elements, which is fine by me, because there is much less steam obstructing me from reading the actual story. These books aren't going to win literature awards, but the world is interesting and the characters are fun. This book has more same-sex representation than in the first installation, though Maccon does look down on my favourite vampire for the same reason, and that's a bummer. If you've already read Soulless, I don't see why you wouldn't read this one, and if your library already has Soulless, you'd get Changeless (unless you're my current library, that has all of this universe's books in print except this one). It's steampunk, has vampires, werewolves, lesbians, and women in men's clothing, so there's a little bit of everything here.

Fortuna Sworn by K.J. Sutton

Publish Date: June 23 2019
Format Reviewed: eBook
Series: Fortuna Sworn #1
Author: K.J. Sutton
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Introduction

Fortuna is a very special being in the world. Only herself and her missing brother are left of their otherworldly kind. She is dangerous, alluring, and very protective of the people she cares about. When the chance to find her brother is presented, she takes it. But she must trust a faerie and play their twisted games. It goes beyond saving her brother, as it quickly becomes apparent that she must fight for her own survival as well.

World Building and Characters

There are two worlds in this book. The familiar human world is just as we know it, though there are some things we regular humans don't get to see. Then there's the other, unseen world. I won't spoil anything, but this book details this new and exciting place. Fortuna is a fantastic bridge for the reader, because she holds some knowledge, though some of it is flawed and she's still learning. The world of the faerie court is thick with intrigue, indulgence, lust, and violence. They have their own traditions and history and there's so much for Fortuna and the reader to learn. 

Every character is well described and have great character details. What they look like, dress like, and their personality really shines. Fortuna changes throughout the book, reacting to her ordeals and growing. Just when you think you can trust another character, you can't, and she has to change too. I appreciate that there are no wasted characters, with the exception of one girl from the beginning, there are no wasted characters (but I'm hoping we get to see said girl in another book). There is one witch that is mentioned, and I hope we get to see her at some point too. 

Love Interests

There are a few possible love interests here and they are all great. You can't trust faeries but dang, does one really try to get Fortuna to like him. I flipped-flopped between liking him and loathing him. The other option, who I shall not name, is just so amazing as well. However, it's unconventional, and at first, I really wasn't rooting for him because it was so weird. But you know what? The more I read, I was like, no, girl, please be happy with someone because everyone here sucks.  

Age Group

Faerie stories seem to have a heaping spoonful of steamy moments, and this book is no exception. Because some of the scenes get fairly explicit, I recommend this to older teens, the new adult age range, or adults. In case anyone is wondering, these scenes are leagues above Soulless. What I do appreciate about Fortuna Sworn is that intimacy IS hella confusing, especially when you are new to it with new people.

Cover

Can we just take a minute and appreciate this cover? It's gorgeous and it's faithful to the book. Isn't it the worst when the cover has a representation of a character and it doesn't match the description? This absolutely does. It's amazing, please oogle the cover, it's deserving.

Final Verdict

I've read a lot of good books last year and this year, but this seriously this one is in my top 5 (even higher than The Hazel Wood, and I really got into that one). I couldn't put this down. I am so sad that it ended because it needs to go on and I can't wait for the next one. With the last line, I was loosing it. Winter 2019 can't come fast enough. I usually don't like stories that have three trials, but these were engaging and the stakes were high. As long as you are ok with some sexual scenes, I highly recommend this book.

 

This book was a roller coaster for me. The review ends here, but just in case anyone is interested, here how I basically handled it my reading experience.
Outrage came pretty quickly. This is what I wanted Fortuna to do right from the start:

Every time someone stood in her way or was just being so wishy-washy with their feelings/actions, I also put them on my list. Especially by the end. I was basically internally screaming Why isn't she murdering everybody?!

Give me back my brother!

Sometimes I softened a bit and it was confusing. Urgh,feelings!

But then, of course, I got angry again, and decided rampaging was still the best option.

I do, however, realize that if I tried to do anything of this, the outcome would be this:

So that's why I'm not the heroine of this book. I hope in the next book, she gets to kick even more deserving butt.

A New Keeper by J.C. Gilbert

The Secret Library Series

A New Keeper

Publish Date: June 11th, 2019
Format: Ebook
Series: The Secret Library
Author: J.C. Gilbert
Author’s Goodreads
My Review on Goodreads

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Story

Alex is a teenage bookworm who likes reading, drawing, and watching Game of Thrones. When she happens upon a secret library containing every story that she can go into and experience she doesn't know if she can take on the responsibility of being the new Keeper. The lure is irresistible, so despite her anxiety, she sets off to right one of the stories, and becomes entangled. In addition to this new calling, she has to deal with anxiety, family life, school, and her best friend. It's a lot for one girl to handle, but she gives it her best.

 Anxiety

The main character struggles with anxiety in a relatable way. She gets so scared at the prospect of doing her speech and she doesn't confront her teacher about it after because she can't. Walking past people, let alone talking to people, is a challenge. She'd just rather not. I relate. Books are better.

She does give her anxiety a personification - a hedgehog named Hank. I really liked the anxiety described as a prickly hedgehog that burrows, sits heavily, squeezes, etc, her insides. However, I didn't like that it was named Hank. That seemed a little far. The imagery of a prickly ball having so much impact was fantastic, I just couldn't get past the name and talking to it. 

YA?

This is being marketed as young adult fiction and that doesn't quite seem right to me, though middle-grade fiction doesn't work either. The writing was easy and made for quick reading, and for the most part, it felt like a middle-grade book. Yet I can't recommend this to middle-grade readers because of some of the language used. So I would say a younger YA audience is probably the best bet. I think I'd get some side-glances if I catalogued this into a MG section of a library.

Loose Threads

My biggest complaint is that there are loose threads that are just forgotten about. I am certain that these elements will come back up in later books, but it was very unsatisfying to read this book and get zero follow-up/answers to some things. Namely:

The appraiser is gone
Darcy is forgotten
The fairy is dropped
What's up with Elaine in the Library?

Yes, the fairy is getting its own book, but in this book, oh well, there's a fairy loose, too bad. Also, a lot of her problems could have been solved if she had spoken with the librarian. But she doesn't and I have no idea why.

Final Verdict

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and I recommend it to younger teens. Alex learns that she has to take control of her life, whether she feels the hedgehog sitting heavily on her heart or not, and that was great. Going into books is basically every librarian's dream (including this one!). The library is the hub world where she can then go into other worlds through books, so there is lots of potential for more books (which apparently there are more coming, according to Goodreads).

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Parasol Protectorate

Soulless * Changeless * Blameless * Heartless * Timeless

Publish Date: October 1st, 2009
Format: Paperback
Series: Parasol Protectorate
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Goodreads

Wikia (has spoilers!)
My Review on Goodreads

Disclaimer

I originally read this book because I read Prudence but I was lost in the world that was established in Parasol Protectorate. Goodreads claims Prudence is for a YA audience, but Soulless is NOT tagged as YA in Goodreads. I assumed it would be, and I was wrong. This book gets steamy. More steamy than A Bite at the Cherry. It isn't in the YA section at my public library - it's in the regular fiction area. I do contend that teens can enjoy the story and world, but some people may be upset about the sexual content. Totally fair. I usually only review content that is clearly marketed to teens, and this is not. I'm reviewing this because it is in the same universe as the YA Prudence and is the pre-story to that. So...

If you don't like some steamy content, please skip this review/book!

  

Story

Alexia Tarabotti is a spinster, half-Italian, and is soulless. To be soulless means that if she touches a supernatural being, she neutralizes them and turns them mortal. By the way, England has integrated its supernatural folk into society. This includes werewolves, vampires, and ghosts. The Bureau of Unnatural Registry (BUR) keeps tabs on them and everything seems to be in order.

The story is actually remarkably simple; supernatural beings are going missing, and BUR has to find out why. The rest is the love story component with interesting characters. That's it. If you read the back of the book, you got it.

The issues that I had about the world in Prudence are largely answered. Vampires cannot stand any sunlight (as it should be). Older werewolves can stand the sun for a time, otherwise, they are regulated to the nighttime, and they get "full-moon madness". Ghosts did not receive much elaboration, but if the sneak-peek to the second book is to be believed, we will see them more in book two, Changeless. A rove is a supernatural being who does not belong to a larger group. A hive is a vampire group who basically has a ruling queen (queens can make other vampires). Drones are humans who want to be turned into vampires or receive patronage, and they feed the vampires willingly and serve them. Clavigers are the same as drones, but for werewolves.  

Main Character

While I hated Prudence's snobbery, Alexia is bossy but indomitable. She can still be liked. At the age of 15, her mother put her on the shelf and declared her unmarriable because she is tall, tanned, has a prominent nose, and is half-Italian (which her mother had married, did she not know how heritage works?).

I wish she was nicer to/about Ivy, her best friend. So much to say about bad hats, but she's her best friend, why can't she say anything nice?

Vampires

These vampires are more like this:

Which is good.

However, Lord Akeldama is the Sassy Gay Friend trope, which I don't think would fly today.

Werewolves

Less of this:

More like this:

Big wolves, not bipedal.

Final Verdict

Overall, I was highly invested in this book. It's more about how the various characters interact with each other rather than a compelling plot. You'll know who she gets with within the first 30 minutes, if that. Like vampires, werewolves, parasols, grumpy werewolf men with no manners? This might intrigue you. The scenes of intimacy caught me off guard, and honestly, they aren't even that interesting, one time I laughed, so there's that. I thought the ending scene in the carriage was ridiculous and I just wanted it to be over. I recommend this to an older crowd who is alright with some steamy scenes.

Still here? Have some more gifs.

Take that werewolf! Reminds me of What we do in the Shadows

You know he is, too.

Alexia and Ivy

Midnight Secrets by Rita Stradling

The Vampire Legacy #1

Midnight Secrets

Publish Date: June 11th, 2019
Format: Ebook
Series: Blackburn Academy
Author: Rita Stradling
Author’s Goodreads
My Goodreads Review

Introduction

January has some problems: her mother is an addict, food in the house is scant, and their house is run down. But that’s not her most prominent problem – she was killed and woke up as a vampire. Calling the number provided to her when she woke up, she gets hooked up with blood. And a boy, Justin. He’s aloof, secretive, and handsome. He’s in the elite school that January has a chance to attend, if she can pass the tests. Said boy is adamant that she doesn’t go to said school, can’t tell her why, and she is determined to make her own decisions.     

Story

The story and the writing are great for older teens. Yes, it is a book about vampires, but it is also a lot more. January and her mom struggle with the very real problem of addiction and the consequences of it, family, classism, and toxic relationships. She also has more to prove to other people than regular people do.

Cover/Title

The cover is great! It conveys January's demeanour fairly well. She's a vampire but she's not out to murder everyone. She looks like, and is, a girl next door, with some problems she tries to take care of. 
  

While the cover is nice, it’s misleading. She isn’t enrolled at the school yet. This book is her prepping for the trials/tests/living as a vampire. Probably would have been more suitable for book 2. Also, January has blonde hair, but doesn’t dress like that, at all. She’s poor, she can’t get leather corsets. As for the title, I don’t know how to explain it. Sexual, yes, and needlessly so. The book is way more than sexual tension/relationships. If I were to be reading a physical copy of this in public, I’d be a bit embarrassed. It isn’t smut (hey, if you’re reading smut, that’s fine, be proud! But this isn’t smut yet it comes off as smut). My husband had some questions about what I was reading because the title is so sexual.

Ending

I knew it!

Final Verdict

I was very into this book. To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book would be an injustice. I believe I read almost half in one night, then I couldn’t devote as much time to it. I assumed there’d six books in this series that I could devour at that instant, but alas, the second isn’t out yet (I actually didn't realize how so very new this book is!). It is a very nice change of pace for vampire fiction. There’s a set of three trials which I haaaaaate in books, especially because I’ve never heard of schools doing what this one does, so that gets an eye roll from me. However, I highly recommend this to older readers who want vampires, teens, and high school.

Update

Looks like the title and series title for this has changed. When it read it, it was called A Bite at the Cherry, in the Bite Me series or the Blackburn Academy Series. It now says Midnight Secrets in the Vampire Legacy series. Better titles, and have edited the review accordingly. Below is the original cover:

Prudence by Gail Carriger

The Custard Protocol
Prudence * Imprudence

Publish Date: March 17th, 2015
Publisher: Orbit
Series: The Custard Protocol

Format Reviewed: Book and Audiobook
Author: Gail Carriger
Author’s Website
Author's Twitter
Wikia (has spoilers!)

Introduction

Lady Prudence, known as Rue, had an unusual upbringing. Along with her mother and werewolf father, she was also adopted by another father, a vampire. She is a take-charge kind of twenty-something girl, and she is also a metanatural. A gift bestowed by her mother, Rue can touch a supernatural and take their form, strengths, weaknesses, and immortality, if only for a short time. Her vampire father tasks her to take her very own dirigible, The Spotted Custard, to India for a venture in tea. As captain, she gets a crew, brings along her best friend, and two boys to make a love triangle.

Setting

The setting is what brought me in. I've been meaning to read the steampunk genre and I finally took the dive. The conventions are there: industrial, steam-powered machines, but also aristocratic society as well. The paranormal is also integrated into London, as vampires and werewolves dress in fancy attire and attend balls. They own hat shops and live lives similar to humans. 

Love Triangle

I dislike love triangles and there is sort of one here. One is presented here not as an overt who will she choose?! We know both men are excessively handsome and available. It does become pretty obvious that one of the men will not be chosen, which was a shame, because he was arguably the most interesting character. The love story is flimsy and it went into a weird direction.

Gripes 

There's too many. Here are some in point form: 

This is the first book in a series, but not the first book in this established universe. I had seen others ask, can you read this if you haven't read the author's other books? Internet says yes. After reading, I disagree, unless you like being lost. I have too many questions and went unanswered, or they were brought up late in the book. 

Werewolves also can't be in the daylight (do they die like vampires, turn back mortal, no idea). I didn't know werewolves had some concern about daylight at nearly the end of the book.

Hives, drones? What does this all mean? There are different levels of governments and policies and decrees that went right over my head. Apparently, this is all managed somehow, but the book was throwing stuff at me like I just knew. No, I don't live here, please elaborate.  

For perhaps 50 pages or more, not much happens. She's on her dirigible, flying about to India. Alright. But nothing happens. Almost DNF'd, and I don't DNF. 

Rue literally has her nose in the air for most of the book, so I didn't particularly like her. If the author/world acknowledged that she was arrogant and full of flaws, fine, but it doesn't. I'm supposed to like her. 

When you steal someone's supernatural state, they become mortal. Which means they can die. I'd be fairly annoyed if she stole my immortality, and someone took the opportunity to off me. 

Lots of talk about what people are wearing. Oh boy, could I care less about all the details.

EDIT 03/09/2020

After reading the entire Parasol Protectorate series, I revisited this story by listening to the audiobook. I have updated my original rating and have come to the following thoughts:

• This series, along with the Parasol Protectorate, is definitely an adult series by the grace of the characters' ages alone. However, teens can very easily get into the stories. Aside from the steamy bits being too much for some teens (or their parents), there's nothing stopping teens from enjoying the universe (language, themes, pacing, etc.) However, Prudence is listed in the YA genre on Goodreads. In the next book (Imprudence), we learn that Prudence hit the age of majority (21). YA is generally considered 13-18, though I think there's some wiggle-room for that. Based on the age ranges and sexual passages that happen, this puts it in the adult category.  
• So, what does this mean? My library split the universe into two: The Parasol Protectorate in regular fiction, and The Custard Protocol into YA. Whoa. What a huge disservice to the series and the readers! For librarians who may come across is, these really belong together. Just because Goodreads has it listed as YA, keep it wherever you have the Parasol Protectorate series. 
• I did check some other public libraries. For my own privacy, I will not be naming or linking, so please take my word for it. What I found was that both Prudence and Soulless were in regular fiction (not the YA section) or the science fiction section (also not YA exclusive). The call numbers on both of them were FIC CAR. 
• Ok, seriously, I have a point. A lot of my above gripes could be solved by reading The Parasol Protectorate first. I still think you have to do some backtracking for people who don't remember what was explained four books ago. But these books belong together, don't split them up. The author is a marvellous story-weaver with many series set in the same universe, and it also does her a disservice to split her work up across the stacks. 
• Goodreads also isn't the final say on genre, as genres are determined on user-created "shelves", which can be incorrect.               

Final Verdict 

The setting is what brought me in and I am still fairly intrigued! I'm going to pick up Soulless from the library to read about this universe more, and maybe I'll give this series another chance. If you have teens that like steampunk, or if you want to build on that genre, this is alright, though there are probably more gripping stories out there. I say that because for about 50 pages, nothing happened and I was bored to tears. Only objectionable content I say in here is the representation of India. The author could probably have used some sensitivity readers first.  

EDIT 03/08/2020:
I read Soulless and I LOOOOOVED it. Go read that first. 

The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel

The Book of Ivy

The Book of Ivy * The Revolution of Ivy

Publish Date: November 3rd 2015
Publisher:  Entangled Teen/Listening Library
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged

Series: The Book of Ivy
Author: Amy Engel

Narrated By: Taylor Meskimen

Author’s Website

Goodreads

Introduction

The second book of the duology takes place directly after Ivy is put out of Westfall, the only home she's ever known. Without her husband, Bishop, or her family, she has to survive without any gear or basic survival skills. She has to navigate the world outside of her isolated city and meet new people and deal with old acquaintances she'd rather never see again. But of course her old life begins to catch up with her, and trouble in Westfall is stirring. 

Communication/The Truth

Hey, look, another character that can't communicate. Tellin (from Fins are Forever) exibited HUGE plot convenience by using poor communication. Ivy not communicating/telling the whole truth is part of her character and backstory. So in the new world outside of Westfall, it'd be easy to change up what you want to forget. If I were her, I would definitely have trouble telling the truth to new people too. However, I was internally screaming for her to just explain some circumstances at that moment because you know it's catching up to her. But nope. Gonna die by those lies, ok. 

This, except tell EVERYONE the truth. 

Secondary Characters and Antagonists

Engel could absolutely write a book (or two or three) about the two characters that Ivy meets. They are both unique characters with interesting backstories and their own personalities. They definitely weren't throw-away cardboard cut-outs and they become part of the plot. 

There are a few antagonists in this one. One, Westfall society. Two, the Lattimers. Three, Ivy's family, who abandoned her outside of the fence. Finally, there is another character that waltzes in and inserts chaos into Ivy's new life. When an irredeemable, disgusting antagonist is so well-written, you really get behind the protagonist's goal of triumphing over them.   

Essay Topics

Survival, found families, dystopian civilizations (and how they are overthrown), loyalty...

Final Verdict

The book folds up the story nicely. Yes, Bishop and Ivy are off doing other things by the end of it, but Ivy's revolution, her family and his, Westfall, all of that, is done. It drags a bit with all of Ivy's...less than stellar treatment of Bishop. This installment has more interesting action and stakes. The first one was slower with planning and scheming. This book starts with her trying to not die outside. Then fighting for her life. It gets a bit slower when it looks like she can carve out a place for herself in this world. 

This book does a very good job describing how it would be for a young city dweller to be thrown out into the wilderness and how things can go badly very, very quickly. Plus, it's brutally honest with the kinds of people you will meet outside who will take advantage of you. And I'm not talking about scamming you out of squirrel meat, I'm talking violent assaults. If violence scares you, or if Mark Laird's crimes from the first book bothered you, don't read this. 

Overall, I recommend this book if you read the first one. Probably shouldn't bother reading it if you didn't read the first one. 

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Publish Date: January 30th 2018
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Author: Melissa Albert
Website: Author's Twitter, Author's Instagram

"There are no lessons in it. There's just this harsh, horrible world touched with beautiful magic, where shitty things happen." (pg 111)

Introduction 

Alice is seventeen and she's only really ever had her mother. They spent their lives on the run from the "bad luck" that was always on their heels, ruining any chances of happiness they had. They've lived everywhere from their suitcases, outstaying their welcomes, straining friendships, and the constant was each other, and their car, which they sometimes had to sleep in. One day Alice's mom, Ella, goes missing, Alice is understandably frantic. Ella left behind a message to stay away from the Hazel Wood. The backdrop of this story is Ella's mother, Althea, and her estate, the Hazel Wood. Althea wrote a book of short stories called Tales from the Hinterland (TFTH), and Ella had expressly forbade Alice from ever reading the book or asking about Althea.   

So what does she do? The most sensible thing every heroine does - she does exactly what she's been warned not to do. Along with Finch, an Althea fan-boy, she travels to the Hazel Wood and becomes tangled in the Hinterland's gruesome lore. Alice travels through a dark and creepy landscape to rescue her mom and figure out what exactly her story is.  

Alice, Unlikable Main Character 

If you don't like unlikable main characters, skip this book. There's no way to sugarcoat it. But she's real. She and her mom struggled to stay afloat and ahead of the bad luck for over a decade. She has anger issues, she's quick to judge, and she talks over other people. However, she knows of her faults and tries to act differently, it's just hard to rein it all in. By the end of the book, you get some explanations as to why she is like this. If you hang on and keep reading, you can understand her a bit better. I still found some of her outbursts completely ridiculous, and I feel that they are there just to drive the plot in a certain direction. I rolled my eyes and continued on. 

Finch, Hipster Fan-Boy

Finch is the most prominent secondary character in this story. He has read TFTH so he has vital pieces of information that Alice needs to navigate her situation. He's the only POC in this book as well and has some unique perspectives of the world that Alice does not (which is promptly dropped, btw). Hipster, yes. Rich, yes. Creepy, hell yes. I found him to be so awkward at first. He is basically in the cult-like fandom of Alice's grandmother, and it makes his interactions with Alice so weird. As the story goes on and he relaxes a bit and gets to know Alice as a person who knows nothing about Althea, he's better. As the pages go on and on, I liked him more. His money was certainly helpful in this situation, as I can't stand teens who go on adventures, buying whatever, when they all come from middle-class families. 

Writing 

I enjoyed the writing style immensely. I am well aware that some people detest it, and I'm not afraid to proclaim my love for it. The naysayers will stamp it as flowery, and it seems to be one of the reasons why people dislike this book so much. Personally, I like it, and it's like an amped up version of my own writing. Some examples: 

"A trio of women with bodies like fronds wound around each other in a way that looked boneless, their edges meeting and melting together in a watercolor blur." (pg 239) 

"It made the woods on Earth seem like the pencil sketches of a blind man who'd read about trees but never seen them." (pg 255) 

Every once in a while I would notice less-than-perfect sentences. "Her face was lost in shadow, her hands lit white spiders on the wheel." (pg 211). I know what Albert is trying to say, but it could be done with more clarity. I also noticed a few times, particularly close to the end, when I wasn't sure which character was speaking or being referred to. Overall, though, I think her writing adds to the haunting elements. 

Book Within a Book...

So this book is a book about a book/stories. There are only two stories from TFTH, which is a shame. But the author is making a solo book of TFTH, so look forward to that! An essay that you can do is compare it to other books that use a "book within a book"/embedded/nested kind of setup (I know there a literary term for this, I once wrote an essay on this, but Surprise! I can't find my folders containing my university essays/assignments. It's not metafiction or metanarrative, though).  

  

Gripes

After reading, I am still questioning why/how some characters did what they did. No spoilers here. Don't tell me "because it's a fairy tale". My other gripe is something that bothers me with urban fantasies in general - how do people not notice all these things happening in broad daylight?  

Final Verdict

"When Alice was born, her eyes were black from end to end, and the midwife didn't stay long enough to wash her." 

I loved this book. TFTH is a mysterious puzzle piece we, and Alice, don't have (but we will!). The first half of the book is contemporary New York and the second half is a haunting atmosphere of surreal happenings and a little bit of horror. The Hinterland portion reminds me of a game called Darkwood, if anyone is interested. This book is darker and gorier than I thought it would be, but I am 1000% here for that. At first, BookTube had enough people very pleased with this book. I got hyped. Then it seemed that everyone I followed hated it, and I'm so glad I took the chance and bought it anyway. It may be a little confusing, as I am struggling to sort out motivation/"how?" for some things, but I a greatly enjoyed my time with this book.  

Book Feels.

Now I just have to wait until the second book, The Night Country, is released. Goodreads current lists it as: