Catfishing on CatNet – blog tour (review + giveaway!!)

Author: Naomi Kritzer
Publication date: November 19, 2019
Genre: young adult, sci-fi, thriller
My rating: 4.5/5 stars

Excellent queer rep. The coolest, quirkiest, most awkwardly badass AI. A ragtag team of internet friends, a road trip, a reprogrammed sex-education robot (not the AI), a literal cat…this book has a bit of everything, and it works so well. In under 300 pages, this tiny page-turner covers an impressive span of topics, with a delicate balance of fun and dread that will ring true for all of us who grew up alongside the internet.

I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are – ARC review + some funny stuff

Author: Rachel Bloom
Publication date: November 17, 2020
Genre: memoir, humor
My rating: 4.5/5 stars

It’s funny. It’s weird. It’s occasionally oddly insightful and poignant. Guys, gals, and nonbinary pals, this book is everything I hoped for and then some, a candid testament to the value of honesty and the absolute falseness of the idea that everyone else is normal while you’re just an oddball. From the inimitable Rachel Bloom, creator/star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and creator of amazing songs/music videos including “Fuck Me Ray Bradbury” and “I Steal Pets,” comes a memoir that I can truly say is unlike any memoir I’ve read to date. It contains some echoes of other fun female-comedian-memoirs like Amy Poehler’s Yes, Please…and then amps up the weirdness to a new, wholly delightful level.

Divided Fire – blog tour (ARC review + GIVEAWAY!!!)

Author: Jennifer San Filippo
Publication date: November 10, 2020
Genre: young adult fantasy
My rating: 4/5 stars

Okay, hear me out: take the elemental powers of Avatar: The Last Airbender and fuel them with singing, rather than martial arts. That absolutely golden combination lies at the heart of the world Jennifer San Filippo has created in her debut novel, Divided Fire. A captivating tale of sisterhood, magic, and the meaning of strength, this book was a quick, refreshing read with a premise at once classic and original.

Master of One – blog tour (ARC review + awesome quotes)

Authors: Danni Bennett and Jaida Jones
Publication date: November 10, 2020
Genre: young adult fantasy
My rating: 4.25/5 stars

It’s no secret that I love dark fantasy, morally gray characters, queer characters, thieves and other sketchy people, sarcastic humor, and ragtag teams of misfits. So it should come as no surprise that Master of One, a book that combines literally ALL of those elements, was a huge hit for me. I laughed. I cringed. My heart twisted a few times. What starts out as the story of an irreverent thief on a mission way above his pay grade morphs into a sprawling, slow-building tale of fae, magical silver animals, evil sorcerers, corrupt monarchy, and all that other fun stuff. I’ll admit, I was a little confused at the start, but once the story really got going, I was very invested, and I’m already dying for the sequel. (Plus, huge bonus–there’s some nice physical disability rep in the book as well!)

A Golden Fury – blog tour (review + GIVEAWAY!!!)

Author: Samantha Cohoe
Publication date: October 13, 2020
Genre: young adult historical fantasy
My rating: 4/5 stars

Psychologically unsettling, darkly magical, and patriarchy-smashing, A Golden Fury was a great debut novel. It’s a highly enjoyable, fast-paced read, with an intoxicating blend of darkness, madness, alchemy, history, betrayal, and loyalty–definitely a good way to get in the mood for fall.

The Dragon of Ynys – ARC review

Author: Minerva Cerridwen
Publication date: September 15, 2020
Genre: fantasy, LGBTQIA+, novella
My rating: 5/5 stars

In today’s divisive society, uniqueness can become a point of shame rather than pride. The Dragon of Ynys is a perfect balm to soothe everyone and anyone who feels hurt by the lack of acceptance that is often so prevalent–it will make you smile, lift your spirits, and reaffirm your belief that there is good in the world, all in the span of roughly 100 pages. I seriously cannot adequately express how much I loved this book.

Ironspark – blog tour (ARC review)

Author: C.M. McGuire
Publication date: August 25, 2020
Genre: young adult fantasy
My rating: 3.5/5 stars

Queer besties! Welsh mythology! Fae and magic! Adorable little shadow creatures! Ladies, gentlemen, and nonbinary pals, Ironspark is a solid urban fantasy with a lot of heart. It may not be a perfect book, but it was one I had fun with–with the exception of the ending, but hey, you can’t win ’em all, right? (Plus, there is an ace character, which, you know, is a huge plus for just about any book in my opinion.)

The Faithless Hawk – blog tour (review, quotes, + GIVEAWAY!!!)

Author: Margaret Owen
Series: The Merciful Crow (#2)
Publication date: August 18, 2020
Genre: young adult fantasy
My rating: 5/5 stars

In short: this book rocks. It’s dark and magical and serious and funny and full of so many elements that ought to conflict but instead just weave together and make the storyline even stronger. I laughed. I was anxious. I was angry. I was happy. And I think you will be, too. This post is part of a blog tour, so there is a lot of content here, including a giveaway at the end–hopefully you’ll read it all 😉

Ignite the Sun – blog tour (ARC review + GIVEAWAY!!!)

Author: Hanna C. Howard
Publication date: August 18, 2020
Genre: young adult fantasy
My rating: 3/5 stars

Ignite the Sun is a quick, simple, straightforward YA fantasy that makes the whole light-versus-dark concept quite literal. Set in a world where the sun has been blocked from view by an enormous shield of darkness, the story follows a reluctant heroine on a quest to overthrow a corrupt leader and restore light to the world. Though certainly not a perfect book, and though it is a bit predictable (which isn’t quite my taste), this story is nevertheless a great choice for younger YA readers.

Shielded – blog tour (ARC review + GIVEAWAY!!!)

Author: KayLynn Flanders
Publication date: July 21, 2020
Genre: young adult fantasy
My rating: 4/5 stars

Familiar yet fresh, and filled with some of my favorite character-related tropes (including badass warrior princesses, royalty in disguise, and a “mutual pining” sort of romance), Shielded was an enjoyable read and a solid start to what promises to be an interesting new fantasy series.