By Nico

When Zach and his friends get attacked by a monster from another world, it’s hard not to panic. After all, even his worst problems—like his struggles in school and grandmother’s illness—are firmly grounded in modern, normal Australia.

Then Zach and his friends are introduced to the Tower, a secret organization spanning the globe that detects magical interlopers like the one they encountered and banishes them before they can wreak havoc. They’re given the choice to simply remain silent about what they’ve seen or become full members of the Tower—where they can defeat the otherworldly creatures and learn to harness the magical currents that flow between the worlds to perform spells themselves.

Zach’s life seems to be looking up. He’s literally learning magic—and, with his newfound healing abilities, he might even be able to save his grandmother. But keeping half of his life secret is more complicated than he could’ve imagined, and Zach must decide whether he’s willing to do what it takes to become the mage his friends, and the Tower, needs him to be.

The Tower Between is a fun, fast-paced middle-grade series opener for fans of world-within-our-world stories and ensemble casts. The very idea of the Tower grabbed me immediately, and loved digging into what truly felt like how such an organization would exist within our modern world—with all the associated complications, practicalities, and sci-fi edge! The threads of folklore, science fiction, and more found in the other worlds accessed through the Tower were very strong, and lent those worlds a lot of personality.

​I would’ve loved to get to know Zach and his personal conflicts/life a little better—the subplot with his grandmother lent his character a lot of dimensionality, and I would’ve loved to see more of that with the rest of his family. That said, I feel like the relationships and characters within the primary cast were extremely well fleshed out. I often find it hard to keep track of large casts, but I didn’t have that problem with this book, as they all had a distinct flair and personality. I particularly loved the magic system here—although different schools or categories of magic can easily feel cliché, their execution here makes them truly come alive and feel different from others I’ve read. I recommend The Tower Between to readers ages ten and up who love fantasy adventures with big casts of characters.

Thank you to the author for providing an e-copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here are my own. 

As a longtime afficionado of fantasy books, it took me far longer than it should’ve to get to see my trans identity reflected back at me in the kind of story I loved—full of incredible characters, startling twists, and gorgeous worldbuilding. When I read The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas two years ago, it was all that and more—and I truly can’t describe how thrilled I am to be hosting today’s stop on the promo book tour for Celestial Monsters, the sequel and conclusion to the Sunbearer Trials duology!

My review!

In a word—incredible. Once more, Aiden Thomas has created one of the most thoughtful, compulsively readable, and validating fantasy novels I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, a duology closer that leaves me wishing for more while simultaneously pulling off an incredibly satisfying ending.

Often in a review I’ll give a special shout-out to a favorite character, but Celestial Monsters has such an incredible cast that it was nearly impossible to narrow it to just three! Niya is undeniably my favorite cis character in this book—she’s the kind of unabashed, snarky, loud, and vulnerable character I absolutely need to see more of in fantasy (and just in general, for that matter), and she truly has one of the strongest personalities I’ve encountered in a book. Xio is a quieter character, but their ferocity and struggle brought them to life for me. They could’ve so easily become a cliché based on The Sunbearer Trials’s setup, but instead I couldn’t wait to get to their point of view chapters and see what they did next.

And I’ll always have a soft spot for Teo. His determination, strong bonds (platonic, familial, and romantic), and voice form the core of this series, and there’s truly no story I wouldn’t follow him into. There aren’t a whole lot of characters I would root for unconditionally, but Teo is absolutely one of them.

In a genre still so dominated by cis characters, there’s something incredible about seeing trans and nonbinary characters as the leads, the villains, the side characters…the diversity of experiences and characters in this book is truly beautiful. And the entire world of Reino de Sol is gorgeous—even beyond the deft queer- and transnorm society, this world is vibrant with color and personality, with each city that Teo and his friends travel through filled with its own character

​I truly can’t recommend Celestial Monsters enough--without question, this book deserves five stars! 


​Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours, Fierce Reads, and Feiwel and Friends for the gifted copy of Celestial Monsters! All opinions expressed here are my own.

Aiden Thomas (he/they) is a trans, Latinx, New York Times bestselling author of young adult novels. They received an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color. Learn more on their website!

Greta will be released on September 10, 2024.

The world around Greta is changing far too quickly for her to keep up. Between an upcoming move, entering middle school, and her longtime best friend, Lotti, getting distracted by boys, Greta feels left behind by the fierce, never-ending changes around her that she doesn’t feel part of. When a boy finally takes notice of her, she thinks maybe this is her chance to become part of this incomprehensible new world. But instead, she’s left shattered, scared, and even more lost than before.

As she struggles to put words to what’s happened to her, even to Lotti, Greta starts to change, in ways utterly different than everyone around her. But while her newfound differences are looked at askance by those around her, for Greta, they’re a way to become herself at last: to find beauty, and freedom, with a kind of change that finally feels right.

If you like straightforward, predictable stories with familiar characters and beats to provide escapism and a quick laugh, Greta is absolutely not something you’ll want to read. But if you’re more like me—someone who enjoys deep, thoughtful, and fundamentally unexpected stories—I highly recommend this book.

I finished this book a week ago now, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ve thought about Greta every day during that time period. I’ve read hundreds, maybe thousands, of middle-grade books, and I can think of few others that possess the same combination of incredible oddity and incredible humanity.

It took me several chapters to get into the story, as the uncanny, almost surreal aspects of it only begin appearing once Greta’s normal life is established. However, I was so interested in the premise that I didn’t even consider stopping reading, and it definitely lived up to that. The whole story has a dreamlike quality overlayed on a fundamentally realistic portrayal of middle school which gave it a truly unique atmosphere, and I particularly loved how the characters, including Greta, responded to the changes in her life.

Greta is the rare book that truly leaves you with more questions and answers, and yet imparts such a fundamental sense of peace and well-being that you can’t help but feel satisfied after finishing it. I highly recommend Greta to readers ages eleven and up, particularly those who enjoy unique and thought-provoking stories.

​An e-ARC of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Impossible Creatures will be released in the US on September 10, 2024.

When Christopher fishes a griffin out of a mysterious lake, he hardly expects an even more remarkable girl to follow it. But Mal does just that—and she needs his help.

Mal and the griffin are from the Archipelago, a hidden pocket of magic in the modern world where creatures out of storybooks thrive. Despite its glorious possibilities, though, not all is well in the Archipelago; magic is vanishing, and the creatures that rely on it to survive are vanishing too. Mal is determined to uncover what’s going wrong, and to do that, she needs Christopher.

Together, they traverse the islands in search of an answer to the waning magic, which will require not just human allies but aid from the Archipelago’s hidden creatures to uncover. But when the cost to cure the islands is revealed to be one Mal and Christopher may not be willing to pay, they must rely upon all their wits—and their friendship with one another—to save the Archipelago, and the world, before the damage becomes irreversible.

Impossible Creatures effortlessly calls to mind the character-driven, worldbuilding portal fantasies that made me fall in love with middle-grade fantasy to begin with, while balancing a plot original enough that I never was even tempted to roll my eyes at a cliché turn of phrase or twist. Recalling elements of, at turns, The Neverending Story, The Book of Three, and The Dark is Rising, all accompanied by a set of gorgeous illustrations that made me think of Greenwild, I’ll definitely be recommending this beautiful, timeless story.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical of reviews that heralded Impossible Creatures as a modern classic, but within a few pages I understood immediately what they meant. Rundell’s writing is absorbing and immersive, with the kind of open, uncomplicated prose that makes it easy to get lost in without even realizing it. I really loved the cast, particularly Mal and Nighthand, whose dimensionality helped make the whole world feel more believable. I was a bit startled by the ending, but the promise of a series makes me believe that my initial reaction will be thoroughly resolved in later books.

Overall, I highly recommend Impossible Creatures to readers ages ten and up who are looking for a new fantasy series to obsess themselves with, or anyone who loves a good fantasy story with well-thought-out characters and twists.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here are my own.

By Nico

The Night Compass is the fourth book in the ongoing Wilderlore series; it is preceded by The Accidental Apprentice (book 1), The Weeping Tide (book 2), and The Ever Storms (book 3).

After the death—or murder—of the Tundra’s Keeper, Barclay and his friends head straight there to investigate. But it’s soon clear that far more is afoot: Audrian Keyes is on track to find Navrashtya, the missing Legendary Beast of the Tundra, and the only way to stop him is to find her before he does.

Alongside a team of talented Lore Keepers, Barclay and his friends set out for the unmapped northern regions of the Tundra, searching for any hint of Navrashtya. But Barclay soon finds his own way to track the Beast—a mysterious wild lore that no one else can feel…no one else, that is, except Audrian Keyes.

As they draw closer to Navrashtya and Barclay struggles to control the wild lore, he and his friends must stop Keyes before he deals irreversible damage to the Tundra—and shakes their confidence in the world they’re all determined to protect.

I’ve loved every book in the Wilderlore series, and The Night Compass was no exception. The halfway point is where too many series falter, but Wilderlore does the opposite here; it feels as though Foody has hit her stride in this series and with these characters, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. Fast-paced, multifaceted, and with Foody’s trademark incredible worldbuilding, I sped through this book and was left wishing book five—and books six and seven, for that matter—had already been released.

The characters, as always, are awesome. At this point in the series I feel like I know all of them so well, which gives each of them the opportunity to grow and change and connect with each other in unexpected ways. In particular, I need to give a shout-out to Yasha and Keyes, and the developing relationships between both of them and Barclay. The twist with the wild lore is truly brilliant, and not only does it add extra depth to Barclay’s character, it gives Yasha and Keyes so much more complexity—and dangerousness.

I also loved this chance to dig more deeply into the world of Wilderlore. The journey through the Tundra puts Barclay and his friends closely in touch with the wilderland even without the addition of wild lore, and I can’t wait to learn more about this world in the next few books. I highly recommend The Night Compass (and the entire Wilderlore series) to readers ages ten and up, particularly anyone who loves multi-part fantasy series and fast-paced narratives. 

By Nico

For Ty, getting through the day means standing up to a couple of middle school bullies, not defeating a magical dictator. But that’s before he follows a crow through a portal that leads him to Arcania—a parallel world where magic is not just real, but expected.

At first, it seems a dream come true, but there's a catch: for years now, Arcania has been ruled by Emperor Blackthorn, whose army of sorcerers and crows keeps down any dissent. An emperor who, as soon as he learns of Ty's presence in Arcania, will hunt him down.

Alongside Ayslenne, a girl from his school whose constant talk of magic makes much more sense now that he knows she's Arcanian, Ty sets off to find a way to get home—and save Ayslenne's brother, who was abducted by Blackthorn's crows. But as he learns more about Arcania, and his place within it, Ty finds himself questioning whether he can turn his back on this world so easily, and if he might be the one who can change everything.

River of Crows is a great read for fantasy lovers who are just beginning to fall in love with the genre. Though set primarily in another world, the story felt very accessible to readers less used to complex fantasy worlds. Following along with many familiar tropes—tyrannical ruler, Chosen One prophecy, portal fantasy—allows the details of Arcania to stand out without becoming confusing or convoluted, and helps keep readers engaged. That said, because of these tropes I believe people who frequently read fantasy might find it a little harder to get into. I particularly enjoyed the character relationships in River of Crows; the conflict between Ayslenne and Ty, as well as the supporting cast, made everyone feel more realistic. I recommend River of Crows to readers eight and up who are looking for a fast-paced, accessible fantasy series starter. 

Thank you to N P Thompson for sending an e-copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own. 

By Nico

The Last Ice Phoenix is the second book in the ongoing Heroes of Havensong series by Megan Reyes, which began with Dragonboy.

After a face-off with Chancellor Cudek that nearly destroyed the Meraki’s island, the four friends heralded as the Heroes of Havensong should be ready to face whatever comes next. Instead, with Blue stuck in a deep slumber, Wren on the verge of exile, River dreaming of her lost home, and Shenli struggling to come to terms with his new life, the four are more fractured than ever.

But Chancelor Cudek isn’t interested in giving them time to regroup, and events have already been set in motion. Back on the mainland under Cudek’s thumb, Shenli must grapple with his own history—and his priorities—to choose a path that will alter the course of the future. After exile by the Meraki elders, Wren finds herself among strangers whose secrets might be the key to unlocking Cudek’s weakness. And when an unexpected sickness sweeps across Meraki Island, Blue and River must seek out the last ice phoenix to provide a crucial piece of the remedy—even if neither is quite sure that they’re heroes after all.

There’s nothing I love more than a fabulous sequel that lives up entirely to the expectations set by the first book. The Last Ice Phoenix does this exactly. Although it took me a bit to dig into this story, probably because it’s been close to a year since I read the first book, before long I truly couldn’t put it down. A fast-paced plot, fascinating worldbuilding, and great characters have made this series one I’ll keep highly recommending, especially to fans of series like Wilderlore or Septimus Heap.

It’s often hard to get to know all the characters when a book is told from multiple points of view, but especially in this book I felt like I was able to connect with Blue, Wren, River and Shenli all so deeply. I particularly love how the characters—particularly Shenli—have some of the most developed and thoughtful character arcs I’ve read in this genre lately. Although this book often stepped into more intense territory, placing it solidly in upper middle-grade, I felt that it was essential to turning what easily could’ve been a predictable story into one with so many unique twists and characters that I can’t believe I’ll have to wait another year for book 3! I highly recommend the Heroes of Havensong series to readers ages eleven and up. 

Ash’s Cabin will be released on August 13, 2024.

Out in nature, surrounded by birdsong and the feeling of breeze on their bike, Ash feels at home. Everywhere else? They’re constantly bombarded by people who don’t understand them—their name, their pronouns, or just why they care so much about the planet not getting destroyed. When Ash remembers the cabin Grandpa Edwin talked about building, hidden away in the California woods for when he wanted to escape the monotony of modern life, it sounds like paradise.

So when Ash has a chance to run away and seek out Grandpa Edwin’s cabin themself, they seize it immediately. What could be better than surviving out on their own, unanchored from everything they can’t bear to live with? Ash is determined to find themself out in the wilderness, but survival might be more of a challenge than they expected.

The Prince and the Dressmaker, author-illustrator Jen Wang’s first graphic novel, is quite literally the book that made me start reading graphic novels, so I was truly thrilled when I got the chance to read an ARC of Wang’s upcoming book, Ash’s Cabin, through NetGalley. Although on the surface a very different storyline, Ash’s Cabin holds many of the same elements that made me love The Prince and the Dressmaker so much—a thoughtful storyline and beautiful art contained in a tale that leaves you feeling profoundly more at peace at its conclusion than when you started it.

It’s difficult to create a wilderness story that is at once modern and utterly believable, but Wang does so flawlessly, and Ash’s world absorbed me seemingly at once. Their struggles with the larger world and with their own sense of self feel fundamentally authentic and believable, and as I read, I effortlessly traveled with their thoughts and emotions, something I think is sometimes hard in the graphic novel format.

Ultimately, Ash’s Cabin is a beautiful, authentic, sometimes painful, and thoughtful story of growing up, finding yourself, and the natural world—one I truly can’t recommend enough to readers ages twelve and up.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed here are my own.

By Nico

Henna has grown up surrounded by gardens and books on the tiny island of Earth’s End with her beloved papas. She couldn’t wish for a better life. But when her papa Niall falls ill, she journeys into the other Gardenia Isles to find a cure and preserve the life she’s grown up with. And she sees only one path to doing that: finding an almost mythological plant, the nightwalker.

Once, this odd plant, which can only bloom on an orange tree, was renowned throughout the Gardenia Isles for its healing properties. But after the blight that put an end to the Isles’ citrus trees, the nightwalker has become a legend—one that holds Henna’s only hope for Niall.

Henna enrolls at St. Basil’s Conservatory, the elite botanical secondary school where she’s traced the last known specimen of the nightwalker. Out of place among the elites of the isles—particularly since she and the other scholarship student, a witty, genderfluid troublemaker known as P, are instructed to look after wealthy student Lora’s every need—Henna’s mission quickly seems pointless.

But as she gets to know her new companions better and they become friends, Henna discovers that P and Lora might hold her only hope of finding the nightwalker, and of imagining a future for herself.

To be perfectly honest, I often steer clear of middle-grade books I know will make me cry; for that reason, I almost didn’t pick up The Girl from Earth’s End. But I’m so glad I did—even if only because the cover was so gorgeous I couldn’t resist it. I would be lying if I said this book didn’t indeed make me tear up, but it also made me laugh and hope, and I truly recommend it. Atmospheric and whimsical, Dairman weaves a thoughtful and lush world rich with history and life that brings to mind books like Greenwild. I adored Henna, but P and Lora were absolutely the standout characters for me in this book—they each have a unique perspectives and challenges that I don’t see often enough in middle grade fantasy, and their evolving understandings of themselves and each other gave the story extra depth.

​This book is much more small-scale than many fantasy books; the world will not end if Henna fails, but honestly that made me love it even more. The personal quality to the stakes made me incredibly invested in the characters and every twist of the plot, and once I started reading I truly didn’t want to stop. I highly recommend The Girl from Earth’s End to readers ages ten and up who love quiet, thoughtful fantasy with beautiful worlds and characters you’ll adore. 

The Ghostkeeper will be released on July 23, 2024.

Ever since Dorian Leith very nearly died—and gained the unexpected ability to see ghosts as a result—he’s dedicated himself to helping ghosts find peace and enter the afterlife. Sure, his job doesn’t make him very popular, particularly since most people would rather pay ghastly exorcists to destroy household ghosts than a ghost therapist to help their hauntings work through their problems, but every time Dorian teaches a ghost new coping skills or helps another client move on into the afterlife, it brings him such satisfaction that he can’t imagine doing anything else.

That is, until the key to Death’s Door vanishes—and the town is suddenly plagued by an influx of angry ghosts who can’t find their way into the afterlife, no matter how many times Dorian helps them reframe their struggles. Dorian knows he’s the only one who’s able to help the ghosts, not to mention the only one who cares. But finding the key means risking the first true relationship with a living human he’s had in years—and any sense of self he has beyond the ghosts he cares for.

​I did not expect to love a graphic novel about a queer ghost therapist to be this awesome and endearing, but The Ghostkeeper seemed determined to exceed my expectations from the first page. To begin with, I loved the art style, and in particular how the ghosts were portrayed; the blue-tinged characters and in particular the clearly different speech bubbles helped keep the story clear and moving at a fast pace, and made the dialogue easier to follow than most other graphic novels I've read. The use of color schemes and panel shapes created a fabulous sense of atmosphere, and worked together with the quirky characters and fast-paced plot to create a story I couldn't put down.

But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one of my favorite aspects of the story - Dorian himself. I connected with him so deeply - his internal struggles, his determination to help ghosts, his self-sacrificing propensity, his insecurity, and the depth of his friendships. The ghost therapist concept is brilliant to begin with, but The Ghostkeeper brings it alive, and the incredibly realistic (but also hilarious) strategies that Dorian uses to counsel the ghosts grounded the premise and made it utterly believable. I was particularly drawn to the way Dorian struggles to separate what he needs from what the ghosts need, a thread of realism that helped wholeheartedly sell me on the entire story.

I highly recommend The Ghostkeeper to readers ages eleven and up, particularly those who enjoy gorgeously illustrated graphic novels, brilliant characters, and a touch of ghostly horror.

An e-ARC of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

By Nico

When Olive Cobin Zang’s parents unexpectedly enroll her midyear at a peculiar, artsy boarding school that used to be a prison, she’s not too optimistic about her new life. After all, her parents have never paid much attention to her—they’re far too busy working constantly, and since her grandmother died a month ago, she doesn’t have anyone else to look out for her. The chances of this new development being one she’ll enjoy feel pretty slim.

But that’s before she gets to the school—named, weirdly, RASCH—and discovers it’s not just a quirky, offbeat boarding school. It’s also cover for a group of crime fighters, a group that Olive, along with four of her new misfit friends, have been chosen to become part of.

Learning to be a secret agent, all while finding her place among her quirky friends, is better than Olive possibly could’ve hoped for. There’s just one problem: RASCH is in danger of shutting down. And if Olive and her friends can’t catch a world-renowned jewel thief and secure the respect of RASCH’s most famous donor, they’ll lose the first place they’ve ever belonged.

Quirky and fast-paced, I highly enjoyed A Royal Conundrum. With all the trappings of a spy novel, all about an unexpected group of crime-fighting middle-school underdogs, this book entirely lives up to its premise. The characters are awesome; Olive and the Misfits are all quite different, and often don’t entirely get along, but their developing relationships and strong personalities made the story sparkle. I also loved the illustrations—they truly brought Olive and her friends to life, and added so much to the fun atmosphere of the story. And that’s all even without mentioning the mystery itself, which was hilarious and action-packed in all the right places. I’m glad to know this one’s part of a series—I’ll be anxiously awaiting book 2! I highly recommend A Royal Conundrum to readers ages eight and up, particularly fans of middle-grade mystery books like Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls or Charlie Thorne and the Last Equation. 

First Test: The Graphic Novel will be released on July 2, 2024.

Keladry of Mindelan has always known she wants to be a knight—and now, she’s the first girl to take advantage of Tortall’s new law that decrees that girls, as well as boys, can become pages. But not everyone is thrilled about the decision, and the training master, Lord Wyldon, insists on putting her on probation, which no other page has ever had to endure.

Although many expect her to back down, Kel is determined to become a knight—even though that means enduring the hatred and taunts of other pages, and even standing up to the unfair system of hazing. One day, Kel is sure, she will prove everyone who doubts her wrong, and become a true protector of the small.

The original First Test by Tamora Pierce is one of my all-time favorite books, so when I saw there was a graphic novel adaptation coming out, I knew immediately I had to read it. That said, I had my misgivings: just like when I see a movie adaptation of a book I love, I was sure it couldn’t remotely compare to the original story.

Instead, I found myself instantly engrossed in one of the best novel adaptations I’ve ever encountered.

For fans of the original First Test, there is so much to love in this book—most of the dialogue is pulled directly from the novel, and it felt much more like a visual representation of the novel than a new story with elements of it, as too many adaptations often do. Although of course cutting some scenes or sequences was necessary, I loved how Devin Grayson and Becca Farrow used panel arrangement to convey a sense of time or a montage of scenes, creating the sense of all those scenes without narrating them all individually. The art really captures the spirit and personality of all the characters, particularly Kel and Neil, and I found myself hoping as I devoured this book that there would be adaptations of the rest of the series, too!

Especially at the beginning, some of the worldbuilding might be a little confusing for readers unfamiliar with Tortall, so I highly recommend checking out the character guide and glossary in the back. Although I’m often a little leery of supplemental materials like these, Grayson and Farrow did an excellent job of creating thorough and readable guides that allow new readers to orient themselves, without making previous Tortall readers feel bogged down by pages of worldbuilding.

I highly recommend First Test to both old and new fans of Tamora Pierce’s books ages ten and up, or anyone who enjoys excellent, fast-paced fantasy graphic novels!

An e-ARC of this book was provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read our review of First Test (Book 1 in the Protector of the Small Quartet) by Tamora Pierce!

By Nico

Five years ago, the gods granted twelve-year-old Faron Vincent the ability to draw on their vast power to drive out the colonizing Langlish Empire and save her homeland of San Irie. Now seventeen and nowhere near recovering from the trauma of the war, Faron is just trying to figure out what to do with her life—all while still being heralded as the divine savior of her people. Only her older sister, Elara, understands at least some of what Faron is going through, but Elara has other plans, too. She’s determined to

During the war, the only thing Faron could count on was her protective love for Elara. So when a peace summit gone wrong leaves Elara bonded to an enemy dragon, Faron knows immediately that she’ll do whatever it takes to get her sister safely home. Even if that means disobeying the direct orders of the gods and seeking help from a powerful entity who could destroy them all.

Meanwhile, isolated from her friends and family among the very people she would’ve given her life to defeat, Elara grapples with defining herself beyond the shadow of her sister’s power as she attempts to uncover the latest Langlish plot and better understand their greatest weapon—their dragons. A challenge that would be difficult enough without her sharp-witted and inconveniently pretty co-rider, Signey Soto.

Faron and Elara will have to find themselves to save each other—and their failure could cost San Irie its independence, and each other their lives.

Intense, fast-paced, and fiercely defiant, So Let Them Burn was absolutely incredible. It’s rare that I read a book which I truly fall in love with from the first page, but this book refused to allow the alternative to even be an option. With impossibly vibrant characters, a delicious flip on the chosen one trope, and a keen commentary on colonialism, I’d be astounded if this doesn’t make it into my top ten books of this year.

There is so much to love about this book, but its true heart lies with Elara and Faron’s messy, fraught, and profoundly loving relationship. Both could so easily become cookie-cutter characters—the chosen one years later, the two-dimensional older sister—and yet they bloom to life thanks to Cole’s deft writing and the emotions that carry them off the page. I love Faron’s stubborn determination, struggle to define herself, and fierce diatribes, but I’d be lying if I said Elara wasn’t my favorite character in So Let Them Burn. Her feelings and motivations are so multifaceted and authentic as she attempts to carve out space for herself in the world, while simultaneously fighting to save everyone she holds dear. I cannot find words to express how much I resent that ending, and how much I need the sequel right now!

I also have to give a shout-out to the worldbuilding. Dragons are plentiful in fantasy; a unique system which they are central to is far more difficult to come by. Similarly, the push-pull of the different forms of magic within the world—dragons, astrals, the gods—lent San Irie and Nova a depth and complexity that I couldn’t resist. I am so excited for the next book in this series!

​I highly recommend So Let Them Burn to readers ages thirteen and up looking for a gripping, multilayered, irresistible fantasy novel that will make you remember what books are for. 

By Nico

When Princess Brie meets Count Camembert, full of quirky dress sense and appreciation for Brie’s often unorthodox activism, it’s love at first sight.

There’s just one problem—Count Camembert is really Lady Camembert, disguised as a man so she can still inherit her father’s money after refusing to marry a man. She’s supposed to be keeping a low profile so no one can discover her secret…but after meeting Brie, she’s not so sure that’ll be possible.

Camembert knows her love can’t go anywhere. After all, Brie is a princess destined for a diplomatic marriage, and she has no idea Camembert isn’t a man. But could there still be room for a happily ever?

​With queer romance, bright illustrations, and lots of cheese puns, I read The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich in one sitting. Muniz’s artwork is expressive and quirky, and I liked the fast-paced plot and characters, particularly Zola, who was both humorous and deeper than I initially expected. Definitely check this one out if you love graphic novels and grilled cheese sandwiches! I recommend The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich to readers ages twelve and up.