★★★ ½ Stories always begin the same way. There was and there was not. There is a possibility in those words, the chance for hope or despair. Soraya is a princess but she has spent her life in fairytales and hidden away because of her deepest, darkest secret. ...the div cursed her firstborn daughter, making her poisonous, so… Continue reading Girl, Serpent, Thorn -Melissa Bashardoust
Thunderhead – Neal Shusterman
★★★★★ Death must exist for life to have meaning. The Scythedom is still reeling. In a stunning change of events, both Citra (now scythe Anastasia) and Rowan survived the trial by death...but unfortunately, it was not a cause of celebration. In response, Rowan has taken up the mantle of Scythe Lucifer - and he has gone completely… Continue reading Thunderhead – Neal Shusterman
The Sigil: A Novel – Shakeil Kanish & Larissa Mandeville
★★★★★ I must have missed something. Something important. Lake Smithson had a charmed life. The keyword being "had". Everything changed with a robber killed his brother, plunging him into an increasingly uncertain world. Magic. He said magic. Holy crap. I'm Harry Potter. Lake finds himself involved with Breywood Academy - a secret school where people who can manipulate… Continue reading The Sigil: A Novel – Shakeil Kanish & Larissa Mandeville
The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go – Makiko Itoh, Makiko Doi (photographer)
★★★ ½ Bento-boxes are all the rage - they have this pleasing aesthetic - with the bright colors, lovely little partitions, the adorable shapes and variety. Makiko Itoh has a wonderful little bento blog - where she showcases her adorable creations. This recipe has 25 bento menus with 150+ recipes. So, on the one hand, I quite like the… Continue reading The Just Bento Cookbook: Everyday Lunches to Go – Makiko Itoh, Makiko Doi (photographer)
Florence Adler Swims Forever – Rachel Beanland
"How many people know about...Florence?" Florence and Fannie - sisters - spent their summers living above their parents' bakery. Fannie's daughter, Gussie, is spending the summer with Florence and her grandparents (Esther and Joseph) because doctors have ordered Fannie to undergo complete bed rest due to a high-risk pregnancy. Joseph then decides to take in… Continue reading Florence Adler Swims Forever – Rachel Beanland
Modern Wicca – Rowan Morgana
...in 1954, Wicca became a popular way for people to embrace their spirituality without the constraints and dogma of organized religions. This wonderful little guide teaches about what it means to be a modern Wiccca. It begins by explaining what the Wiccan way is - including the history and origins of the religious movement. From there, the book discusses… Continue reading Modern Wicca – Rowan Morgana
The Lost Sisters – Holly Black
★★★★ Let’s start with a love story. Or maybe it’s another horror story. It seems like the difference is mostly in where the ending comes. Set shortly after The Cruel Prince, we follow Taryn as she falls in love with Locke. Taryn and Jude are twin human girls, living in faeryland due to a series of unfortunate… Continue reading The Lost Sisters – Holly Black
If You Were Me and Lived in… Ancient Greece – Carole P. Roman, Mateya Arkova (illustrations)
★★★★★ Athena is currently the capital of Greece, and the first people settled there around the 11th-7th century B.C. Ancient Greece has been popular for thousands of years, but there is still a ton that's not well-known. If you are the curious sort, then this book is for you. You get to learn a little bit… Continue reading If You Were Me and Lived in… Ancient Greece – Carole P. Roman, Mateya Arkova (illustrations)
Herb Magic – Patti Wigington
★★★★★ Herb magic, also known as magical herbalism, is one of the oldest known forms of sympathetic magic, found in forklore all over the world. This absolutely gorgeous little handbook focuses all about the various herbs and their impacts in history (and on the modern world). The book begins by going into what Magical Herbalism is - the… Continue reading Herb Magic – Patti Wigington
A World Through Sapphire Eyes – Marie Mackay
Vasons' steps echoed in the empty throne room. He had stood here before, many times, yet now it felt like a new room. The Chosen One...is missing. And Vason is the one that found her, but she wasn't the one he was seeking. Vason is bound and determined to rescue his sister, who was lost… Continue reading A World Through Sapphire Eyes – Marie Mackay
