popthebutterfly's reviews
2495 reviews

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

1.0

 

Disclaimer: My husband bought this and lent it to me to read. All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Gideon the Ninth 

 

Author: Tamsyn Muir 

 

Book Series: The Locked Tomb Book 1 

 

Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: Queer/Lesbian MC and characters 

 

Recommended For...: adult readers, sci-fi, horror, queer, mystery 

 

Publication Date: September 10, 2019 

 

Genre: Sci/Fi Horror 

 

Age Relevance: 18+ (violence, blood gore, pornography mentioned, language, religion, depression, murder, etc.) 

 

Explanation of Above: I DNF’d this read at 56 pages in, but what I got from those pages were the following: violence and blood gore shown. Pornography mentioned. Strong language used. Religious themes mentioned. Depression shown. Murder mentioned. 

 

Publisher: Tor 

 

Pages: 448 

 

Synopsis: The Emperor needs necromancers. The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman. Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead bullshit. Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service. Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die. Of course, some things are better left dead. 

 

Review: I feel like this is going to be a review that gets a lot of people to hate me LOL. So I dnf'd this book. I tried so so hard to get into the book, I have heard so many great things about Gideon the Ninth, and I just really wanted to be in this cult. Following that the book series has amassed which also includes my husband. My husband is a big fan of the books. But unfortunately I could not get into it. I felt really confused and I was getting really frustrated with it and the time period which I was trying to read this book was really not good for me to try to conquer something like this. I don't know if I'm ever going to try this book series again or if I'm just going to ask my husband for the highlights. 

 

Verdict: It was not for me, but might be for you! 

The Wild Ones by Nafiza Azad

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

 

Disclaimer: I got this book from the library! Support your local libraries! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: The Wild Ones 

 

Author: Nafiza Azad 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 2.5/5 

 

Diversity: BIPOC MC and characters, queer characters 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, witches, queer 

 

Publication Date: August 3, 2021 

 

Genre: YA Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 15+ (sexual content, sexism, poverty, child trafficking, slavery, grief, suicide) 

 

Explanation of Above: There is some mentions of sexual content. There are mentions and showings of poverty and child trafficking. Sexism is shown, as well as slavery and grief. There are also mentions of suicide. 

 

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books 

 

Pages: 352 

 

Synopsis: Meet the Wild Ones: girls who have been hurt, abandoned, and betrayed all their lives. It all began with Paheli, who was once betrayed by her mother and sold to a man in exchange for a favor. When Paheli escapes, she runs headlong into a boy with stars in his eyes. This boy, as battered as she is, tosses Paheli a box of stars before disappearing. With the stars, Paheli gains access to the Between, a place of pure magic and mystery. Now, Paheli collects girls like herself and these Wild Ones use their magic to travel the world, helping the hopeless and saving others from the fates they suffered. Then Paheli and the Wild Ones learn that the boy who gave them the stars, Taraana, is in danger. He’s on the run from powerful forces within the world of magic. But if Taraana is no longer safe and free, neither are the Wild Ones. And that…is a fate the Wild Ones refuse to accept. Ever again. 

 

Review: For the most part, this was an okay book. The book focuses on this group of girls who have had really tragic lives and they band together using their magic to travel the world and save or recruit other girls who have been hurt in various forms or other. The book was okay and I really liked how it was set up. And while the book was mostly comprised of prose, I do feel like it was fairly okay to follow along to, even if you're not a prose lover.
 
 However, this book was really hard for me. I am really not a prose lover and it just made it really hard for me to follow along sometimes. It also took me a bit to figure out what was going on in the book and I did have to read the synopsis on the back to get the gist of it. I also felt like aside from two characters that the other characters in the book were not fully fleshed out and they just kind of faded a lot into the background. I also would have liked a little bit more world building. 

 

Verdict: It was not entirely for me unfortunately. But it might be for you! 

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Dungeons and Drama 

 

Author: Kristy Boyce 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: MM romance side couple, South Asian character 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, romance, D&D, Musicals, RomCom 

 

Publication Date: January 9, 2024 

 

Genre: YA Romance 

 

Age Relevance: 13+ (romance, underage drinking) 

 

Explanation of Above: This is a romance book, so there are some cute romance moments but nothing PG+. There are also mentions of underage drinking. 

 

Publisher: Delacorte Press 

 

Pages: 304 

 

Synopsis: Musical lover Riley has big aspirations to become a director on Broadway. Crucial to this plan is to bring back her high school’s spring musical, but when Riley takes her mom’s car without permission, she's grounded and stuck with the worst punishment: spending her after-school hours working at her dad’s game shop. Riley can't waste her time working when she has a musical to save, so she convinces Nathan—a nerdy teen employee—to cover her shifts and, in exchange, she’ll flirt with him to make his gamer-girl crush jealous. But Riley didn’t realize that meant joining Nathan's Dungeons & Dragons game…or that role playing would be so fun. Soon, Riley starts to think that flirting with Nathan doesn't require as much acting as she would've thought... 

 

Review: This book was so cute. It was so cute that I went out and bought the book recently because I could not stop thinking about it. And I'm also really excited for the second book in this little series. Anyways, this book focuses on our main character Riley who is a big theater geek. She loves musical theater and a lot of her references in the book are devoted to musical theater, but particularly those of classical musical theater and not modern musical theater, which... Eh not a fan. Anyways, in the book our main character is trying to figure out a way to save her school's theater program and she gets grounded from taking her mom's car to a theater performance and ends up at her dad's gaming shop where a group of employees and other kids play D&D on the regular there. The main character meets with one of the other employees whose name is Nathan and yeah it's a YA romance, what do you expect lol. I thought the book was really cute and it did so well at developing all the characters and building this really big story. The world building felt really well fleshed out and I just can't wait to dive back into the world of this book. I also love that the author merged both dungeons& dragons and musical theater in this book. It would seem like a really unlikely pairing, but… ya know bards exist lol.
 
 My only slight thing that I didn't like about it was that the ending was a little quick in my opinion, but also all of the musical references being classical rather than modern. I feel like that's more of a me thing though because I'm more of a modern musical theater lover than a classical musical theater lover, but you know I would have liked to see a little more RENT rather than a little more Hello Dolly. 

 

Verdict: I loved it so much. New fave. 

Bunt!: Striking Out on Financial Aid by Ngozi Ukazu

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 

Disclaimer: I received a final copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

Book: Bunt! Striking Out on Financial Aid 

Author: Ngozi Ukazu and Mad Rupert 

Book Series: Standalone 

Rating: 4/5 

Diversity: BIPOC queer MC, BIPOC characters, queer character 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel readers, contemporary, college, sports, Softball, queer 

Publication Date: February 13, 2024 

Genre: YA Sport Graphic Novel 

Age Relevance: 14+ (language) 

Explanation of Above: There is some strong language used in the book, but it’s not a lot. 

Publisher: First Second 

Pages: 288 

Synopsis: Molly Bauer's first year of college is not the picture-perfect piece of art she'd always envisioned. On day one at PICA, Molly discovers that—through some horrible twist of fate—her full-ride scholarship has vanished! But the ancient texts (PICA's dusty financial aid documents) reveal a loophole. If Molly and 9 other art students win a single game of softball, they'll receive a massive athletic scholarship. Can Molly's crew of ragtag artists succeed in softball without dropping the ball? 

Review: I really liked this book. This book follows our protagonist whose name is Molly. She had A full ride to this University that she has pretty much dedicated her entire life into getting to and come orientation day. She finds out that the full ride does not exist anymore. If there is a better allegory for today's BS that happens to today's college entrance-es... I do not know of it. Anyways, she scrolls through some old text and she finds a loophole to get her into the college with a massive financial aid scholarship. The problem is that it's an athletic scholarship and she has to have this team up and running and I have to at least play one other team before this deadline. So the whole book focuses on her scrambling trying to get people to participate in this loophole and makes friends along the way and all that stuff. I really liked that. The book focused a lot on financial aid and the need for it. I like the world building of the book and I also liked all the character development.

However, I was kind of perplexed by a couple of little loopholes here and there in the book and it really did feel more like a second book in a series then a stand-alone. I was also left with a lot of questions at the end and I really want to know more about Molly's story and the other characters that are shown in the book. 

Verdict: It was good, I just wanted more. 

Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess: (A Graphic Novel) by Megan Brennan

inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 

Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess 

 

Author: Megan Brennan 

 

Book Series: Magic Girls Book 1 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: BIPOC characters 

 

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, fantasy, magical girl 

 

Publication Date: March 5, 2024 

 

Genre: MG Graphic Novel 

 

Age Relevance: 8+ (small cartoon violence) 

 

Explanation of Above: There is a small amount of cartoon violence in this book, but nothing graphic and there are no weapons used. The violence consists of magic like plant power and water power being used against one another. 

 

Publisher: Random House Graphic 

 

Pages: 256 

 

Synopsis: Fashionable fights, flashy attacks, and friends that are out of this world! This wacky and funny graphic novel series is a love letter to manga fans. With a tongue in cheek humor and delightfully fun action scenes, this series is perfect for fans of Sailor Moon , Cardcaptor Sakura , and Katie the Catsitter . 

There's nothing cooler than Magical Girls - pretty superheroes fighting villains with the power of friendship and glitter? What could be better than that! This year in middle school, Kira is going to be cool and popular and have SO many friends because she’s going to be a MAGICAL GIRL! ...Or not. 

Frustrated beyond belief, Kira makes a wish on a shooting star that her life will change – and when Catacorn, a cat-unicorn-space-princess, crashes into Kira's backyard, it seems her wish has come true…kinda…maybe… Oh no. Is Kira's dream of being a Magical Girl really possible...or is Catacorn not really what she promises to be? 

 

Review: This was just such a fun read! As a fan of magical girl stories, I loved this book about magical girls and how they’re made/what someone who is like Kira would do if they didn’t necessarily fit a specific magical girl criteria (in the book, she’s totally magical girl material in my opinion. She fits right in there with Usagi and Sakura personality wise). I loved how camp it was too! It was such a fun read, perfect for younger MG readers, and I loved all of the illustrations. 

The only issue I had with it is that it was a little confusing in the beginning of the book world building wise, but it did make more sense after a bit. 

 

Verdict: I loved it so much! Highly recommend. 

Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

4.0

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Hope Ablaze 

 

Author: Sarah Mughal Rana 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 4/5 

 

Diversity: Muslim Pakistani MC, Muslim Pakistani characters, Syrian characters, Christian Syrian character 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, contemporary, poetry 

 

Publication Date: February 27, 2024 

 

Genre: YA Contemporary 

 

Age Relevance: 14+ (religion, racism, islamaphobia, terrorism, police brutality, animal death, violence, gun violence, death) 

 

Explanation of Above: The Islamic religion is shown proudly throughout the book. There are scenes of racism and islamaphobia. Terrorism is mentioned and police brutality is shown and mentioned. There is an animal death mentioned (slaughter of a goat). There are scenes of violence and a shooting is mentioned. There is some death discussed in the book. 

 

Publisher: Wednesday Books 

 

Pages: 384 

 

Synopsis: Nida has always been known as Mamou Abdul-Hafeedh’s niece - the poet that will fill her uncle’s shoes after he was wrongfully incarcerated during the war on terror. But for Nida, her poetry letters are her heart and sharing so much of herself with a world that stereotypes her faith and her hijab is not an option. When Nida is illegally frisked at a Democratic Senatorial candidate’s political rally, she writes a scathing poem about the politician, never expecting the letter to go viral weeks before Election Day. Nida discovers her poem has won first place in a national contest, a contest she never entered, and her quiet life is toppled. But worst of all, Nida loses her ability to write poetry. In the aftermath of her win, Nida struggles to balance the expectations of her mother, her uncle, and her vibrant Muslim community with the person she truly wants to be. With a touch of magic and poetry sprinkled throughout, Sarah Mughal Rana's Hope Ablaze is heartbreaking, often funny, and ultimately uplifting, not only celebrating the Islamic faith and Pakistani culture, but simultaneously confronting racism and Islamophobia with unflinching bravery. 

 

Review: This was such a good read. The book revolves around Nida who is following in her uncle’s footsteps of becoming a poet. Following a racist incident led by a political figure, Nida writes a poem about the incident which gets leaked. The book follows Nida as she navigates the insane racism and terrorism following the incident as well as discovering how the poem got leaked. The book was very impactful and honest in showing how the USA treats Muslim citizens. The book features some good poetry as well, so it’s great for people who like slam poetry in books. The book had great world building and character development as well. 

 

The only thing I didn’t like about the book was that it was a bit repetitive in places and there were some spots where I was like “eh… is that necessary?”. But overall I did think that the book was good. 

 

Verdict: It was thought provoking. Highly recommend. 

Freshman Year by Sarah Mai

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

 

Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Freshman Year 

 

Author: Sarah Mai 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 3.5/5 

 

Diversity: Side character who has a chronic illness and uses a wheelchair 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, graphic novel readers, memoir, college, contemporary 

 

Publication Date: February 13, 2024 

 

Genre: YA Memoir Graphic Novel 

 

Age Relevance: 15+ (romance, slight sexual content, 1 HP reference, religion, anxiety, depression) 

 

Explanation of Above: There is some romance and slight sexual content mentioned in the book. There is 1 HP reference in the book in a discussion about separating the art from the artist. There are mentions and showings of Catholicism in the book. Anxiety is also showcased in this book a lot, as well as depression. 

 

Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books 

 

Pages: 288 

 

Synopsis: Everyone gets a fresh start. Who do you want to be? Sarah is leaving suburban Wisconsin for her freshman year in Minnesota. She has high hopes for the  impress her professors, meet interesting new people, stay close to her best friends and boyfriend back home, flourish as an artist, and shed her lingering high school anxieties. What seems manageable at first quickly unravels into a Sarah’s high-achieving roommate puts her to shame, her summer love dissolves, and she is quickly overwhelmed by the freedom, the isolation, and all the possibilities that await in this new environment. Based on the author’s personal college journal and comics,  Freshman Year  navigates the inner workings of an 18-year-old girl in witty, honest, and heartfelt detail.  This graduation gift pairs perfectly with OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!.   Dr. Seuss's sentimental graduation picture book is beloved, but the one teens really need is Freshman Year.  This graphic novel debut shows the places students actually  do  go—the home goods aisle at Target; lavish libraries; grungy parties off campus; cereal-for-dinner at the dining hall. Whether you’re anxiously looking forward or nostalgically looking back, this is the perfect read for anyone who loves realistic graphic novels about the laughable growing pains of almost-adulthood, like  Check, Please!  and  Bloom . 

 

Review: So I never went away to college. I couldn’t really afford it, so I gave my nana’s address and spent my whole time at university traveling about 40 miles every other day to attend classes. So I didn’t have a typical freshmen year experience (and honestly my time was spent worrying about paying bills at home and getting enough hours but also trying to do homework while traveling at 6am to get to class but then going back home at 10pm at night). Regardless though, there are some universal things that every freshman in college experiences and I felt the author wrote them perfectly in this graphic memoir. The book showcased the anxiety and nerves the author faced when she left her town to go to college and how everything she thought would happen or expected was turned on its head. The book also expertly showcases how overwhelming the freedom to do whatever as an adult is when you are on your own to keep your expectations in place. I liked the artwork, the story was good, and the book made me cringe and feel things even though I’ve been out of school for almost 10 years now. 

 

However, I did feel like the story was a bit scattered at times and that there were some things that I didn’t really see in this book. I felt like this was a more PG showcasing of what college looks like, which is fine and might have been the author’s truth but is certainly not other’s. 

 

Verdict: It was good and I’d recommend it for those who are nervous about college. 

DnDoggos: Get the Party Started by Scout Underhill

adventurous inspiring relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

 

Disclaimer: I received this finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: DnDoggos: Get the Party Started 

 

Author: Scout Underhill, Liana Sposto 

 

Book Series: DnDoggos Book 1 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, fantasy, DND 

 

Publication Date: February 27, 2024 

 

Genre: MG Fantasy Graphic Novel 

 

Age Relevance: 8+ (slight violence) 

 

Explanation of Above: There is slight violence with weapons shown in a DND format. 

 

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends 

 

Pages: 272 

 

Synopsis: Four adorable dogs are tail-waggingly excited to play their favorite role-playing game in Get the Party Started , the middle grade graphic novel debut from online comic creator Scout Underhill. 

 

They've picked their characters and favorite dice, and are ready to set off on the adventure their game master Magnus has created for them. 

Pickles, a rough and tumble fighter; Tonka, a playful and fun-loving bard; and Zoey, a wise and caring cleric, are given a quest to fetch a magical dog collar from a nearby swamp. But when they triumphantly return, they soon find that the collar isn't the only thing that has gone missing from Tail's Bend. All the squeaky toys in town have disappeared and Squish, the mayor's young son, has set off on his own to find them. 

It's up to the Doggos to rescue Squish, track down the missing toys, and save the day! 

 

Review: As someone who’s played DND and loves the game, I absolutely adored this book. It’s a cute little intro into the world and game in an easy to understand format for little kids. When I started playing DND, I was around 10 years old and my dad was my Dungeon Master. He incorporated things that my cousin (also 10) and I both loved (like Pokemon) into the game to make it more interesting to us and I love that this game did something similar with the chew toys. I think that DND is a great game that teaches kids a multitude of life skills, like how to be a part of a cooperative group and how to creatively problem solve issues. My dad also incorporated math into our sessions because I needed help in that area, and playing the game helped me out with my math grades lol. I also love how the book switched between the game DND and the real life of the dogs, showing how they’re all friends and how they get along outside of the game. This book was an absolutely adorable trip down memory lane for me and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. 

 

The only thing I will criticize is that the beginning was a bit abrupt. I would have liked to see how the group was formed, but for a middle grader I think going right into the action is a great idea for getting them hooked into the story early on. 

 

Verdict: I love this book so much! Great for DND lovers and parents teaching the game to their littles! 

You Are Fearless: A Book for the Littlest Taylor Swift Fans by Odd Dot

inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

 

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: You Are Fearless 

 

Author: Laura Catrinella 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Recommended For...: children’s book readers, picture book, biography, nonfiction, music, Taylor Swift 

 

Publication Date: February 13, 2024 

 

Genre: Children’s Picture Book 

 

Age Relevance: 0+ 

 

Explanation of Above: It’s a picture book featuring Taylor Swift and talking a little about her life. 

 

Publisher: Odd Dot 

 

Pages: 32 

 

Synopsis: This uplifting read-aloud is a heartfelt wish for all children and a timeless introduction to the Grammy Award-winning and multi platinum singer and songwriter. YOU ARE FEARLESS presents Taylor Swift’s inspirational journey, encouraging children to be fearless, defy limits, and follow their hearts. 

 

Review: You know that phenomena where people have reported going to The Eras Tour and then coming back out not remembering anything about it and having like kinda a PTSD-memory-loss response because of how overwhelmingly happy they are during it? Yea… I have that with this book. I usually take notes about the book and my only note is “cute little Swiftie book”. So like yea, it’s a cute little Swiftie book! I think it would be a cute little board book to give a Swiftie who’s just had a baby or has a littlie or as a present to a beginning Swiftie… or like just any person who likes Taylor Swift. It’s adorable, it talks a bit about who Taylor Swift is and has a good message about following your passions and defying the odds.  

 

Verdict: I’d read it again =). Highly recommend. 

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: The Poisons We Drink 

 

Author: Bethany Baptiste 

 

Book Series: Standalone 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: Black American Sapphic MC, Black American characters, Indian American character, Sapphic character, Non-Binary character 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, urban fantasy, fantasy, witches, queer, contemporary 

 

Publication Date: April 30, 2024 

 

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 16+ (police brutality, violence, racism, gun violence, parental death, child death, PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-harm, gore, drugs, underage drinking, language, grief) 

 

Explanation of Above: There are scenes and mentions of police brutality, gun violence, and violence in general. There is one on-page death of a parent and mentions of death of a child. There are moments of PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, and forms of self-harm. There is some blood and vomit gore. There are mentions of drugs and underage drinking. There is some strong language. There are also scenes and mentions of racism and racist acts. 

 

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 

 

Pages: 480 

 

Synopsis: Love potions is a dangerous business. Brewing has painful, debilitating side effects, and getting caught means death or a prison sentence. But what Venus is most afraid of is the dark, sentient magic within her. Then an enemy's iron bullet kills her mother, Venus’s life implodes. Keeping her reckless little sister Janus safe is now her responsibility. When the powerful Grand Witcher, the ruthless head of her coven, offers Venus the chance to punish her mother's killer, she has to pay a steep price for revenge. The cost? Brew poisonous potions to enslave D.C.'s most influential politicians. As Venus crawls deeper into the corrupt underbelly of her city, the line between magic and power blurs, and it's hard to tell who to trust…Herself included. 

 

Review: Oh. My. God. This book was EVERYTHING. I absolutely devoured this read and I can’t wait to re-read it. The book was captivating, the story was just so addicting, and I loved everything about this book. I loved the main characters. I love the mix of witchcraft and the LORE. I usually do not do well with urban fantasy style books because I’m more of a “magic fits better in my mind with medieval style settings” but omg this has made me reevaluate my stance cause this was THAT GOOD. I felt like the background was well set up, the worldbuilding was great, the characters were well developed, and just EVERYTHING. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Like I don’t know how else to say that? Uhh… READ THIS BOOK. 

 

The only thing I would say was a slight ding was some of the pacing here and there was a bit off in places, but other than that I NEED MORE. 

 

Verdict: I loved it. I need more =). Highly recommend.