Young Adult

In The Moment Before (The Coyote and The Claw Companion Series, #1) by C.G. Coppola

This is a cute novella about two seniors in high school whose animosity for each other land them in detention together. Robin has hated Grayson since he pranked her in front of their class in grade school. She despises him, and he delights in teasing her and egging her on. When they finally stop taking digs at each other, they realize their enemy is actually a person and the ice begins to melt between them. But can Robin trust Grayson, or is he just running a long con on her?

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December 21, 2022 0

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

This was an intense YA mystery/thriller about six friends headed to spring break that get trapped in an RV in the middle of nowhere by a sniper intent on learning one of their secrets. The story is told from the perspective of Red. Her mother, a police officer, was executed on the job 5 years ago and her father succumbed to alcoholism. This, as well as having little to no money, set her apart from other teens. Her best friend Maddie and a few others, however, have her back and make sure that she’s not left out.

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December 2, 2022 0

The Wicked Remain (Grimrose Girls #2) by Laura Pohl

This was a satisfying conclusion to a good YA Fantasy duology. The events pick up a few months after the first book. The girls continue to search for a way to break the curse, but are waylaid by personal issues that distract them from their goal. As they make progress on finding out the origin of the curse, more girls start dying.

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November 9, 2022 0

Blue Shadows Fall (Blue Shadows Fall, #1) by Lenore Stutznegger

This is a very good first book in a new YA Fantasy series. In a dystopian world decades in the future, Blue Haven is a 17 year old who dreams of becoming a warrior. Over 150 years ago the Shadow Elves, humans infected by a zombie apocalypse-like plague, ravaged the world and decimated the population. Blue lives in a small farming community in the Smoky Mountains, where they are the last survivors of their world and not much happens. But Blue’s superhuman sight is showing her troubling images of green-eyed strangers and handsome Shadow Elves. But, that can’t be right because leaders of her village insist the Shadow Elves were all killed and they are safe. As Blue investigates her visions, she discovers the leaders may have lied. About everything.

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October 29, 2022 0

The Quiet Girl by Nichole Heydenburg

Violet Hale moves with her family to North Carolina from Michigan. She had friends and a boyfriend in MI, but in NC, isn’t able to easily makes friends and draws the attention, and ire, of the school’s queen bee on her first day. Every day after that, Violet is bullied by her and the popular kids. One day a cute boy, Jess, defends her after Violet is bullied, and he and his friend Kayla befriend her. Violet is grateful to finally make friends, but the more she gets to know them, the more sinister their friendship becomes.

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October 18, 2022 0

A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This is the second book in a captivating YA Fantasy series. Poppy knows who Hawke, Casteel, is now. He’s the Dark One, the Prince of Atlantia. And he’s got a plan to get his brother back from the Blood Queen that involves her. She knows better than to trust him, but he’s the only way for her to get what she wants—to find her brother Ian and see for herself if he has become a soulless Ascended. So, they pretend to be engaged to fulfill both of their goals. But Poppy also knows it’s a risk being so close to Casteel, because they definitely have chemistry together that is hard to resist. The closer Poppy gets to Atlantia, the more her power grows. Atlantia is at unrest. Whispers of war are growing, the Descenters want Poppy dead and the King wants to use her to send a message. But the gods may have different ideas.

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September 10, 2022 0

From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash #1) by Jennifer Armentrout

Ok, I know that I’m way behind everyone else in reading this series, so the last thing you want to do is read another review about this book, but WOW! I loved this book. In it’s simplest form, you can call this book a YA Fantasy Romance. And yeah, it is. But it also has a load of fighting, paranormal elements, magic, and court intrigue.

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September 5, 2022 0

Accomplished: A Georgie Darcy Novel by Amanda Quain

This is a cute YA contemporary retelling of Pride & Prejudice. Georgiana Darcy is a Junior at an elite prep school in upstate New York. She suffered an “Incident” with Wickham Foster at the end of her sophomore year that would have cost anyone else besides a Darcy expulsion. But, with her brother living back in New York near her and suffocating her with rules and oversight, Georgie needs to figure out a way to forget Wickham, win back her prep school and make her brother relax and realize she can take care of herself.

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August 3, 2022 0

The Final Strife (The Final Strike Trilogy #1) by Saara El-Arifi

This is a good first book in a new YA Fantasy African and Arabian-inspired trilogy. The Empire is ruled by four rulers. Every ten years a trial of combat and skill is held to determine the Empire’s new rulers, who will intern with the current rulers until it’s time for them to take over.

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June 30, 2022 1