White As Witching

Pages: 268 

Publisher: Victory Editing 

Released: 4th of October 2022 

A Grimm-esque fairy tale retelling that readers call "darkly beautiful" and "an atmospheric delight."

The Selection is a lie. The five girls chosen each year do not vanish into a life of royal luxury, as most believe. Snow knows this because she knows her aunt Lyric—the Witch-Queen of Cresilea—murderess and usurper.

When the Selection comes to the remote village where Snow has hidden since her father’s murder, she puts herself forward, trusting in her scarred face to hide her identity, and enters the castle she fled seven years ago—a place now haunted by unnatural whispers and eerie shadows.

But more is at stake than Snow’s revenge, or even the fates of five girls, and she must learn all she can about Lyric’s magic—and her own—before it’s too late.

Rich and darkly enchanting, White as Witching takes you into a perilous world of fairy tale where you must break the first rule:

Do not go into the woods at night.

Do not follow the faerie lights.

Do not dance and do not sing—set no foot in the faerie ring.

What I Have to Say 

This book was better than I expected. I really liked the ideas put forth from the blurb but I wasn't sure how well it would be executed. But it was cleverly written, full of riddles and foreshadowing and it wove the original elements of the fairy tale in with the new stuff really well. 

The only thing I didn't like was the ableism towards the end. The author did a good job of making the point that her scar was a big part of her identity and made a point about sacrifice. But the message was still clear that she had to be "pretty" and perfect in order to rule and get her happy ending. 

In all honesty, it completely ruined the book for me. A book that I was really enjoying, which I'll admit had a clever ending, but I couldn't get past the magical cure. I ended the book feeling really disappointed and betrayed. 

 

3 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this copy for review. 

The Last Storyteller by Donna Barba Higuera

Pages: 336 

Publisher: Piccadilly Press 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

An unforgettable journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human. The incredible Newbery Medal-winning novel from Donna Barba Higuera.

Habia una vez...

There lived a girl named Petra Pena, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth will soon be destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children - among them Petra and her family - have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.

Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet - and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard - or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

What I Have to Say 

This book felt important. It presents big ideas about learning from mistakes and dictatorships, showing Petra fighting against brainwashing and a society that would try and erase all differences and it showed the power of stories, as a powerful force that can fight back against such things. Woven with beautiful south American folklore, it was a beautiful story full of power and difference. 

For a story that had so much culture and imagination in it, it actually took place in a small amount of time, in a small space. So much of it happens on the spaceship or on the tiny bit of the planet that they're trying to inhabit, but it really didn't feel like that. It was so bursting with life and stories, that I found it really absorbed me and took me away from reality for a while. 

The folklore was fascinating and the Spanish phrases that were a big part of the stories she told were an important part of that. It was wonderful to see her taking her heritage with her so far from Earth. I enjoyed the stories she told and her relationship with them immensely. 

4.5 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Piccadilly Press for providing me with this copy for review. 

 

Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One

Pages: 320 

Publisher: Firefly Press 

Released: 18th of October 2022 

A funny, feminist, and queer contemporary middle grade debut about 12-year-old loner Hazel Hill, who after one of her classmates is harassed online, devises a plan to catch the school's golden boy in the act.

Seventh grader Hazel Hill is too busy for friends. No, really. She needs to focus on winning the school-wide speech competition and beating her nemesis, the popular and smart Ella Quinn, after last year's embarrassing hyperbole/hyperbowl mishap that cost her first place.

But when Hazel discovers Ella is being harassed by golden boy Tyler Harris, she has to choose between winning and doing the right thing. No one would believe that a nice boy like Tyler would harass and intimidate a nice girl like Ella, but Hazel knows the truth--and she's determined to prove it, even if it means risking everything.

Deeply relatable and surprisingly humorous, Hazel Hill Is Gonna Win This One is a wonderfully empowering story about friendship, finding your voice, and standing up for what you believe in.

What I Have to Say 

A fantastic feminist story for the younger generation, Hazel Hill unashamedly calls out sexism and misogyny in an elementary school setting. It shows injustice and ageism, making you want to scream and throw the book across the room at certain points because of how the teachers just aren't seeing it! 

There are honestly parts of this book that are gonna stay with me for a long time. I felt so much for these kids. The way the teachers just didn't listen to them at all, punishing them for speaking out, but still calling themselves feminist just got to me. It was beautifully written. 

I think this is just a perfect book for kids to introduce them to these important topics. Showing them what to do in the face of sexual harassment and generally standing up to classmates in general. 

4 stars 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Firefly press for providing me with this copy for review. 

 

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo

Pages: 416

Publisher: Hot Key Books 

Released: 10th of October 2022 

Return to the world of TO KILL A KINGDOM for a brand-new fantasy adventure about a young witch groomed to steal souls for an immortal king and the reckless, rebellious boy to whom her fate is tied.

For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.

A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra.

Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.

A feast of storytelling, featuring breathtaking journeys, nail-biting battles and powerful magic.

What I Have to Say 

I loved To Kill a Kingdom so much, but every other one of Alexandra Christo's books have disappointed me. I just can't seem to capture the magic that I had when I first read To Kill a Kingdom. It's a pity because she is genuinely a good writer. 

I did like some parts of it very much though. The magic system was my especial favourite. How the way her mother teaches her magic tied up in death and darkness, but then Selestra's journey teaches her a different way to use her magic and how to find balance. 

I liked the sassy enemies-to-lovers romance, but it all felt a bit predictable. It's possible I've just read too much enemies to lovers, but it just didn't hit right for me at all. 

All in all, I think I liked what this book said in terms of magic and character progression, but the execution felt a bit off for me.

 

3.5 stars

My thanks go to Hot Key Books and Netgalley for providing me this copy for review. 

Stone by Finbar Hawkins

Pages: 308 

Publisher: Head of Zeus 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

A second novel from the bestselling author of Branford Boase-shortlisted and Carnegie-nominated Witch. An engrossing story of fathers and sons, death and grief, and unexpected bonds, new and old, forged by dark and benign magic.

When Sam, grieving the death of his father, finds a silver-flecked stone, ice-cold to the touch, strange and eerie things begin to happen. Myth, legend, magic and witchcraft mingle on the ancient hillside where the chalk white horse has galloped for centuries. Ravens wheel. Wolves prowl. As Halloween draws close, witches dance. Odin gathers brave, fallen warriors to his side.

Only the mysterious new girl, Oona, can heal Sam's heart, revealing tarot secrets with her bewitching ways.

What I Have to Say 

I'm in two minds about this book, the story itself was sweet, touching and emotional, but the writing fell a bit flat. It could have been an amazing book, it had so much potential, but it just left me completely unaffected. 

The main problem that I could see in it was the dialogue. It felt a bit stilted and unbelievable. Some of it could be the regional accents so I will allow that I could be wrong about this, but to me a lot of it just didn't felt like stuff that teenagers would say. And they kept using each others names in every sentence. 

I loved the stuff about witches and mythology though. I loved the descriptions of Odin and the way he seemed so present in the book. I loved Oona completely and how she brought in the paganism and magic. The mythology in this book did not disappoint. 

All in all, it just disappointed me. 

3.5 stars 

My thanks go to Head of Zeus for providing me with this copy for review. 

How to Be More Hedgehog by Anne- Marie Conway

Pages: 208 

Publisher: UCLan 

Released: 1st of September 2022 

Lily has a stammer. The signal between her brain and her mouth is all messed up - and it's getting worse. 

When a video of her practicing her class presentation is uploaded onto YouTube - head thrust forward, eyelids fluttering, lips stretched wide - Lily's nightmare begins. Cyberbullying, kids at school whispering, even best friend Mia laughing behind her back. Lily's confidence takes a nose-dive and she can only see one way out: run away to Dad in Scotland and start all over again. 

But Lily quickly realises that running away isn't the answer - that her stammer will follow her wherever she goes... HOW TO BE MORE HEDGEHOG is about friendship and family and finding the courage to speak out.

What I Have to Say 

This book was in different ways: cute, emotional and powerful. It had lots of animal facts with different illustrations of hedgehogs at the start of each chapter, which was just adorable and Lily was such a sweet character who was really easy to emphasise. 

It was emotional because of the things Lily went through, some parts I actually wanted to cry because of how cruel the other children were. Even at the start of the book when the adults were just talked to her, I wanted to yell at them because they kept interrupting her and talking over her. It was heart-breaking. 

And it was powerful. Just seeing her learn to be brave and to put herself out there, to be more hedgehog was so beautiful. And it didn't have the ableist notion that she had to cure her stammer in order to get there. 

A must for any child with a love of animals. 

5 stars 

My thanks go to UCLan and Netgalley for providing me with this copy for review. 

Not Good For Maidens by Tori Bovalino

Pages: 352

Publisher: Titan Books 

Released: 13th of September 2022 

Louisa doesn’t believe in magic, until her teenage aunt Neela is kidnapped to the goblin market.

The market is a place of magic, where twisting streets, succulent fruits, glimmering jewels, and death are on offer to the unwary human. An enticing place that her mother and aunt barely escaped seventeen years ago, paying a terrible price.

With only three days before the market disappears, Lou must navigate the treacherous market, controlled by bloodthirsty goblins who crave vengeance against her family. She must learn the songs and tricks of the goblins to save Neela, or the market might just end up claiming her too.

What I Have to Say 

This was the dark faerie story I wanted! It was deliciously dark, with the kind of Fae that will trick you and kill you for no other reason than it brings them pleasure. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of this book and guessing what would happen next. 

I loved the relationship between Laura and Eitra. This is how paranormal romance should be done. The Goblin being so Other and dark that Laura doesn't know whether to trust her or not and Eitra being just sympathetic enough to think that maybe she might be different, leaving you questioning who's side she's really on. 

I did think that Lou was rushing in to the market without a plan a bit too much. Especially the first time. She went in with no idea how to find Neela and somehow that was okay? There's not knowing what to expect and there's going in completely blind and just hoping it would turn out okay. 

But even with this, I absolutely loved this book. I hope Tori Bovalino does more fae stuff in the future. 

(5 stars) 

My thanks go to Netgalley and Titan books for providing me with this copy for review.