Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart
Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 31, 2018
Genre: YA, Fantasy
The Hidden Prince by Jodi Meadows
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
Since I enjoyed The Orphan Queen books so much I knew I had to read this novella as well. The Hidden Prince is told from Prince Tobias's perspective and is a sort of origin story for the vigilante Black Knife. We get an insight into Tobias's early life. After being kidnapped Tobias is forced to live a pretty sheltered life by his father. He is struggling with being who he wants to be and who he is expected to be.
We also get to see a bit of Lady Chey and Meredith and, of course, his cousin James. It was great to see James again and his relationship with Tobias before becoming his bodyguard.
I highly recommend this to be read after The Orphan Queen. There is also a 2 chapter excerpt for the next (and final) book, The Mirror King.
Hunger (Gone # 2) by Michael Grant
Published By: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: May 26, 2009
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Published By: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: Jan 31, 2017
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
Published By: Algonquin Young Readers
Publication Date: Aug 19, 2016
Genre: Children's Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction
Genre: Children's Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
Published By: Random House Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 29, 2017
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Superheroes
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Superheroes
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Published By: Viking Books for Young Readers
Published By: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Genre: YA, Fantasy
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Published by Walker & Company, February 1, 2012
I had never heard of this book until I saw the trailer for the movie. It looked like any other children's fantasy movie and when I saw that it was based on a book I knew I had to read it. I went into this book not knowing much about it. There was a boy and a monster. Seems pretty harmless and fun, right? Wrong!
This is the story of a boy named Conor and how he comes to deal with his mothers terminal illness. He feels so alone, invisible. So he calls upon a monster. The monster takes the form of a tree, a yew tree to be exact. The same tree his mother looks out the window at often. The monster appears at 12:07. He tells Conor that he will tell him 3 stories and in return he will get a 4th story from Conor and "it will be the truth". The monster appears when Conor needs him and helps him cope with the heartbreaking situations around him.
The illustrations throughout the book are amazing, adding just that extra layer of emotion. The author's writing is phenomenal!
A Monster Calls is a rather short book at only 224 pages, but nothing seems rushed, only urgent. It truly captured what it is to love someone and let them go. To face the truth. It is a beautifully tragic story that will leave you sad but also uplifted.
This book is recommended for children but I don't think young children (under 10 maybe?) would be able to fully grasp the meaning of the story and what it is that Conor is going through. I'd say this one is more for older kids, teens, even adults! I think everyone can relate, in one way or another, to what Conor is facing.
I did watch the movie after reading this and it does differ slightly from the book. There is a scene at the end of the movie that was not in the book that was so sweet and moving :)
It was no less heart wrenching though. Still, it is a must see! Have lots of tissues on hand!
-BW
Wolf Landing by: Aimee Easterling
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform December 2, 2016
Frozen Tides (Falling Kingdoms 4) by Morgan Rhodes
Published By: Razorbill
Published By: Razorbill
Publication Date: December 15, 2015
Genre: YA, High Fantasy
Stealing Snow (Stealing Snow #1) by Danielle Paige
Published By: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Published By: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Publication Date: September 20, 2016
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retelling
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
Publisher: HarperTeen (September 20, 2016)
Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3) by Morgan Rhodes
Published By: Razorbill
Published By: Razorbill
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Genre: YA, High Fantasy
The Mirror King (Orphan Queen Series #2) by Jodi Meadows
- Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (April 5, 2016)
A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas
Published By: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Published By: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Genre: YA, New Adult, Fantasy
The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
Wilhelmina is an orphaned princess, her parents were murdered and her home kingdom of Aecor was conquered by King Terrell of the Indigo Kingdom 10 years ago in what is known as the One-Night war. Now she and her band of refugees, known as the Ospreys, are preparing to take back their kingdom. Wil and her best friend Melanie are infiltrating the palace under the guise of a duchess and her companion from Liadia to obtain information that will help them reclaim Aecor.
Wil has developed many talents over the years. She is an excellent fighter, a spy and a thief, master of forgery and a magic user- more specifically she is an animator, she can bring objects to life and command them to do what she wants. Magic is forbidden now and this is a secret she has kept to herself. Magic has created the wraith and it is slowly spreading across the world, poisoning the land and turning animals and humans into enormous monsters.
Black Knife is a masked vigilante in the Indigo Kingdom. He is feared by some and commended by others. He spends each night apprehending criminals and fighting wraith monsters that enter the city. I suspected his identity early in the book and I'm glad I was right. Black Knife and Wil's relationship has to be my favorite part of this entire book. I fell in love with him instantly and enjoyed following Wil along as she slowly did too.
The rest of the characters were pretty one dimensional to me. I would have liked to learn more about Patrick and Melanie and even Prince Tobiah. Maybe we will get more of them in the next book?
Overall, The Orphaned Queen is a spectacular fantasy world full of magic, romance and secrets. Well written and kept me hooked from the beginning. Oh and that cliffhanger ending- How could you do this to me, Jodi??? Starting the next book right away!
The rest of the characters were pretty one dimensional to me. I would have liked to learn more about Patrick and Melanie and even Prince Tobiah. Maybe we will get more of them in the next book?
Overall, The Orphaned Queen is a spectacular fantasy world full of magic, romance and secrets. Well written and kept me hooked from the beginning. Oh and that cliffhanger ending- How could you do this to me, Jodi??? Starting the next book right away!
The Reader by Tracie Chee
Published By: Putnam
Published By: Putnam
Publication Date: September 13, 2016
Genre: YA, Fantasy
