Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Book: Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson

Rating: 5 stars 

Reviewer: Angelina, Grade 11

Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson is an enchanting, YA fantasy novel full of beautiful imagery and a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. The book follows 17 year old Elisabeth Scrivner who has grown up in a library full of magical books called grimoires, some of which can change into dangerous creatures. When one of the grimoires transforms and is set free, Elisabeth is wrongly accused of treason and thrust into an adventure full of mystery, conspiracy, demons, and sorcerers–people she has always believed are evil. But she isn’t alone in this adventure. Joining her is a sorcerer, Nathaniel Thorn, and his strange, yet always well groomed, servant, Silas. Sorcery of Thorns has loveable characters and a slow-burn romance that I was rooting for the entire book. The world and magic system were unique and fun to read about, and the author’s writing style made it truly captivating. Sometimes I felt as if I was experiencing things right alongside the characters. This book made me laugh, smile, and almost cry. Sorcery of Thorns is perfect for teens and adults looking for an escape and a fun read. 

Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler

Book: Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler (The Wells of Sorcery, Book 1)

Rating: 4.5 stars 

Reviewer: James, grade 7

Ship of Smoke and Steel follows Isoka Deepwalker, the protagonist, as she must capture a ghost ship. Isoka is able to draw power from a well of magic called Melos. This book is a part of a series and is the first book. I really liked how Django wrote his book so that it was incredibly descriptive. I also liked how he wrote the book so that the dialogue was realistic. Also I liked that Django wrote his book with a lot of action. He also made the main characters very complex and realistic. Even though there were a lot of things I liked about the book I still don’t like a few things. One such thing is that the book did not end when the story ended. I also didn’t like how Django only talked about a few characters very little in the very beginning of the book. I think that people who enjoy reading fantasy, magic, and action filled books will enjoy Ship of Smoke and Steel. I also think that people who enjoyed the Skullduggery Pleasant series will enjoy this book because both books are filed with the protagonist learning how to use their magical abilities. These books also are filled with action and fantastical creatures. In the end I give Ship of Smoke and Steel 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Surviving the Dome by Kosoko Jackson

Book: Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson 

Rating: 3.5 stars 

Reviewer: James, grade 7

The main character, Jamal, goes to a protest in Maryland about racism but while at the protest he gets trapped under The Dome. The Dome is a heavily police enforced area. Under the dome Jamal meets Marco who  must help Jamal and everyone else escape. I really liked how Kosoko Jackson wrote the book in a very realistic way. I also liked how he made the book’s chapters end on a cliff-hanger making it very suspenseful. It also makes me want to read more of the book. I didn’t like that the author made the story violent in some places. I also didn’t like how Kosoko wrote the book in a sad theme. Finally, I didn’t like how the ending of the book was a cliff-hanger. I think that people who like realistic fiction will like this book. I also think that people who enjoy reading books about real life matters like racism will like this. Finally, I think that readers that enjoy reading books like The Book Thief will like to read this book because both of the books are realistic fiction and they have very similar plots. In the end I give this book a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.