Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor

Book: Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor

Rating: 4 stars 

Reviewer: Angelina, Grade 11

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor is a YA fantasy novel that centers around a girl named Jani who has been barely making ends meet in a city she doesn’t consider home. She has been taking care of her sister ever since their mother died and wants the best for her. So when a magical traveling hotel known as Hotel Magnifique arrives in town, advertising that they’re hiring, Jani is all too eager to get her sister to apply alongside her. But once they’re inside the glittering, enchanted corridors of the hotel, and witnessing displays of magic, Jani begins to notice that things aren’t what they seem. In this twisted story, Jani must risk not only herself but the ones she loves to not only save her sister, but many others, including a boy who she believes is her only ally. 

    It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, it was hard to put down. The plot was full of plot twists and packed full of creative and interesting scenes. The magic system was really unique and was explained in a way that made sense without having to info dump. Jani’s character arc was very satisfying and her character’s values felt well thought out and realistic, influencing many of her decisions throughout the book. As for the other characters, they were relatable in a sense I didn’t expect them to be, and most were also well written. My only issue is her sister, who we only get glimpses of throughout the book. She could have been a little more fleshed out as a character. This book is perfect for fans of creative magic systems and dark secrets waiting to be uncovered. I would rate this book 4 out of five stars. 

City of Stone and Silence by Django Wexler

Book: City of Stone and Silence by Django Wexler (The Wells of Sorcery, Book 2)

Reviewer: James, Grade 7

Rating: 4.5 Stars 

In the book City of Stone and Silence the main character, Isoka Deepwalker, is stranded on a strange island made of eddica energy. Isoka must find a way get of the island. She has to defeat the Prime Eddicant. This book part of a trilogy. It is the second installment. I truly enjoyed when Django wrote his book so that it was filled with action and suspense. I also liked how he made it so that the book had a lot of different and unique characters. Once again, I truly loved how the author made the first book’s ending fit in with the second book’s beginning. Even though there were a few things about this book that I liked, I still have a few suggestions. I think that the author should clarify what is happening in different areas so that the reader can understand the story better. I also think that the author should have added in more detailed explanations for certain characters and places. I wish that the author had also described the areas importance or a characters importance to a certain character. Doing this would have made the book a bit better to read. But, in the end I think that this was a great book. It would be enjoyed by readers who enjoy book’s that are similar to Skullduggery Pleasant and Harry Potter Because both are magical books about kids who use magic in a fantastical world. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee

Book: A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 12

A Thousand Steps into Night by Traci Chee is a story that takes place in medieval Japan and

follows the adventures of Miuko, a girl who struggles to play the roles society has assigned her

as a woman. Miuko is known for being outspoken and drawn to adventure, quite the opposite of

the demure and graceful role she is supposedly meant to play. However, Miuko’s views of

herself and the world begin to change one fateful night. Traveling back to her small village after

completing errands for her father, Miuko is attacked by a demon, and left with a curse that

continues to spread through her body and corrupt her mind. Fearing the outrage of her people,

Miuko decides to rid herself of the curse on her own, with the help of a trickster shapeshifter she

meets on the way. This story excels at combining Japanese folklore with more modern concepts

such as feminism and breaking free of conformity. While the writing style can at times feel

distant due to its more formal tone, it grows more relatable as the story progresses and actually

serves to create a Studio Ghibli-like atmosphere, though a bit more dark and ominous. I would

highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an unconventional fantasy, especially those

who enjoy a look into other cultures and their traditional folklore.

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Book: Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Rating: 4 Stars

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 12

Fans of Marissa Meyer won’t be disappointed by one of her newest releases, Gilded. The first

book of a duology, Gilded follows the adventures of Serilda, a girl born with a god-given gift-or

a curse, as the people of her village see it. Serilda was blessed by the god of stories and lies at

birth, an experience that left her eyes marked with a magical symbol. However, Serilda’s affinity

for gold-plated lies lands her in deep trouble with the tyrannical Erlking, a cruel and immortal

hunter who steals away children in the night. When Serilda tells him she can weave straw into

gold in an effort to save herself and two others, things don’t go as planned, and she finds herself

whisked off to the Erlking's castle, where she must spin him gold from straw or face death. There,

Serilda makes discoveries about herself, the Erlking’s mysterious past, and befriends a strange

ghost, all while she tries to keep her lies, and herself, alive. Gilded is a unique story in that it

gives off a classic fairytale atmosphere, yet is still full of plot twists and a modern feeling that

makes it engaging. It also contains numerous smaller stories told by the characters that all

connect to their reality and add to the mystery of the book as the reader begins to put these

stories together and connect them to the main plot. Overall, this book does not disappoint, and is

great for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Victoria Aveyard, and Holly Black.

Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

Book: Paper Butterflies By Lisa Heathfield 

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 12

Paper Butterflies is a heart wrenching story that opens your eyes to the cruelty and beauty of the world. The novel follows the story of June from the age of ten to 24 years old, with the majority of events taking place during her teenage years. After June’s mother’s death when she was six, she quickly found her father remarried to Kathleen and gained a step-sister in Megan. June’s father is both ignorant and blind to the cruel abuse and racism June experiences at Kathleen’s hands, and June is too terrified to speak up for herself, as her faith in others and their ability to help her escape dwindles. June finds some support in Blister, a boy she meets in the woods who creates tiny paper figures, and his loving family, but as the terror of her home life grows, her anger and desperation do as well, pushing her to her limit. This book was extremely impactful to me, as the way that the author portrays the emotions of the characters makes the reader feel for them and their indescribable pain. This book also left a mark on me in that it took a turn I never would have expected and have never seen in novels of this genre, yet it was the most harshly realistic way for the story to unfold. This novel gives an insight into parts of our society that are not often addressed, so this story was extremely eye opening. Despite being so realistic, the novel still perpetuates a message of hope, and it was definitely an emotional read. I would highly recommend it to fans of All the Bright Places, Kira Kira, and fans of John Green.

Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso

Book: Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso

Rating: 3 Stars 

Reviewer: Yasmin, Grade 12

Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets is a murder-mystery style story following Savannah Sullivan’s investigation of her sister, Piper’s, fall from the town’s infamous suicide point. After Piper’s fall leaves her in a coma, Savannah struggles with the part she might have played in pushing her sister to the edge, despite feeling that Piper would never have done such a thing to herself. However, when Savannah finds a note inviting her sister to the very place where she fell under the guise of a Survival Club event, Savannah is determined to infiltrate the club and get to the bottom of it. As she uncovers secrets, drama, and grudges, Savannah eventually finds herself struggling to tell who she can trust and who may be to blame for Piper’s current state. Dead Girls Can’t Tell Secrets is a classic high school murder-mystery novel, with features in common with novels like One of Us is Lying. Although this novel does a good job creating a line of clues that connects, I felt that too much of the plot was ping-ponging between talking to the same characters, with little actual collecting of evidence. The main character tends to believe others when it would be more reasonable for her to be more doubtful. The book also overall lacked the much building suspense that a book of this genre often has. There was little impact when facts were revealed, and often the book was fairly predictable, which is a major downside to a mystery-based novel. At the same time, I liked the organization of the book, which had a focus on Savannah’s point of view, yet still supplemented the story with pieces of Piper’s perspective before her fall, allowing the reader a different insight and also a way to start putting together their own story as Savannah finds a clue. Overall, I’d say this book wasn’t quite my style, but I found it a good quick and casual read.