Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Rating: 4 stars
Review Writer: Ava P.

Heartbroken Evangeline Fox makes a desperate deal with the mysterious Prince of Hearts, Jacks, to stop her true love from marrying another. The bargain leads her into a world of magic, dangerous curses, and tangled secrets. As she journeys through enchanted realms, Evangeline must outwit cursed princes, face treacherous enemies, and confront her own heart’s desires. Along the way, she discovers that the price of her wishes may be more than she ever imagined.
 
I enjoyed how the author creates such an unusual world with so many intricate and intriguing characters who are unlike any that I have read about before. I really liked that the storyline is so unique and really fun and light-hearted. The only thing I disliked about the book was that it had a slower start which made it harder for me to get pulled into in the beginning.
 
I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for a fantasy that is light-hearted and adventure-filled with strong and unique characters. Overall I rate this book a 4/5 stars.
 

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

 

Title: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Rating: 4 stars

Review Writer: Ava P.

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black follows Jude, a mortal girl living in the treacherous world of Faeries, where deception and power struggles define everyday life. When she and her sisters are brought to the realm of Faerie, Jude must navigate its dangerous politics and cruel inhabitants, including the charming but ruthless Prince Cardan. Determined to earn a place in the faerie court, Jude faces unimaginable challenges that test her loyalty, ambition, and strength. I liked the complex and detailed descriptions of the book’s settings - it really gives the reader a clear view of what the unusual world of Faerie looks like and helps the reader understand and almost see how magical the mysterious world is. Additionally, I really liked how Holly Black made Jude so empowering.  Jude is fearless, strong, and incredibly cunning which I really liked because it made the story more entertaining. One of the only things I disliked about the book was how sometimes the plot was a little hard to understand as it was so intricately written - at points, I was very confused about what was going on. In addition to that, not much information is given at the beginning which makes it even more confusing as readers almost have to figure out certain parts on their own. I would recommend this book to readers who like political fantasies and plot twists on every page with a very small romance subplot. Overall I rate this book 4/5 stars.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Title: Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Rating: 4 stars

Review Writer: Ava P.

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace is a fantasy about Signa, an orphan who has a strange connection to Death himself. When she is invited to her remaining relatives’ secluded estate, she uncovers dark secrets about her family and it all ties to Death. As she grapples with newfound powers and the dangerous secrets they uncover, Signa must navigate the new world she has been accepted into while uncovering the truth about her mysterious past. I liked how the author was very detailed in her descriptions and had complicated characters throughout the book. The characters are intricately written which makes it harder to determine who is behind the mysteries Signa must uncover. The only thing I disliked about the book was how at times, it felt rather rushed and too fast-paced for my taste. Otherwise the story was really thrilling and exciting to read. I would recommend this book to people who like to try and solve mysteries themselves when they are reading a book, this particular book has so many twists and turns that it will always keep them guessing. Overall, I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars.