Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu) Volume 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Book: Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu) Volume 1 by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu

Rating: 5 stars 

Reviewer: Jackie C.

Written by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, Heaven Official’s Blessing (Tian Guan Ci Fu) volume one, is centered around Xie Lian, a man born of high status, a crown prince who even ascended to godhood. Once celebrated for his elegance, strength, and purity, Xie Lian is now seen as an omen of bad luck, a curse. Having ascended to godhood for the third time, eight hundred years subsequent to his mortal life, many of the gods have been angered. In order to repay his debts from the damage he caused while ascending, Xie Lian is sent back down to the Mortal Realm to assist the Heavenly Emperor. During his efforts, Xie Lian runs across something peculiar, and pieces of the puzzle are missing. While investigating the matter further, Xie Lian meets an intriguing, highly knowledgeable young man named San Lang who joins him on his journey, but there is more to San Lang than meets the eye. In this thrilling adventure, Xie Lian must uncover the truth and make decisions that could cost not only his life, but others their lives as well.

Picking up the book for the first time, I was worried as to how it might read since it was translated from Mandarin to English, but I was not disappointed and was rather pleased with the writing style. The plot was action packed, with twists and turns around every corner, making me not want to put the book down. For those who love action, the supernatural, mysteries, and a bit of comedy, this book is right up your alley. Overall, I loved the characters and plot, and would give this book five stars.

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Book: Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Rating: 3.5 stars 

Reviewer: Angelina C.

Rosalind Lang is an immortal assassin from 1930s Shanghai, working to erase her mistakes by helping her country. In order to do so, she must go undercover to uncover the secrets behind the recent murders in Shanghai, and the only way to accomplish that is by working with another spy and posing as a married couple with him. But the mystery runs deeper than they know, and so do the secrets they keep from one another. 

Compared to Chloe Gong’s previous books, I found this book lacking. The pacing was a little too slow for my liking and several plot points were somewhat predictable (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) and eerily similar to what Marvel’s Bucky Barnes goes through. Despite this, I had to know the answers to the mysteries that arose over the course of the book. Also, I thought the setting and characters were intriguing as always and can’t wait to see more of them in the sequel. I love how the author makes sure that the supporting characters are just as interesting and fun, if not more fun, than the main characters, and that they actually contribute to the plot. One thing that I found particularly annoying about this book is the occasional switch from third person past tense limited to third person present tense omniscient. I am aware that this is part of her writing style, but I find it jarring as it takes me out of the book, even if it does ultimately reveal necessary information. As for the romance aspect of this book, it was fun and I was definitely rooting for them, though several aspects and moments fit snuggly into certain tropes, making it a little less original. Overall, this book may have its flaws, but it was a fun read and I will definitely be reading the sequel. This book will appeal to fans of mystery and spies with a supernatural twist and those who can’t get enough of the enemies to lovers trope.

 

Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria

Book: Fire with Fire by Destiny Soria 

Rating: 5 stars 

Reviewer: James S. 

Fire with Fire is a fantasy novel about the life of two sisters that are dragon slayers. That is, until everything is turned upside down when the main character, Dani, forms a bond with a dragon named Nox and her sister, Eden, finds out. As Eden tries to kill the dragon, Dani and Nox must work together to survive. I really liked how Destiny Soria was able to convey the way that each action could impact everyone else in the world and the complex feelings between the sisters without focusing on them too much. I also think that she also did a great job with having Dani feel torn between helping the dragons or staying loyal to her family’s legacy. Even though there were many great aspects to this book I still had a few that I didn’t like. I didn’t like how the author sometimes jumped from time to time and makes some parts feel disjointed. I also didn’t like how she made the ending a cliff hanger yet didn’t make the novel into a series. Other than that I really enjoyed reading the book. I think that the book can be compared to the series Divergent where the main characters must choose between their family, or faction, or what they want to do. In the end I give Fire with Fire a 5 star rating.

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Book: Ghosts: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier 

Rating: 4.5 Stars 

Reader: Samuel C. 

Ghosts: A Graphic Novel by Raina Telgemeier explores the themes of family, love, and loss. The story follows the journey of a young girl named Catrina, who moves with her family to the coastal town of Bahía de la Luna, where the air is filled with the scent of the sea and the promise of ghosts. The novel is beautifully illustrated, with Telgemeier's signature style of clean lines and bright colors. The characters are all unique and well-developed, and readers will find themselves easily drawn into the story. The story is told from Catrina's perspective, and readers will be able to relate to her struggles to fit in and make friends in her new town. One of the strengths of Ghosts is how it deals with the subject of death and the afterlife in a sensitive and nuanced way. The novel explores the Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday that celebrates the lives of those who have passed away. Through the eyes of Catrina and her younger sister Maya, readers learn about the rich cultural traditions and beliefs that surround this holiday. The novel also deals with themes of illness and the impact it has on families. Maya has cystic fibrosis, a chronic illness that requires her to be constantly monitored and hospitalized. The novel shows how this impacts not only Maya, but also her family, who must navigate the challenges of caring for a sick loved one. Overall, Ghosts is a powerful and emotional graphic novel that will resonate with readers of all ages. It's a beautifully illustrated story that deals with complex themes in a sensitive and thoughtful way. Telgemeier's storytelling and artistic abilities are on full display in this novel, making it a must-read for anyone who loves graphic novels, stories about family and loss, or stories about the supernatural

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Book: Sisters by Raina Telgemeier 

Rating: 4.5 Stars 

Reader: Samuel C. 

Sisters by Raina Telgemeier explores the complexities of family dynamics and sibling relationships. The story follows Raina, a preteen girl who is excited about the prospect of a new sister. However, when her sister Amara arrives, Raina quickly discovers that things aren't quite as easy as she had hoped. The two sisters struggle to get along, and the family's road trip to a family reunion only serves to exacerbate their tensions. The graphic novel is beautifully illustrated, with Telgemeier's signature style of clean lines and bright colors. The characters are all unique and well-developed, and readers will find themselves easily drawn into the story. The story is told from Raina's perspective, and readers will be able to relate to her struggles to fit in and find her place in her family. One of the strengths of Sisters is how it deals with the complexities of family relationships. The novel doesn't shy away from showing the challenges that siblings face, and how difficult it can be to navigate these relationships. The tension between Raina and Amara is portrayed realistically, and readers will appreciate the honesty of the novel's depiction of sibling dynamics. Overall, Sisters is a heartwarming and relatable story that will resonate with readers of all ages. It's a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that deals with complex family relationships in a realistic and honest way. Telgemeier's storytelling and artistic abilities are on full display in this novel, making it a must-read for anyone who loves graphic novels, family dramas, or stories about the bonds between siblings

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Book: To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee 

Rating: 5 Stars 

Reader: Samuel C. 

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a classic American novel that was first published in 1960. It is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama during the Great Depression, and follows the story of a young girl named Scout Finch and her brother Jem, as they learn about racism and prejudice in their community. The novel is narrated from Scout's point of view, and it is through her innocent eyes that we see the events of the story unfold. Scout is a tomboy who prefers playing outside with her brother and their friend Dill, rather than conforming to the expectations of her gender. Their summer adventures lead them to encounter the mysterious Boo Radley, and eventually, to the trial of a black man named Tom Robinson who is falsely accused of raping a white woman. The story is a powerful commentary on the deep-seated racial prejudices of the South during that time period. Through the trial of Tom Robinson, the author exposes the injustices of the legal system and highlights the ways in which society perpetuates prejudice and discrimination. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is the character development of Scout and Jem as they come to understand the complexities of the world around them. The lessons they learn about empathy, tolerance, and the importance of standing up for what is right make the novel a timeless classic. Overall, To Kill a Mockingbird is a beautifully written and powerful novel that has become a staple of American literature. Its themes of justice, compassion, and the struggle against prejudice continue to resonate with readers today, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of the United States.

Spy School British Invasion by Stuart Gibbs

Book: Spy School British Invasion by Stuart Gibbs

Rating: 4 stars

Reader: Oliver G.

Spy School British Invasion by Stuart Gibbs is the 7th book in the Spy School series where Ben Ripply, Erica Hale, and Catherine Hale (Erica’s Mom) go to the U.K to try and put an end to the CIA’s rival organization SPYDER. Highly recommend reading the previous books in order to get backstory on all the characters and organizations. Before they travel to the U.K the CIA needs to rescue Ben from being stuck in Mexico. I really enjoyed this book because every page was different whether it being a different event, a different character, it was always different keeping you interested. The introduction of new characters was super exciting as well. This book was really interesting addressing a lot of themes such as love, friendship, sacrifice, danger, and so many others. The one thing I didn’t like was the pace of the book. I felt like it wasn’t very steady. It would be super fast and interesting at some points then be slow but still interesting at others.  I would recommend this book to middle schoolers and up. It was a really good book, just violent at some points which is why I wouldn’t recommend it to younger audiences.