Book Review: The Scarlet Alchemist

Title: The Scarlet AlchemistAuthor: Kylie Lee BakerGenre: YA Historical FantasyRating: 4.5 stars Zilan Fan is an orphan who lives with her two cousins and her aunt and uncle in Ancient China. She is also an alchemist. Her family is poor so she uses her alchemy to raise people from the dead and make some extra

Book Review: The Isles of the Gods

Title: The Isles of the GodsAuthor: Amie KaufmanGenre: YA fantasyPublication date: May 31, 2023Publisher: Penguin TeenRating: 4.5 stars Selly, a sailor, is hoping to catch a ride on a ship that’s headed towards her father. Her plans change, however, when her captain allows Prince Leander to join their ship in order to escape an enemy’s

Book Review: Delicious Monsters

Title: Delicious MonstersAuthor: Liselle SamburyGenre: YA horror/thrillerPublication date: February 2023Publisher: Simon & Schuster CanadaRating: 4.5 stars Daisy can see the dead. When her Mom inherits an old mansion in Timmins and they move there, Daisy soon learns that the house isn’t all it seems. 10 years later, when Brittany and her friend want to produce

Book Review: Abeni’s Song

Title: Abeni’s SongAuthor: P. Djèlí ClarkGenre: Middle Grade FantasyPublication date: July 25, 2023Publisher: Tor, StarscapeRating: 3.5 stars When Abeni’s village is destroyed by a mysterious group of people and all the children are kidnapped, she is taken in by an old witch. Abeni trains with the witch and vows to save her family and friends

Book Review: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

Title: The Last Tale of the Flower BrideAuthor: Roshani ChokshiGenre: Magical realism, thriller, gothic Publication date: February 2023Publisher: Harper Collins CanadaRating: 4 stars A house with its own mind, two best friends with a dark past, and a marriage with secrets – The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a rollercoaster of emotion and

Book Review: Ink Blood Sister Scribe

Title: Ink Blood Sister ScribeAuthor: Emma TorzsGenre: FantasyPublication date: May 30, 2023Publisher: Harper Collins CanadaRating: 5 stars!! Joanna and Esther are estranged half-sisters that grew up with a dad obsessed with magical books. When their father is killed by a rogue magical book, the sisters must work together to save their collection of books and

Book Review: Flowerheart

Title: FlowerheartAuthor: Catherine BakewellGenre: YA fantasyPublisher: HCC FrenzyPublication date: March 2023Rating: 4 stars Clara Lucas has uncontrollable magic that cannot be trained. All she wants is to become a licensed witch but she cannot pass the test. When she accidentally curses her father, she calls on an old family friend and offers a bargain to

Book Review: In the Lives of Puppets

Title: In the Lives of PuppetsAuthor: TJ KluneGenre: Sci-fi, LGBTQ+Publisher: TorPublication date: April 25, 2023Rating: 4 stars Victor Lawson, a human, lives with his father, Giovanni, and his two robot sidekicks. When Victor uncovers a robot called “HAP”, it sets in motion events from the past and leads to the kidnapping of his father. Victor

Book Review: Wreck Bay (Amanda Doucette #4)

Title: Wreck BayAuthor: Barbara FradkinGenre: Mystery/thrillerPublication date: Publisher: Dundurn PressRating: 4/5 stars Amanda Doucette is planning another charity trip, this time in Tofino, B.C. to help former addicts connect with their estranged kids. When she gets caught up in a suspicious death and the mysterious history of a local hermit, Amanda must do what it

Book Review: The Golden Enclaves

Title: The Golden Enclaves (The Scholomance #3)Author: Naomi NovikGenre: Dark academia, fantasyPublication date: September 27, 2022Publisher: Penguin Random House CanadaRating: 4 stars Since this is the third book in a trilogy, I won’t post a synopsis as I don’t want to spoil anything. I thought this book was enjoyable, but I didn’t like it as