ya fantasy

Book Review: Roswell High The Seeker

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The Seeker (Roswell High, #3)
by Melinda Metz (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

Maria found a mysterious ring and she thinks that it is helping her to channel psychic powers. She hopes that her new powers will capture Michael’s attention, and maybe he’ll stop thinking of her as just a friend. Michael is eager to learn to more about a new alien the group meets. He wonders if he might have an alien family out there somewhere. Alex tries to comfort Isabel when she is going through a difficult time, and Isabel begins to realize that she might have feelings for him.

I loved the Roswell TV show when I was a teenager, and it was so fun to rediscover this story through the books! I don’t think I would have enjoyed the books now as an adult if I didn’t already have the nostalgia of the TV show.

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Book Review: The Ordinary Princess

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The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye

The Ordinary Princess
by M.M. Kaye

5 out of 5 stars

At Princess Amy’s christening, one of the fairies grants her the gift of ordinariness. Compared to her beautiful royal sisters, Amy is plain and ordinary. All her sisters have long blonde hair and perfect complexions. Amy has short mousey brown hair and freckles on her nose. As Amy grows up the royal family is distressed, because no prince wants to marry an ordinary princess with freckles. Princess Amy must take her destiny into her own hands, and prove that you don’t have to be beautiful and perfect to find happiness.

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Book Review: Healer and Witch

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Healer and Witch by Nancy Werlin

Healer and Witch
by Nancy Werlin (Goodreads Author)

4 out of 5 stars

This YA fantasy takes place in the Middle Ages, and Sylvie is terrified that an Inquisitor from the Holy Catholic Church could denounce her as a witch. She has a special ability to heal which she believes is from God, but being a good Christian won’t save her from being killed as a witch if the wrong people find out about what she can do.
Sylvie tries to heal her mother, but when it goes terribly wrong, Sylvie leaves her quiet French village searching for someone who might be able to teach her how to control her powers. Her little friend, Martin, tags along eager to travel and see the wide world.

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Book Review: Breaking Dawn

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Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, #4)
by Stephenie Meyer

4 out of 5 stars

There are so many weird things in this last book of the series. In some ways, it’s absolutely brilliant the way that all the crazy vampire/werewolf magical stuff comes together to bring a satisfactory resolution for each character. And in the moment as you’re reading it, it makes sense. But when you take a step back, it’s really just so weird and dumb. I still love it though!

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Book Review: The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner

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The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner (The Twilight Saga, #3.5)
by Stephenie Meyer

3 out of 5 stars

It is definitely interesting to see this completely different perspective into the vampire world of Twilight. I like that it broadens the world-building and creates even more meaning behind the way the Cullens choose to live without killing humans. I think that Bella doesn’t quite realize just how unique the Cullens are in their morality. Seeing this other perspective of the way other vampires live is definitely eye-opening.

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Book Review: Eclipse

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Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, #3)
by Stephenie Meyer

4 out of 5 stars

I love all the extra backstories and world building that we get in this book. Just when you think you know everything about vampires and werewolves, we get Jasper’s backstory about the vampire wars in the south, and we get to hear the Quileute legends about how werewolves first came to be. I just love these imaginative and compelling stories within the main story!

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Book Review: New Moon

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New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, #2)
by Stephenie Meyer

4 out of 5 stars

I am always amazed at this author’s writing style. There is something so immediate and emotional in her scenes. Even if Bella is just doing something boring like eating cereal, there is an emotional undercurrent that makes every action meaningful. It captivates me every time.

This book is not perfect, but I really loved it. The flaws were not severe enough to ruin my enjoyment, and all the good things and the wonderful characters made it so satisfying to read.

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Book Review: Midnight Sun

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Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Midnight Sun (The Twilight Saga, #5)
by Stephenie Meyer

4 out of 5 stars

Midnight Sun is a retelling of Twilight, but from Edward’s perspective, instead of Bella’s. I really liked that the dialogue and main plot remain the same, but we get all these insights into what was happening with the Cullen family when Bella was not around. We get to hear Edward’s inner thoughts and feelings, and his reactions to everything that happens.

I really enjoyed the scenes of the Cullen family, and all of Edward’s flashback memories of his earlier days as a vampire. It was so cool to get this background and more depth to the story. All these extra facets made it almost feel like a whole new story!

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Book Review: Shadows

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Shadows by Robin McKinley

Shadows
by Robin McKinley
Kailey (Luminous Libro)‘s reviewOct 28, 2021  ·  edit
really liked itbookshelves: owned-books, books-read-in-2021

Maggie lives in an urban society that has outlawed the use of magic. When the fabric of the dimensions begins to collapse, and holes in reality start to appear, the government tries to use science to deal with the problem.
When Maggie meets her new stepfather for the first time, she knows he is involved in some kind of powerful magic, because he is surrounded by wisps of shadow that loom in the darkness. The shadows seem to move about on their own, wiggling and changing with every mood.

I loved the magical urban setting in this book! It’s very modern, with cars and cellphones, but the history of the world includes magic, passed down by genetics through certain families. The world-building has such great depth, and it was so interesting learning all about the magic system.

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Fantasy Book Review: Summers at Castle Auburn

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Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn

Summers at Castle Auburn
by Sharon Shinn
5 out of 5 stars

Corie is the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman, who visits the royal court every summer to be groomed and trained for life among the nobility. The rest of the year she lives with her peasant grandmother in a small village learning to be an herbalist healer. As Corie grows into a young woman, she begins to realize the depth of the court intrigue that surrounds her half-sister, Elisandra. She determines to do everything she can to help her sister. She soon discovers that there are others who need her help too; the magical elven people who are held as slaves in the castle.

I loved everything about this book! The magic, the world-building, the exciting plot, the writing style, the complex characters: everything is golden!

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