The Biased Bibliophile

Book Tour: The Maker-Man of Merryville

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

The Maker-Man of Merryville by Pete Mesling is the first book I read as a reviewer for Blackberry Book Tours! I typically don’t read a lot of middle grade books, but one of my reading goals this year was to read more, so this book was the perfect opportunity!

The book is about Gilbert and Sarah, two children who anxiously awaited the opening of a new toy store in their dreary town, Merryville. When given the chance to travel to a new world through a mysterious portal, both kids jump at the opportunity; Gilbert because he wants to find a way to bring joy back to Merryville, and Sarah because she wants to make her father proud.

Overall, the novel was pretty good. It would be a great book to introduce younger readers to the genre of fantasy! I felt like Mesling did a phenomenal job at staying true to Gilbert’s and Sarah’s age, which is really important for me in a middle grade book. I think a lot of authors focus so much on the plot, that the characters don’t always feel like 12-year-olds, but that was not the case with Gilbert and Sarah.

Additionally, many of the supporting characters were extremely lovable. Snarl and Belch specifically were so endearing, and I don’t think a single child (and maybe some adults) will read this book without secretly imagining their favorite stuffed animals coming to life. Likewise, Ripplecot was probably the most compelling character, and I would be highly interested in reading a spin-off novel about him. His character was very complex, and despite being a secondary character, he added a lot to the story.

I did feel like the story was a little lost through the quick and constant changing of perspectives. Perhaps in a longer novel I would not have felt this way, but sometimes it simply felt like I was switching perspectives too often.

Furthermore, my only other issue with the book is not necessarily something unique to this novel, but something I see in a lot of middle grade fantasy novels. The book focused a lot on Gilbert, and fell into some potentially harmful stereotypes with Sarah.

I’m not saying that anything about the book was wrong or bad, but I would like to see more middle grade fantasy novels with unapologetically confident female characters. Sometimes Sarah felt excessively passive, and the whole idea that the reason why she wanted to travel to another world was to make her father proud seemed very confining to me. I think young girls need more books where they see themselves as independent, assertive, daring, confident, etc. All of the things that Gilbert was, but which were frequently lost in Sarah.

Finally, the strongest point in the book was the philosophical ideas that were introduced in a light, yet thought-provoking way. Throughout the novel Mesling incorporated ideas that encourage readers to think more deeply. I thought this was a great way to introduce younger readers to philosophy. This extra addition to the novel made it all the more enjoyable for me.

All in all, The Maker-Man of Merryville was a fun middle grade fantasy, that would be perfectly suited for introducing younger readers to fantasy and philosophical ideas!

ARC Review: Together We Burn

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

You know those books that remind you why you love reading? The ones that are all-encompassing and fill your heart with more emotions than you can describe. Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez was one of those rare and wonderful books for me!

The story follows Zarela, the daughter of one of the most famous Dragonador families in Hispalia. After her mother was killed by a dragon, Zarela is content with sticking to Flamenco dancing as her mom did, but when her father is gravely injured by a dragon and her family name is disgraced, she has no choice but to start training to become a Dragonador herself. Enter dark and mysterious, Arturo, the dragon tamer who is adamantly against killing dragons, but who is also the only person somewhat willing to train Zarela. Zarela and Arturo need each other, but there is more to their story than they originally thought.

This book truly has everything you could ask for! To start with, there are dragons! On top of that, the dragons are well-developed and interesting. I feel as though many fantasy novels with dragons just include them without really making them feel real, but Ibañez clearly put a lot of thought into the dragons in this novel. Not only are there different breeds, but the dragons have unique personalities. Similarly, Zarela’s feelings towards dragons develops throughout the book, which give them another interesting dimension.

In addition, I really enjoyed many of the characters in the novel. The main focus was obviously on Zarela and Arturo, but the supporting characters also felt well-developed, and didn’t outshine the main characters. I was happy to see that this book is a standalone, but after reading it, I would adore a companion novel with Lola, Zarela’s best friend, as the main character.

Furthermore, there is a component of mystery in the novel that really added a lot to the storyline. I won’t say too much because I don’t want to give anything away, but the questions surrounding the dragon disaster when Zarela’s father is injured, really complemented the main storyline of Zarela training to become a Dragonador. The plot overall, was well-written and very detail-oriented. Ibañez’s writing was genuinely poetic throughout the entirety of the book!

All in all, I’m desperately hoping that one of the book boxes I’m subscribed to does a special edition of this phenomenal book! I already preordered a signed copy, but we all know you can’t have too many copies of such stunning books. It is definitely one of two books that are in the running for my absolute favorite book this year!

Book Review: Breaking News

Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

While I don’t necessarily read a lot of middle grade books, I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed Breaking News by Frank Morelli! The book switches POVs between two main characters; Anthony Ravello and Liberty Lennon, middle school students at the Ridgewood Arts & Technical School, and journalists. The two seem to be enemies after $1,000 is stolen from a school fundraiser, and they are reporting the incident from separate newspapers, but as events unfold they might have to team up to capture the whole story.

So, I will be the first to admit that I rarely read middle grade books because I feel like I’m usually disappointed in one way or another, but very surprisingly, I adored Breaking News! First off, the entire book is told through newspaper articles, diary entries, and notes on an investigation. We never actually hear the story directly, which is a huge factor in this narrative. This book would be absolutely perfect to teach kids about biases in the news. As a reader, you realize that all the accounts you’re reading might be inaccurate, and you have to decide for yourself what is likely true, and what is a little deceptive.

In fact, the author explains in the acknowledgements that part of the inspiration for this story stems from the fact that we cannot rely on newspapers nowadays to report the truth. The truth is a huge theme throughout the book, and I appreciated the ways in which Morelli showed how it can be morphed, or just blatantly cast aside in favor of entertainment. Not only is this an important message for everyone in the world, but Morelli conveyed this message in a way that can be easily understood by a younger audience.

Finally, the most compelling aspect of the story was the characters! Both characters had a lot of depth, and Tony’s overall personality took me back to the days when I wrote for my middle school’s newspaper. Overall, they were simply fun and loveable.

Going back to what I said earlier, I almost always have issues with middle grade books, but Frank Morelli basically solved my biggest problem in two words: Liberty Lennon! So many middle grade books either don’t have female protagonists, or the female protagonists are portrayed as submissive, shy, nervous, blah, blah, blah. Don’t get me wrong, I know there are girls and women that have these attributes, in fact, most girls and women have at least some of them, but too many middle grade novels make the male protagonists something amazing to aspire to, and the female protagonists are like footnotes.

Liberty Lennon is the opposite! She is loud, boisterous, creative, demanding, outspoken, opinionated, determined, focused, and so many more positive attributes that are usually lost in female protagonists in middle grade books! Morelli did a wonderful job with her personality in general, and I think Liberty is the kind of girl that we should want young girls looking up to.

On top of that, Morelli also shows that Liberty sometimes has doubts, i.e. that she is human! I would say that Liberty can definitely be described as confident, but with all the crazy events going on in the novel, she ends up having doubts, but instead of this being seen as a character flaw inherent to Liberty, it is portrayed as part of life, and is experienced by both main characters.

Furthermore, I thought Liberty’s Dad and Grandpa Joe supported her in a way that didn’t take away from her value as a person and as a girl. They did not sweep in to save the day, they did not fix everything for her, but they were there and they believed in her. Young girls need to know this more than anything else; that when they fall down they have the strength to pick themselves up, but they aren’t alone.

As a whole, I was truly impressed by Breaking News by Frank Morelli! I hope he, and other middle grade authors, continue writing strong and empowered girls in their stories!

Book Review: An Unreliable Magic

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐

I want to preface this review by saying that, while reading, I found out that Rin Chupeco made some racist comments on Twitter last year, and I won’t say that this did not affect my feelings towards the book. That being said, I tried to consider the book separately from Chupeco’s comments, but I most likely won’t be reading anything else by them, as I prefer to support authors who are inclusive.

***SPOILERS for Wicked as You Wish***

An Unreliable Magic picks up right where Wicked As You Wish left off. The Banders just saved the kingdom of Avalon, Tala just drew the nameless sword from the stone in secret, a prophecy foretold that there is a traitor in their midst, and basically all the characters have dooms (aka prophecies) that are both intriguing and vague. The main premise of book 2 is that OzCorp is engaged in some sketchy business in Avalon and the Banders and their crew need to find out what’s going on.

Frankly, I have so many issues with this book. Perhaps my biggest complaint is that the first book was certainly left open-ended, and I was hoping more would be resolved by the end of this book, but alas my hopes were misplaced. The few answers that this book gives, such as revealing the “traitor” and further exploring some of the characters dooms, were anticlimactic. Similarly, many of the open endings from book one were still left open by the end of book two. I can appreciate leaving some open ends, but authors need to give readers something to keep them going. Marissa Meyer does this perfectly in my opinion, especially in The Lunar Chronicles. However, it seems like Chupeco doesn’t even try to satisfy readers at all.

Furthermore, most of the book revolved around politics, even more so than the first book. Now, don’t get me wrong, authors can certainly incorporate politics into books to make a statement, but I personally read fantasy to escape reality, and I would say 80% of the book was about politics. The few action-packed scenes that were enjoyable were sparse to say the least. More than anything, I just felt like the incorporation of politics overtook the plot, and it wasn’t really what I signed up for.

Additionally, there are some characters in the novel that were likeable, but unfortunately there were so many characters and side-stories, that it felt hard to fully connect with any character. Many of the chapters go back and forth, following different characters, and by the time I would start feeling invested in one character by the end of a chapter, Chupeco moved on to another character in the next.

Overall, Wicked As You Wish was certainly not one of my favorite books, but it was okay. On the other hand, I actively disliked the sequel, An Unreliable Magic. While the premise for the books was interesting, I did not like the direction Chupeco went with the books. If you enjoy open-ended books that discuss politics, this would likely be a great book for you, it just wasn’t the right book for me, and I would rather support other authors going forward.

Book Review: Fevered Star

Genre: Adult Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rarely do I find sequels that are as great as the first book in a series, but Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse was one of those rarities! If you haven’t read Black Sun, you need to ASAP!

SPOILERS for Black Sun!!!

Fevered Star picks up right where we left off in Black Sun; Serapio just unleashed the crow god’s wrath, and the first year of the crow has begun. It’s a little difficult to summarize the book because so many exciting an unexpected events unfold!

One thing I really appreciated about this sequel was the way Roanhorse further developed characters we already knew, such as Xiala, but also the way in which we see more of some of the supporting characters from Black Sun, such as Iktan and Ochi. The character development was clearly well thought out, and as a reader I genuinely connected with all the characters, which is honestly emotionally conflicting because not all of their interests are aligned.

Additionally, there are so many moving parts to this novel, but in a really engaging and fun way! You have the main characters from the first book, but you also get a deeper look into the different groups of people and how they function in the world Roanhorse has created. You become more acquainted with the clans of Tova, the people in the Maw, the Teek, the Seven Merchant Lords, and even the spearmaidens in Hokaia. Each group of people are so diverse and intricate, it makes for a really complex story!

Overall, this is one of those wonderful fantasy novels that simply consume you! I would frequently lose track of time while reading, and feel completely immersed in the story. In my review of Black Sun I predicted that Fevered Star would leave me wanting more, and I have to say that was correct! If you need me, you can find me obsessively waiting for news about the third book in the series!

Book Review: Of Arrows & Anarchy

Genre: Adult Fantasy Retelling Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I realized that Of Arrows and Anarchy by Morgan Perryman was a Robin Hood retelling, I was stoked! I don’t normally read a lot of adult books, but this one was fantastic!

The story goes back and forth between Lady Robyn of Loxley, a captain in the royal army, and Lady Marian, the Royal Healer. For the most part, the two don’t see eye-to-eye, but when the King announces that a tournament will be held, they end up having to work together on the preparations for the tournament.

Quite honestly, this book was one of the best retellings I’ve ever read! Not only did Perryman expand upon the original story, and add a compelling twist, she also incorporated important elements in her novel, such as feminism and the importance of class. Obviously, economic background is relevant in the original story of Robin Hood, but Perryman elaborated on the issue, and made it a central part of the storyline.

It was really interesting to see how Lady Marian never viewed class as relevant when treating her patients, and Lady Robyn helped her recognize the problems that were plaguing the people living in poverty. In a way, Marian’s naiveté added a lot to the story because she was so genuine and pure-hearted, but I also appreciated that she grew throughout the novel, and later on was better able to see the injustices in her world for what they truly were.

Furthermore, feminism was such a huge part of the novel, which is always a plus in my book! Ultimately, Of Arrows and Anarchy is a sapphic book, but not all sapphic books address sexism like this book does. The characters’ lives are basically dictated by men, who usually see them as objects, and both Marian and Robyn fight back against the sexism that invades their lives in multiple ways.

In the end, this book could have addressed these issues without including the relationship between the two main characters, but I think that would have taken away from the power that Marian and Robyn reclaim. Yes, their relationship is about attraction and sexuality, but it is also a means to fight back against the restraints and obstacles in their lives. Their love for one another is bigger than the problems they face.

On top of that, I thought the progression of Marian and Robyn’s love story was adorable! They were both so likeable, and complemented each other’s personalities so well. I appreciated the fact that their relationship was a significant part of the story, but that it did not overtake the entire plot. Not to mention the fact that this is the first book I’ve read that actually pulls of the “Touch her and I’ll Kill You,” trope without being overbearing, or feeling too much like the girl has to be saved. I did not realize I could enjoy that trope until I read this book!

Overall, I was so pleasantly surprised with Of Arrows and Anarchy by Morgan Perryman! If you enjoy retellings, or fantasy in general, I certainly think you will love this wonderful book!

Book Review: Love From Scratch

Genre: YA Romance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I will be the first to admit that I typically have high expectations going into most books, so when a book surprises me, that is truly saying a lot! Love From Scratch by Kaitlyn Hill was one of those rare and surprising books!

Basically, the novel follows Reese during her summer internship at a popular company called Friends of Flavor (kind of like The Food Network, but more social media oriented). When Reese meets the charming Benny, who seems like the perfect guy, she quickly realizes that her summer may not turn out as she had planned. She struggles to work through trauma from her past, while also striving to achieve her goals for her future.

On the surface, this book is a cute and food-oriented rom-com. What more could a girl ask for? FEMINISM! Love From Scratch incorporates feminism like very few romance novels can (and do). Towards the beginning of the novel, Reese says something relating to apologizing to feminism because she was not knowledgeable about cooking. Initially, I thought, “Great, another novel that mentions feminism once and moves on…” BUT NO! Feminism is such an important part of this book throughout its entirety, and I adored it! Not to mention the fact that one of the older, and wiser characters raises the importance of intersectional feminism!

Additionally, Benny was the romantic interest of my dreams! Like Reese, I think he might be a unicorn, but I loved reading the idealized version of a partner most people would die for. He was so in tune with Reese’s feelings and communication was clearly important to him. Overall, he was just amazing, and despite him feeling a bit unrealistic, I loved every aspect of him!

Furthermore, the plot was captivating! Reese and Benny being roped into filming a show was a fun addition, and all the events that unfolded afterwards felt perfect. There was even a point in the novel where I was thinking that a certain event should happen, and it did. The entire plot of Love From Scratch just felt right!

All in all, Love From Scratch was everything you could want in a romance novel and more! It was so unexpected in such a wonderful way! I hope Kaitlyn Hill incorporates feminism in all of her future books, because I will certainly be reading them!

Book Review: Black Sun

Genre: Adult Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

After winning Fevered Star in a giveaway, I immediately borrowed Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse from my local library! I really enjoyed Trail of Lighting by Rebecca Roanhorse, so I had high hopes for Black Sun.

The book follows multiple characters at different points in time. Essentially, the story is centered around the city of Tova, which is made up of four clans; Carrion Crow, Water Strider, Golden Eagle, and Wind Serpent; who are led by the Watchers; Sun Priest, Priest of Knives, Priest of Records, and Priest of Healing.

Serapio is a young man who’s mother blinded him and killed herself when he was a child, as she believed he was the prophesized return of the crow god. Serapio is then raised to be a god, and is told that he must exact vengeance against the Watchers for Carrion Crow on the day of the Convergence. Xiala, is a Teek woman and Captain, who is mysteriously paid a lot of money to take Serapio to Tova in time for the Convergence. During their journey, the two become friends. Lastly, Naranpa is the current Sun Priest, but she is the only Watcher in history who came from a background of poverty. Her goal is to encourage change within the Watchers so that they connect with their people more. However, all three main characters discover that fate has different plans in store for them.

I will start off by saying that this is a wonderful book, but not something you want to read if you’re looking for an easy read. The sheer number of characters and their interconnectedness is a lot to keep track of, not to mention also keeping track of the jumps in time between the chapters. That being said, once you get into the book, it’s easier to follow along, and it really draws you in.

The plot is extremely complex and exciting, and the characters all have so much depth. I spent a lot of the book hoping that the characters wouldn’t end up in a conflict with one another because I liked them all too much!

Furthermore, the world-building in Black Sun is wonderful! The aspect I generally value most in world-building is a representation of diverse cultures, and Roanhorse certainly included that in this novel! When you feel as though you could get lost in a world that doesn’t even exist, you know the author succeeded in the world-building department!

All in all, I’m really excited to dive into Fevered Star, granted if it is anything like Black Sun, I know it will only leave me wanting more!

Book Review: Akata Woman

Genre: YA Fantasy Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

I read Akata Witch and Akata Warrior by Nnedi Okorafor last year, and absolutely loved them! When I heard there would be a third book, Akata Woman, I had mixed feelings because I generally prefer to read all books in a series around the same time, but I was also excited to revisit Sunny’s world. While I sometimes feel a disconnect after reading a book a long time after the others in the series, I was drawn back into Sunny’s world with the first sentence of Akata Woman!

The book has a very similar vibe to the first two in the series, but has a distinct and interesting storyline. Basically, Sunny and her friends are compelled to set out on a journey to retrieve an item that their ancestors stole. The plot was such an enjoyable rollercoaster of events, that I felt constantly captivated!

Sunny’s character develops a lot in this book, which is impressive because her character is also developed greatly in the first two books. Nnedi Okorafor is clearly a talented writer for many reasons, but I think it’s especially impressive to write such strong character development across three books.

Additionally, the incorporation of Africanjujuism is both authentic and magical. It is exciting to read a book with magic that is tied to a culture drastically different from my own. Nnedi Okorafor does such a wonderful job of conveying this complex magic system, and drawing readers in, no matter their personal background. I would say this element of Okorafor’s books is a huge reason why I read them, and I hope she continues writing within this genre and promoting Africanjujuism!

Overall, if you’ve read Akata Witch and Akata Warrior, then you will definitely love this book! If you haven’t then you are certainly missing out!

Book Review: Stepsister

Genre: YA Fairytale Retelling Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The synopsis of Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly drew me in right away. Cinderella’s stepsister cuts off her toes to try to fit into the glass slipper? What a novel twist on the classic story!

There were so many things I adored about this book! First off, possibly the most interesting aspect for me, was that Fate and Chance are actual characters in the story. Fate draws maps of people’s lives, effectively sealing their fates, but Chance steals Isabelle’s map in hopes of giving her a second chance. While Fate and Chance aren’t necessarily a huge part of the story, they added a compelling twist.

Additionally, Isabelle was a pretty likeable character. I appreciated the depiction of her struggles with her self-image. At the beginning of the book she believes that her greatest wish is to be pretty because she is used to being ignored. However, her wish slowly changes throughout the book. She realizes that people believed she wasn’t pretty because she was adventurous, daring, and strong-willed. She also comes to the conclusion that being pretty is not necessarily the most important thing.

Furthermore, while there was some romance in the novel, it took a backseat to Isabelle’s story, and I absolutely loved that! I enjoy fairytale retellings with romance, but I have to say, it was refreshing to read one that didn’t focus on romance. I truly believe that we need more books where a girl’s happily-ever-after is not a person, where she is allowed to have her own aspirations and dreams that are unrelated, or even contradictive, to love.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairytale retellings or fantasy in general!