A Queen's Match (A Queen's Duet #2) by Katharine McGee - ADVISABLE

A Queen's Match (A Queen's Duet #2) by Katharine McGee, 383 pages. Random House, 2025. $21

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (intense kissing, off page and non-descriptive sex); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

There's a lot of drama going on in Queen Victoria's kingdom.  Alix loves Nicholas, but ended their secret relationship because his parents will not approve their marriage, and now,  she is looking for another match.  She is also trying to keep her brother's relationship with his valet a secret.  Helene broke off her engagement to Eddy without telling him why, fearing her blackmailer would tell him about her past indiscretions.  She knows the Queen will never allow their marriage if she finds out.  And May, for the first time in her life, seems to have everything she wants, but what has the lying and blackmailing cost her? Will the three princesses be able to secure their futures and find happiness?

The sequel to The Queen's Game was as enjoyable as the first book and will appeal to readers that like romance, a little intrigue and historical fiction.  The characters are well written, engaging, and with a few exceptions,  seem to be true to the time they lived.  The author ups the intrigue and the secrets, moves everyone around,  and then gives the series a nice resolution.  An added bonus are the notes at the end connecting  the characters to current British Royalty.     

The characters are mostly English with some being French or Russian.

RB - librarian

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thornley - ADVISABLE

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thornley, 428 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $20

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing and implied sex, drinking tea with drug-like properties); Violence: PG-13 (gruesome deaths, descriptions of dead bodies, attempted sexual assault)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Indira has always been content to be the younger sister, peacefully growing the bagrava that's essential to her people's survival. But, when her older sister's body is returned after only a year of marriage to the Vanzadorian prince, Indira is sent to take her place. Her plan to avenge her sister's death and destroy Vanzador starts to fall apart when she discovers that there's more to Vanzador than meets the eye. Nothing Indira sees in Vanzador adds up to what she had been told. As Indira digs deeper into Vanzador's secrets, she discovers her own abilities to lead and becomes the queen her new country needs. 

Overall, I liked the book and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Both Indira and Prince Alaric's character arcs are well done. I also liked the love story because it was authentic and wasn't the primary focus of the story. The magic system was a little strange and could have used a little more explanation. The ages of the characters are only implied - but I feel they are between 18 and 21.

There isn't a specific race or ethnicity for any of the main characters, but Indira is described as having golden skin and freckles, while many of the Vanzadorians have blond hair. 

Andrea R

The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang - OPTIONAL

The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang, 375 pages. Random House, 2025. $21

Language: PG-13 (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (alcohol, sexual innuendo, kissing; sexual activity happens, but is not described); Violence: R (war, gore described w/o detail, many mentions of decapitation and severed body parts, bones, blood, death & vampirism.

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Fei is the prophesied “Empress of all Empresses” and resents both the life of luxury she had to live in the Emperor’s house and the bloody visions she hides from everyone.  Prince Siwang, the Emperor’s chosen heir, is born at the same time; he and Fei grow up together–both destined to rule the Kingdom of Rong side-by-side.  However, tensions between the Vampire/Deity-Prince Yexue of the Kingdom of Lan and Prince Siwang flow over into warfare, and the countryside is bathed in destruction–all in her name. Fei struggles to reconcile her feminism and power with her love of Siwang, lust for Yexue, and capability to stop a war from devouring both countries.

Though the reader is led to understand that Fei has the potential for world-changing power, this plot falls flat through low stakes events, unremarkable magic, and ultimate feeble resolution(s). Throughout, Fei constantly expresses her feminist power, then just as quickly questions her individuality, relationships, and influence/power.  Her life outside of the Emperor’s grip undermines her credibility when she rationalizes her feelings and has sex with Prince Siwang.  The adversarial nature of her relationships is excessive, her pining for men she can’t or shouldn’t have is cloying, and the reader can’t help but question why the universe would ever choose Fei as “Empress of Empresses.”

The book’s premise is unique with its Chinese-adjacent fantasy world, language, and cultural influence.  All characters are Chinese-centric. Throughout the book, Chinese proverbs in Chinese characters, are incorporated into the text with English translations provided.

James Hirst, ELA Instructor, HerrimanHS

 

The Beasts We Raise (The Broken Citadel #2) by D. L. Taylor - ESSENTIAL

The Beasts We Raise (The Broken Citadel #2) by D. L. Taylor, 288 pages. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2026. $21

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (imprisonment, reference to war, death of her father- gruesome detail of the body)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Newly appointed to the office of Prime, Mance, a young woman,  finds herself in a difficult dilemma. Mance is in love with Silver.  Yet as the new Prime of her realm, she is destined to marry the Prime of the Forrest Realm, Reltas, in order to maintain an alliance.  Reltas is everything Mance hates: self-centered, unkind, power-driven, and demanding.  Why should Mance have to trade her true love just to maintain peace? If Mance wants to avoid a fight that will devastate her realm, she’ll have to consider the proposal. She desperately seeks allyship from other Primes with little to no avail.  With her secret ability to physically split into separate versions of herself, she sets off to not only refuse Reltas's proposal but to bring peace and healing to her realm as well as the rest of the world.

The opening includes a great summary of the 1st book.  This could be a stand-alone novel.  The plot is interesting and suspenseful.  I loved that the novel is shorter and the author didn't feel the need to add fluff and stuff just to make it long.  There were a lot of emotional themes running through this 2nd book such as taking your power back, helping to pull other people out of their darkness, making life easier for other's, enjoying laughter after tragedy, and finally that we can and are strong enough to overcome difficulties especially with healing and love. Great book for teens and adults alike!

Characters cue white.

S. Lewis

The Witch Who Stormed the Palace by Ryan Graudin - ADVISABLE

The Witch Who Stormed the Palace (Girl Who Kept the Castle #2) by Ryan Graudin, 335 pages. Quill Tree (Harper), 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Faye has defeated the Shadow Queen’s attempt to destroy Castle Celurdur and free herself, but she is not guaranteed to become the new Witch of the West. Summoned to Retnec, the capital city where the four quadrants meet, Faye must undergo three challenges to prove her worth.  And she must undertake the challenges at the same time as three other candidates put forth by the other Wizards.  Adding to the melee - the Shadow Queen has a new plan to free herself and a willing confederate to help her plan.

I loved Faye’s first adventure and Graudin manages to keep up the interest with book #2. Old friends and new friends await. I did find it odd that one of the castles is called Ghibli, but none of the other names mean anything.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Queen's Game (Queen's Game #1) by Katharine McGee - ADVISABLE

A Queen's Game (Queen's Game #1) by Katharine McGee, 355 pages. Random House, 2024. $21

Language: PG (11 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (intense kissing and non-descriptive sex); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

In the late 1800’s, amidst the courts of Queen Victoria, three royal princesses  are trying to find their own destiny.  Alix is beautiful, shy and Queen Victoria's favorite granddaughter.  She is also prone to panic attacks, a secret she hopes to keep hidden.  Helene is the daughter of a banished French king.  She has a wild streak and does all the things a royal princess shouldn't do until she catches the eye of a powerful royal.  Lastly, there is May, who is living on the outskirts of court and is mostly invisible to everyone.  Her parents squandered their fortune so she knows she will have to do whatever is necessary to find a good match. All three are desperate to secure their futures, but in royal courts it is sometimes hard to tell if someone is friend or foe. All three princesses are in their early 20's.

The story takes place during the later years of Queen Victoria's life and includes actual historical figures, but it's more about romance and palace intrigue. It was a bit of a slow start setting up characters and events of the time, but it morphed into an intriguing story with secrets, misunderstandings, lying and blackmail.  I was surprised to find the characters so likeable and thought the author did a good job bringing historical figures alive.  I would have liked a more settled ending, but with a sequel, I'm sure there is more intrigue to come.   

The characters are mostly English or French.

RBenson - Librarian

The Storm Crow by Kalyn Josephson - ADVISABLE

The Storm Crow (The Storm Crow #1) by Kalyn Josephson, 352 pages. Sourcebooks Fire (Sourcebooks), 2019. $11.

Language: PG13 (24 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use, illegal activity, kissing, mentions of whore, and innuendo); Violence: PG13 (assault, self harm, blood and gore, mentions of suicide, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

On the night of a kingdom-wide festival for the hatching of new elemental crows, Princess Anthia (17yo) starts the day with joyful anticipation of finally getting her own crow. And ends the night burned and broken by the Illucians who attack and kill all the crows. Anthia is debilitated by depression while her older sister becomes queen and does everything she can to protect their people—including arranging a marriage between Anthia and the son of their enemy, the crow killer.

Anthia’s frustrations with herself, her enemies, and her impossible situation are palpable—so real that it makes her story difficult to read sometimes, especially since this is only book one and everything has to get worse before solutions can be found to make it better. The timeline often felt impossibly fast, and I don’t particularly enjoy the love triangle trope, but, with the constant action and fun magic, I still think I’ll end up reading the sequel. Anthia and the other people from Rhodaire are described as having brown skin. Kiva is queer.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Dino - ADVISABLE

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Dino, 288 pages. Bloomsbury, 2025. $19

Content: PG (some danger, some deaths - bones picked clean mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Yumi hates slogging through the rice fields with her parents every day, especially because her Cricket powers are so weak, the crickets don’t bother listening to her.  When all of the mambabarang are summoned to the capitol city to witness the crowning of the rajah’s daughter as the new Hara, the only person with enough power to wield the Firefly Crown to hold off the murderous Ghost Swarms, Yumi stows away. Yumi just wants to explore the city and find a metalwork apprenticeship, but her bravery and quick-thinking may be all that stands in the path of total disaster.

Yumi’s talent to save the day is quite exaggerated, as the action takes place over such a short time - her meteoric rise from lowly, inept Cricket to Savior of the Country is a bit clunky at times.  As the story progresses, the action and danger start to feel more realistic. I think this is a stand alone fantasy - it is always nice to have one-offs to balance out the long series. 

I listened to the book narrated by Jensen Olaya, provided by libro.fm.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Beasts We Bury by D. L. Taylor - ESSENTIAL

The Beasts We Bury by D. L. Taylor, 368 pages. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (animal killings); Violence: PG-13 (main character must fight and kill animals to inherit their strength and power; emotional and physical abuse by parent; animal abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Although just a child herself, Mancella Cliff- an heir to the throne, must participate in horrifying acts to prove her worthiness of the crown. Forced by an abusive father, "Mance" finds no way out of her yearly obligations to kill animals in order to obtain their powers/traits to make herself stronger. Her father's end goal is to use 16yo Mance and these powers to ultimately gain control of all 6 realms. Silver, a charming thief struggling to survive, enters the castle under the guise of a servant but has his own agenda against the King. His attempts to get what he needs at any cost cause him to question his motives as his feelings for Mance develop into something he can no longer deny. "Will he steal her heart... or her chance at the throne?

Full of twists and turns, this YA fantasy will be loved by many. I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter is a little jarring at times, but very well written. The romantic tug of war between Silver and Mance starts strong and ends beautifully. I raced through this book in order to see how it ended. Switching between Mance and Silver's points of view was a perfect balance. The characters were well developed. D.L. Taylor is a fantastic author and I look forward to reading more.

The characters cue white.

SLewis 

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton - ESSENTIAL

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, 512 pages. Penguin, 2025. $23

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Healthy competition between cousins )

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

In a world filled with magic, family politics, history, power, betrayal, and lack of love, Nora is supposed to be an heiress since childhood. When her mother is murdered, Nora’s future is in question. A complicated competition, the Veritas, will determine who is the future heiress. Unfortunately, a cousin no one knew existed, Lotte, enters the scene. Lotte has an equal chance at becoming the next heir but first has to win this trial to get the love and attention of her family. Add to the mix, Theo, a knight, and  August, a young journalist, and you have the “perfect storm” of love and honor intertwined with excitement and competition.

Notorious Virtues was easy to read and kept my attention throughout the book.  Instead of most “slow burns”, Notorious Virtures pulled me in right from the beginning.  The book is intriguing, entertaining, and fun to read.  It was easy to connect with all the characters, especially the underdog, Lotte. The author develops each character very well. I loved that it was written with multiple points of view. Very well written!

Reviewer: sl

Steel and Spellfire by Laura E. Weymouth - OPTIONAL

Steel and Spellfire by Laura E. Weymouth, 349 pages. McElderry (Simon), 2025. $20

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kiss) ; Violence: PG-13 (dead bodies mentioned, one death with mention of blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

For five years Pandora has been working to be appointed one of the Queen’s Ingenue’s for a summer. While the other girls want the prestige and hope of an excellent patron with whom to tie their magic, Pandora has revenge on her mind. Pandora was bound when she was a child; her childhood and training was brutal and she barely escaped with her sanity intact. She is hoping that she can find and defeat her cruel patron at last - even if that patron is in the upper echelons of the kingdom.

The final confrontation is quite spectacular and well worth reading, but the rest of the book didn’t draw me in with any sense of urgency. I like Pandora and Weymouth gives us some great moments - there just weren’t enough of them to keep me going steadily. The magic system lacks any foundation. I do like that even though there is romance, it is not the reason for all of the action.

The characters all cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Maelstrom A Prince of Evil by Lorian Merriman - OPTIONAL

Maelstrom A Prince of Evil by Lorian Merriman, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $18 

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (gender fluidity); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Half-demon prince, Maelstrom, is bored. His all-powerful, and super evil mother, is ruling the kingdom with a cruelly iron fist. Maelstrom decides to befriend Twigs, the prophesied Hero of Virtue, planning on double-crossing Twigs and the rebellion, and building his own legend in the process. 

The art is bright and colorful. Maelstrom is both an immature, scrawny youth and a misunderstood being trying to discover how to fit in. Themes of family, friendship, and trust, give it more depth, even if it is a bit predictable. It's a fast read. There are multiple races, cultures, and beings portrayed. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara - OPTIONAL

The Prince Without Sorrow (Obsidian Throne #1) by Maithree Wijesekara, 384 pages. Harper Voyager (HarperCollins), 2025. $19.

Language: R (10 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A woman in mourning of her pacifist people, Shakti (22yo) wants to fight back against the emperor for vengeance more than anything. Meanwhile, Prince Ashoka (22yo) wants to stand firm as a pacifist himself, despite being a son of the tyrant emperor raising his children on the path of conquest—making Ashoka the weakest and least listened to of the lot. When the emperor dies, Shakti and Ashoka move forward on paths that will change the empire—and themselves.

Both Shakti and Ashoka have firm goals, but they lack clear plans to achieve those goals. They struggle not only with outside opposition to their goals but also with their own moral standards—facing the age-old question of whether the ends justify the means. At the end of book one, nothing has gone as expected; everything has changed through crazy twists in both the protagonists and antagonists.

The majority of characters are implied Indian and described as having brown skin. Jaya is lesbian, and there are a couple other lgbt characters. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol, drugs, and brothels and for innuendo. The violence rating is for blood and gore, corpses, assault, mentions of genocide and suicide, self harm, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Skyshade by Alex Aster - OPTIONAL

Skyshade (Lightlark #3) by Alex Aster, 384 pages. Harry N. Abrams, 2024. $14

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (on page sex); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS -  OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

20yo Isla struggles with leaving Oro behind but knows it's best for the sake of Lightlark. She’s still angry with Grim for erasing her memories, but odd and destructive incidents help them work together to save the realms. Isla discovers a feather that writes on its own, leading her to learn about skyres, items that hold soul pieces. Zealots are disguised and Isla begins trusting them. She also starts to think that she’s the person causing destruction. Is Isla the traitor?

I like the mystery surrounding the unknown traitor who is wreaking havoc. I don’t really feel that Isla loves Oro as she loves Grim, who seems to be her soulmate. I enjoyed the author’s world building.

Isla has tanned skin, Oro is golden.Others have light brown skin and white skin. 

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Lightlark by Alex Aster - ADVISABLE

Lightlark by Alex Aster, 448 pages. Harry N. Abrams, 2023. $13

Language: PG (1 swears, 0 ‘f');  Mature Content: PG-13 (touching, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Isla leads the Wildlings and she meets all leaders of the other realms for a competition at Lightlark. Celeste is the Starling leader, Isla’s good friend, and together they want to break the curse that settles on every realm. When Isla slips and falls into the sea, King Oro saves her from drowning even though her death would be taken as a sacrifice for the realm to lift the curse; one of the realm leaders must die at the Centennial celebration to satisfy the curse.  Grim, the Nightshade leader, seems taken with Isla but she’s not sure if he’s sincere or conning her. Isla has stolen clothes to be able disguise herself as a woman from the other realms so she can enter their libraries and search for the bond breaker that can break the curse for everyone.  Her life is endangered at every turn as she tries to hide that she's completely powerless.  She has no idea who she can trust.

I love the beautiful descriptions and the variety of interesting characters. The author creates an amazing world and I didn’t want to stop reading. New and refreshing fantasy.

The ethnicity is a mix of fantasy people and different colors of natural skin tones.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Ruling Destiny by Alyson Noel - MANY

Ruling Destiny (Stealing Infinity #2) by Alyson Noel, 393 pages. Entangled Teen, 2023. $14 

Language: R (83 swears, 25 “f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex, off page, and underage drinking); Violence: PG-13 (bloody fight)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

18yo Natasha has been planning on visiting Renaissance Italy with Braxton but when she gets to the portal, Arthur shows her she’ll be tripping with Killian; Natasha is angry but Killian is thrilled. Braxton seems to be keeping something from Natasha and Killian keeps making remarks alluding that Braxton is hiding a terrible secret from her. She has strong feelings for Braxton but she doesn’t know if she can trust anyone. When Mason is recruited to Gray Wolf, she’s happy to see him, her trusted best friend, but worried that he’s blaming her for taking him away from his life. She’s struggling to understand her new life but now she’s even more worried on Mason’s behalf.

I enjoyed learning about the true history mixed in with the time traveling events, like the Italian Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497. The quotes from Shakespeare and other intellectuals and historical figures are awesome. The author notes at the beginning of the book that all artwork and ancient artifacts mentioned in the novel really piqued my interest. The ethnicity is mostly white. Mason, Natasha’s best friend, is Black.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig - OPTIONAL

 

The Thirteenth Child by Erin A. Craig, 512 pages. Delacorte Press (Random), 2024. $16

Language: PG-13 (14 swears, 0 “f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (fondling); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

19yo Hazel is the thirteenth child in her family and treated like she’s not wanted by anyone except her brother Bertie who is one year older. When Hazel is twelve, her godfather takes her so she can train to become a great healer while Bertie is sold to a temple to pay off their father’s debts. Hazel learns that her duties as a healer also include helping people pass onto their deaths as gently as possible. She feels that this is a curse and not a blessing. When she’s nineteen, Hazel has become the healer of the royal family after she saved the king’s life from a plague; she was supposed to move him onto death but didn’t want his children to be orphans. Now that the king feels well, he is becoming an unpredictable, angry tyrant and Hazel knows she made the wrong choice by healing him. Will she be able to make this right before he destroys the kingdom?

I loved every bit of this story! Amazing character development and wonderful world building. Hazel is strong and kindhearted.

Hazel and her family are white. Merrick, Hazel’s godfather is obsidian skinned, Hazel’s friend Kieron has chestnut skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Casters and Crowns by Elizabeth Lowham - ADVISABLE

Casters and Crowns by Elizabeth Lowham, 384 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $21.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

In attempting to prove to her father that she, as the crown princess, is ready for more responsibility, Aria (18yo) goes to discuss peace with the Dowager Countess Morton without telling anyone. Their meeting goes well—until the dowager countess reveals that it was all a lie. Aria does all she can to hide the curse placed on her, but how is she supposed to defeat magic when all she knows is to fear it?

Filled with beautiful world-building, life-or-death stakes, magical abilities, and the constant flinging of creative insults between brothers, every page was a delight. Perfectionism haunts several of the characters, highlighting different avenues of dealing with mistakes and consequences. The conclusion is fitting, though I would have loved a promise of another book with these characters I have adored.

The majority of characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mild innuendo, and kissing. The violence rating is for assault, fantasy violence, and mentions of murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Reckless by Lauren Roberts - OPTIONAL

Reckless by Lauren Roberts. 400 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2024. $15

Language: R (111 swears, 0 f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing); Violence: R (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17 yo Paedyn is on the run after killing the king. She’s hiding in the home of the resistance when 19yo Kai shows up with his guards. He sets the house on fire, throws a dagger and cuts Paedyn’s leg as she’s scrambling across the rooftops to escape. She heads to the desert and walks for days. Kai chases her even though he’s thoroughly conflicted about what he’s going to do if he catches her. He finds her disguised as a man, fighting to earn money and as the two of them fight each other, Paedyn rips Kai’s bandana off of his face so the crowd sees he’s the prince. They travel far to return Paedyn to the palace per King Kitt’s orders, facing danger the whole way while an unknown future looms over them.

Typos were here and there throughout the book. A large chunk of the book was spent on highlighting banter between Kai and Paedyn. Finally, on page 152, more characters arrived to help move the story along. The prose is nice, for example: “Wind combs its cool fingers across my scalp, and I almost sigh at the feeling. The open air is freeing, tempting me to stretch out my arms and embrace it.” The ending was a good cliffhanger. Paedyn and Kai have fair skin. Residents of Dor have dark skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson - OPTIONAL

Our Deadly Designs by Kalyn Josephson. 432 pages. Roaring Brook (Macmillan), 2024. $21

Language: PG-13 (17 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: R (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17yo Mikira, 20yo Damien, Reid, and Ari have growing problems in Enderlain. The community is searching for the lost heir while Damien seems to be pushing his friends away. Mikira is interested in joining the rebels, Reid keeps scientifically investigating enchanted cells, and Ari struggles to control her building power that’s becoming even more dangerous. The friends seem to be going their separate ways while they try to find their own paths. A darker force is growing in Enderlain. Will the group pull together and fight or be defeated separately?

The dynamics of the relationships are so different from the first book of this series. Even with their struggles, the characters learn to appreciate each other more. The story takes a different turn from what the series originally had but character development is still good. The mixed ethnicity includes olive, golden brown, white, and bronze skin tones.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah