Lost and Found by Natalie Shampanier & Illustrated by David Pavon - Book Review

 

*I received an E-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Lost and Found is a charming tale about a group of lost toys. Dino Boy, Moody (a unicorn mood ring), Hamburger Hippo, and Tina the Ballerina are stuck in a summer camp's Lost and Found building. Dino refuses to stay and along with his new friends set out on a mission to find a home. Lost and Found is a beautifully illustrated and sweet story that doesn't get old with rereads. With its heartwarming storyline and captivating illustrations, Lost and Found is a must-read for young readers.

Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Should you read it?

This is a wonderful choice for a bedtime story or for children who feel lost. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: December 24, 2022

Natalie Shampanier: Goodreads

David Pavon: Goodreads

Making Friends With Monsters by Sandra L. Rostirolla - Book Review

*I received an E-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

From the viewpoint of middle child Sam, a struggling farming family deals with numerous traumatic events. As the family experiences more and more unfortunate circumstances, a tragic accident threatens to tear them apart. From the award-winning author, Sandra L. Rostirolla, comes a painfully realistic view of how our inner monsters can take over. 

As we follow along, Sam goes from acknowledging others' "monsters" to learning more and more about them and how to confront his own. Additionally, the ongoing mystery of what caused some of the bad energy in his home is slowly being revealed. This all leads to a truly heartbreaking discovery that shows just how desperate our monsters can really make us. 

It was very challenging for me to read this book. I would strongly advise reading the trigger and content warnings before trying this one if you struggle with mental health issues. In my own life, I battle depression. I found this book so hard to read because of just how real it portrayed that struggle. I can definitely say that it is probably the best depiction of depression in a book that I have read so far. The author's ability to capture the complexity of the emotions and thoughts that come with depression is truly remarkable. It was both comforting and challenging to read a book that so accurately reflected my own experiences with mental health. I could see myself in multiple family members at different points in my own life. It made me feel seen, which is not something I experience often.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.5/5

Should you read it?

Making Friends With Monsters is a powerful book that realistically depicts mental illness. I think everyone should read it --HOWEVER-- please be mindful and take care of yourself. If you think this book may trigger you, skip it or save it for later. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: Published April 4, 2023

Sandra L. Rostirolla: Goodreads, Instagram, Official

Little Aiden: A Feelings Book for Toddlers (Little Aiden Series) by Albert & Anna Choi & Illustrated by Bettina Brasko - Book Review

 

*I received an E-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

This is one of those children's books that, while being excellent for its target audience, is also so repetitive that, if you're an adult, your brain is about to have a bad time. Having said that, I believe that reading a book about feelings is always a good idea. Especially since this book is reassuring the reader (and possible reading assistants) that feelings are normal and okay. There's nothing wrong with feeling sad or mad. We will go through a wide range of emotions throughout our lives, so it is best to learn early on that the best course of action is to simply feel them. Too many generations have been taught to suppress their emotions.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

This is a wonderful resource to use for young children and toddlers when beginning to explore different emotions.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: December 17, 2022

Albert Choi: Goodreads 

Anna Choi: Goodreads

Bettina Brasko: Goodreads

Catlumbus by Franny Plaia & Illustrated by Katya Galkina - Book Review

 

*I received an e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

After discovering a treasure map, Catlumbus embarks on a quest that results in friendship.

I really enjoyed this book. The idea of a sailing cat is cute, and I adore the illustrations. The ending felt a little rushed, and then, of course, there's the elephant in the room. Taking inspiration from Christopher Columbus for the name of the lead cat in this day and age was a mistake. If you are going to use something from the past as inspiration, you really need to do research first.  The name Columbus is now associated with colonization, slavery, and genocide. It's important to be mindful of the historical context when naming characters or things.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Book & Author Information: Goodreads, Storygraph

Published: February 7, 2023

Franny Plaia: Goodreads

Katya Galkina: Goodreads

Burying Eva Flores by Jennifer Alsever - Book Review

A missing Tiktok star that is presumed dead, a strange leather journal that causes things written in it to happen, and an outcast accused of murder. What happened to Eva Flores?

*I received an e-ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Burying Eva Flores by Jennifer Alsever is a young adult mystery novel with a supernatural twist. A little bit Mean Girls and a little bit Death Note, it is an okay read. All of the characters are either annoying or just downright unlikeable. It is hard to root for a self-described underdog like Sophia. There is a huge theme of “absolute power corrupts absolutely” with her, but she wasn't that great of a person in the first place. The supernatural aspect of the story is barely there and only comes into play when a need for an explanation of something arises. There are a few plot holes that left me thinking “Wait a minute, I think I missed something”. After reading two chapters, I wrote down my predictions for the end of this book. I was right. I was also very much not a fan of the adult-teen flirtation that happens.

Overall, the character development is lacking, and the plot is predictable. However, the writing style is engaging and keeps the reader interested until the end. 

Rating: 3/5

Should you read it?

Burying Eva Flores is perfect for its demographic - Young Adults. While I found it to be predictable, the writing is actually quite good and worth reading just for that fact.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads, Storygraph

Published: March 14, 2022

Jennifer Alsever: Goodreads, Storygraph, Official, Instagram, Facebook

Masks of Death by Thomas Stewart - Book Review

Masks of Death is a collection of 13 short horror stories written by Thomas Stewart. The majority of the stories begin in a similarly hurried manner. The stories unfold quickly, leaving little time for character development or time to breathe and take in what is happening. I also found the back-to-back first-person narratives tedious, and I love first-person. The cover and title of the book also feel like they are trying to advertise something else. If you judged this book by its cover, you would probably expect gory, intense horror. However, what you get is very tame, basic horror that I don't see as being very entertaining to cynics like myself who have binged too much horror over the years. To readers like myself, many of the stories and "twists" come off as very cliche and predictable. However, it's not all bad.

I think the very thing that led to me not really enjoying most of this book is what could make it very important to the horror genre as a whole. This collection would serve as a wonderful introduction to horror writing for someone new to the genre. It gives you a little taste of different sub-genres and gives you a great place to find out what your taste could be. 

In one of my previous reviews of a short-story collection, I rated each story individually and the book as a whole. For Masks of Death, I just want to highlight my favorites. The "Fear Itself" Game and When Lacie Came Home are fantastic. The gem of this collection, though, is definitely Project Demigod. This short story felt like you were being introduced to a new series, and I really hope that Thomas Stewart considers expanding on this tale. 

Masks of Death is a promising collection by an author with a passion for horror. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this author's future works and look forward to seeing his growth over time.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

If you have read a lot of horror, this may not be the most enjoyable read, especially if your tastes are more into body horror or super gore. However, if you have been interested in horror or you are new the genre, this is a wonderful place to start.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Thomas Stewart: Official

Einstein in the Attic by Dana Dargos & Said Al Bizri - Book Review

 

Set against the backdrop of the war between science and God, reason and faith, Einstein in the Attic is the story of one scientist’s search for truth and meaning when faced with the ultimate question: Is there a God? Fleeing war-torn Lebanon, Adam Reemi’s faith is shaken by the hardships he has endured, but when he and a colleague successfully construct a nano hadron collider, and using sound waves, Adam finds unheard-of power at his fingertips. To help him answer the greatest question mankind has ever posed, he zaps the best philosophical minds of all time–namely Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Soren Kierkegaard, and Baruch Spinoza–from the past and into his attic. Not all goes according to plan, however, and Adam finds himself in a race against time to formulate an answer to the question of intelligent design… or risk losing everything. -Goodreads

*I received an e-ARC of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.*

It can be challenging to write a review of a book you didn't like, even if it wasn't a bad one. I just couldn't connect to it. Einstein in the Attic by Dana Dargos and Said Al Bizri is an adventurous science fiction novel that sounds like it would be right up my alley. However, the combination of the slow pacing and an extremely whiny and pretentious main character left me struggling to finish this book. This is totally a "me" thing, though, as Einstein in the Attic is actually very well written. I just prefer medium pacing and have a need to connect with or at least understand the main character. If I don't, or, even worse, find them annoying, I tune out. 

Rating:★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

There's definitely a demographic for this book, but it definitely wasn't me. The book has a lot of science and philosophy, so if you enjoy long-winded conversations about both, this may be a good pick for you. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: January 31, 2022

Authors:

Dana Dargos: Goodreads, Twitter, Official

Said Al Bizri: Goodreads

Time's Orphan (Odriel's Heirs # 3) by Hayley Reese Chow - Book Review

 

Speak of pain, and I’ll tell you of the Time who stole it away…

Besieged by war, ravaged by monsters, and crawling with the undead, the land of Okarria is dying. Seventeen-year-old Emara survives by using her modest healing gift to save as many as she can while eluding the invaders who thirst for her enchanted blood.

So when a cursed cat saves her life and reveals Emara is the legendary Time Heir the necromancer king’s been searching for, she agrees to act as bait in a plot to destroy him. But when the plan goes horrifically awry, Emara must discover how deep her powers go, what she can change…

And what she cannot.

Unfortunately, Time Heirs have a history of getting killed, and with Okarria’s future on the line, Emara may have no choice but to follow in her ancestors’ footsteps. -Goodreads

 *I received an eARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Time's Orphan is book three of the Odriel's Heirs trilogy. I have not read the other books in the series...yet. The book was described to me as a standalone, but I had every intention of reading the whole series and then reviewing each one before the release of Time's Orphan. However, life happens, and as a mood reader, that means that I went from wanting to completely disappear into a world of fantasy to one of scifi adventure. So this review got delayed, and the other books are still on my TBR. They won't be there for long, though. This book was an absolute joy to read, and I can't wait to experience the rest of the trilogy.

It reminded me of why I love to read—how the written word can transport you to different worlds and allow you to become immersed in a story. Hayley Reece Chow's writing leaves you feeling like you are not actually reading. You are part of the story right there with Emara, Jai, and Chipo. The elements of romance feel natural and are not forced. The characters grow in ways that you would expect given their circumstances. Then, of course, you have a cursed cat. If you have read any other review of mine about anything that has a cat, you know how I feel. I'm a sucker for a good feline companion.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5

Should you read it?

Absolutely. This is perfect for those looking for a fantasy series that doesn't require you to read the books in order. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: February 8, 2023

Author: Goodreads, Twitter, Official

Mayatte's Catharsis : A Feathered Serpent Reborn By Jack E. Mohr - Book Review

The mythical Island of Mayatte was never meant to be discovered by anyone, and its natives are about to find out why.

When a ship of foreigners crashes along the coast, everyone but Naña is wary of their inexplicable arrival. While others are suspicious and fearful, Naña is curious and even helpful, especially when one of the outsiders becomes gravely ill. But her goodwill might be a fatal flaw that puts the entire island in jeopardy. - Goodreads

*I received a free eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The fantasy novella Mayatte's Catharsis introduces us to a new, intriguing, but underdeveloped world. The writing is beautiful, and I love the small glimpse we get of Mayatte. Despite how good it is, the book feels incomplete. All the elements of a 5-star read are here. It just needs to be fleshed out more. The pacing felt a little rushed, and I found the ending unsatisfying. It would be fantastic if the novella were expanded into a full novel. I'm curious about the island's inhabitants, and I'm intrigued about what happens next.  The novella contains great potential for further exploration, and I think the idea would be well served with more detail and context.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 3/5

Should you read it?

I think this is perfect if you love fantasy and need something quick to read. 

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: December 12, 2022

Author: Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, 

Why the Water Is Sweet Where The River Meets the Sea by Enrique Posner - Book Review

*I received a free digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is a beautifully written coming-of-age picture book that would be perfect for young adults about to spread their wings. I do wish it had different illustrations, though, as I found them to be a bit distracting. Nonetheless, this story captures the special feelings of anticipation and fear that come with growing up and preparing to embark on your own for the first time.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.5/5

Should you read it?

I think any age can get something out of this book, particularly those leaving the nest for the first time.

Book & Author Information: Goodreads

Published: December 26, 2022

Author: Goodreads