Invictus, by Ryan Graudin ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books For Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 26th, 2017

464 Pages

Synopsis: Time flies when you’re plundering history.

Farway Gaius McCarthy was born outside of time. The son of a time-traveling Recorder from 2354 AD and a gladiator living in Rome in 95 AD, Far’s birth defies the laws of nature. Exploring history himself is all he’s ever wanted, and after failing his final time-traveling exam, Far takes a position commanding a ship with a crew of his friends as part of a black market operation to steal valuables from the past.

But during a heist on the sinking Titanic, Far meets a mysterious girl who always seems to be one step ahead of him. Armed with the knowledge that will bring Far’s very existence into question, she will lead Far and his team on a race through time to discover a frightening truth: History is not as steady as it seems.

Invictus is an interesting mix of historical fiction and science fiction which for the most part I found to be a fun read. While the first couple of chapters were a little slow, mainly because of trying to follow the introduction of all the technological aspects, it didn’t take long for the story to take off and I was completely sucked in.

I have to be honest and say I did not like the main character, Farway at first. I thought he was egotistical and arrogant and completely rubbed me the wrong way. But once his life is upended and he becomes the captain of the Imvictus, leading his friends on trips throughout history as they bring back black market artifacts for the sinister Lux, I began to warm up to him and by the end of the book I saw him in a much more positive light. 

Thankfully there’s no love triangle, but the romance between Far and Pyria is a little tepid. I think in part, this is because their relationship was already in place before the story began. There was no build-up to their feelings and we’re told rather than shown how much they love each other. Although I liked both of them, I never found their relationship believable.

I did like the rest of the characters, but I think they all could have used a bit more development except for Far’s cousin, Imogene who I loved. Her personality sparkles off the pages and she steals every scene she’s in. She changes her hair color just about every day, and is addicted to gelato (I was so hungry while reading this!) She loves Far, yet finds him exasperating at times. She’s not afraid to speak up and keeps his ego in check. She also provides some much needed humor to balance the darker tones of the story. And best of all, she has a red panda named Saffron who I instantly fell in love with!

The world-building and time traveling was imaginative and well written. There were several twists that I didn’t see coming which added some intriguing layers to the plot. As I said previously, I was initially confused by some of the technology and Far’s backstory, but these wrinkles ironed themselves out.

Overall, I quite enjoyed Invictus and I think fans of science fiction and time-travel will enjoy this. The ending ties everything up neatly, but I’m hoping there will be a sequel, maybe concentrating more on the trips back into history and the stealing of artifacts. If Ryan Graudin delved into this element more fully, I could see this becoming a successful YA series. Fingers crossed!

 

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Murder, Magic, and What We Wore, by Kelly Jones ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Mystery, Regency England, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 19th, 2017

304 Pages

Synopsis: The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours—garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so, she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore is a cute Recency romp, that had me laughing out loud more than once. 

Annis is a refreshing young miss. Despite her magical talent, she’s no special snowflake. She’s intelligent, but very naive and because of this, makes mistakes and has to rely on others to help fix them. Annis is not afraid to get her hands dirty, and in addition to investing her father’s mysterious death, takes time out to help others.

Millie, the maid to Annis and her aunt, actually wound up being even more interesting to me. She’s far more practical than Annis, and saves the day more than once. I also enjoyed the close friendship that developed between these two girls despite their dissimilar backgrounds. There’s a lot of “girl power” moments courtesy of these two as well as some secondary female characters.

I loved the fantasy elements added to this, but while there’s an acceptance that magical abilities are par for the course, there’s no other details on how they came to be. Also lacking is some character development, specifically in regards to men. There’s a hint of a potential future romance between Annis and her father’s lawyer, Mr. Harrison, but to be honest, by the last page I knew nothing more about him than I did at the beginning of the book. 

The mystery is intriguing and although I guessed who the villain was about halfway through the book, it still kept me reading. The ending isn’t a cliffhanger, but it leads me to believe there will be additional books.

Overall, Murder, Magic, and What We Wore may be a little short on details and development, but is still a quick and enjoyable read. I’m definitely interested in where Kelly Jones takes her characters and story next.

 

 

A Poison Dark and Drowning (Kingdom On Fire #2), by Jessica Cluess ~ 3.75 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Victorian Society, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books For Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 19th, 2017

432 Pages

Synopsis: 

The magicians want her to lead.

The sorcerers want her to lie.

The demons want her blood.

Henrietta wants to save the one she loves.

But will his dark magic be her undoing?

In this seductive and explosive second book in the Kingdom On Fire series, Jessica Cluess delivers her signature mix of magic, passion, and teen warriors fighting for survival. Hand to fans of Victoria Aveyard, Sarah J. Maas, and Kiersten White.

Henrietta doesn’t need a prophecy to know she’s in danger. She came to London to be named the chosen one, the first full female sorcerer in centuries, the one who would defeat the Ancients. Instead, she discovers a city ruled by secrets. And the biggest secret of all: Henrietta is not the chosen one.

Still, she must play the role in order to keep herself and Took, her best friend and childhood love, safe. But can she truly save him? The poison in Rook’s blood is transforming him into something monstrous as he begins to master dark powers of his own. So, when Henrietta finds a clue to the Ancients past that could turn the tide of the war, she persuades Blackwood, the mysterious Earl of Sorrow-Fell, to travel up the coast to seek out strange new weapons. And Magnus, the brave, reckless flirt who wants to win back her favor, is assigned to their mission. Together, they will face monsters, meet powerful new Allies, and uncover the most devastating weapon of all: the truth.

When I reviewed the first book in this series, A Shadow Bright and Burning, and gave it 3 stars, my main complaints concerned what I saw as lack of character development and not enough world-building. In the sequel, A Poison Dark and Drowning, Jessica Cluess has addressed those issues much to my satisfaction. But, the “romance” here was just awful, hence my rather odd rating.

Henrietta drove me absolutely NUTS! On the one hand I continue to love that she’s not the typical “chosen one”. She’s intelligent, feisty, courageous, and loyal to those she cares for. She battles over doing what’s right and is plagued by self-doubt and guilt over her previous actions. She also continually lies and keeps secrets in the name of protecting her friends. In essence, she’s a complex, yet relatable character,  and I’m enjoying where the author is going with her story. However, the flippin’ love square between her, Rook, Magnus and Blackwood was horrible and distracting, and had me grinding my teeth almost the entire time I was reading. I don’t think I’ve been this annoyed by someone’s constant dithering since the Bella Swan in the Twilight series! In my humble opinion, if Jessica Cluess would lay off the soap-opera relationship drama, this would be a much tighter and more entertaining series.

What I did like though, is that all the characters were much more multi-dimensional in this story. Magnus is now one of my favorites as it’s revealed that there’s much more to him than being an incorrigible flirt. There’s also a new character introduced, Maria, who I absolutely loved and I can’t wait to see what happens with her in the next book. And while many other reviewers continue to dislike Henrietta’s childhood friend, Rook, I’m actually rooting for a riding off into the sunset, happy ending for him and Henrietta.

The world-building is absolutely PHENOMENAL here, which is what really saved this book for me. Combining Victorian England with Lovecraft-like monsters known as the Ancients is absolutely brilliant, and you find out much more in this book about their history and why they’ve been brought here. Likewise, there’s more revealed about Sorcerers and Magicians and the animosity between them. And finally, even with all the fantasy elements that compose this tale, Cluess still manages to capture the very real societal norms of the period, especially when it comes to how women were treated.

I’ve gone back and forth on whether to rate A Poison Dark and Drowning 3 1/2 Stars or 4. There are so many things I loved about this book, but I disliked the relationship drama so much that it took away some of my enjoyment. After a lot of agonizing, I came up with the 3.75. I think that fans of the previous book will most likely enjoy this sequel even more. And although I had issues with both books, I’d still recommend that historical fantasy fans give them a try. Despite my critical remarks, I devoured this in two sittings and I will definitely be reading the third book.

 

Odd & True, by Cat Winters ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Family Secrets, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Sisters, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

368 Pages

Synopsis: Trudchen grew up hearing Odette’s stories of their monster-slaying mother and a magician’s curse. But now that Tru’s older, she’s starting to wonder if her older sister’s tales were just comforting lies, especially because there’s nothing fantastic about her own life—permanently disabled and in constant pain from childhood polio. 

In 1909, after a two-year absence, Od reappears with a suitcase full of weapons and a promise to rescue Tru from the monsters on their way to attack her. But it’s Od who seems haunted by something. And when the sisters’ search for their mother leads them to a face-off with the Leeds Devil, a nightmarish beast that’s wreaking havoc in the Mid-Atlantic States, Tru discovers the peculiar possibility that she and her sister—despite their dark pasts and ordinary appearances—might, indeed, have magic after all.

Cat Winters has grown to become one of my favorite YA authors because of her lyrical style of writing, and the wonderful way she combines historical fiction with the supernatural. Although Odd & True was not at all what I expected, I think it might be her best novel yet! 

The story is told from both sisters’ perspectives—Tru’s in 1909, and Od’s farther in the past during the two years she was away. I thought this was going to be a book about hunting monsters, but it’s really about Tru and Od coming to terms with the tragedies in their pasts and coming to facing reality, as long buried family secrets come to light. As they cope with all this, there’s a lot of sadness, but the love and support these sisters share is so pure and beautiful, that it’s obvious that in the end they will pull through.

The story is more family drama than thriller, but it does have a hint of the paranormal in the last third of the book. I found this to be a quick page-turner, because I loved both Tru and Od, and also because of the intrigue surrounding their family. Their battle with the Leeds Devil is a nice touch especially as the events surrounding it are based upon actual events. The ending is absolutely perfect as everything comes full circle and I found myself tearing up a bit reading the last few pages.

With Odd & True, Cat Winters has definitively proven what a creative writer she is. This is a story about hardship, loss, family secrets, monsters and myths. But most of all, it’s a beautiful story of two sisters who overcome the setbacks in their lives because of the love they have for each other. I highly recommend this for older teens and adults who enjoy historical fiction with character-driven plots, that are infused with traces paranormal elements.

Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad #1), by Scott Reintgen ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Science Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Books For Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

Synopsis: Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family. 

Forever.

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe. 

But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human.

When I first started reading Nyxia, I thought it was going to be a knockoff of YA books like Divergent, Hunger Games, Red Rising, and Ender’s Game, but by the time I was a few chapters in, it took on its voice and I really enjoyed it.

There’s a lot of diversity among the characters. Emmett is black, and the other recruits come from all over the globe. My only problem was that the diversity seemed to become overwhelmed by the story. At the beginning we’re told that the teens are given translators, but that’s really all there is to it. If we weren’t told that, I don’t think I would have known that these kids were different nationalities. That said, I still enjoyed the characters who except for a few, were just the kind you want to root for.

The plot is slow-building, with lots of twists and turns. Because I was so emotionally invested in the recruits, I was mesmerized by what was happening. It’s suspenseful and I had a difficult time putting it down. 

My only other issue is with the ending. I thought it was rather rushed and anticlimactic, and it got a little bogged down with an unnecessary and unbelievable case of insta-love. 

Overall though, I think Nyxia is an entertaining and imaginative beginning to this new science-fiction trilogy, and I have no doubt it will have wide appeal with teen and adult fans of this genre. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berserker (Berserker #1), by Emmy Laybourne ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Historical Fiction, Montana, Norse Mythology, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: October 10th, 2017

288 Pages

Synopsis: Are Hanne’s powers a gift from the old Norse gods, or a curse?

Her brother Steig swears their powers are a gift from the old gods, but Hanne Hemstad knows that she is truly cursed. It’s not Steig’s fault that their father is dead, their mother has left, and their brother Knut has been accused of a crime he didn’t commit. 

No, the fault lies with Hanne and her inability to control her “gift”—she is a Berserker. When someone she loves is threatened, she flies into a killing state. The siblings must leave Norway for the American frontier or risk being brought to justice. 

Aided by a young cowboy who agrees to be their guide, Hanne and her siblings use their powers to survive the perilous trail, where blizzards, wild animals, and vicious bounty hunters await.

Will they be able to reach their uncle, the one man Hanne believes may be able to teach her how to control her drive to kill? With Berserker, Emmy Laybourne, the author of Monument 14, presents her vision of the American west studded with Viking glory.

At under 300 pages, Berserker is a fairly short book, but it’s impressive how much detail the author packs into it.

I did think the first few chapters were a little slow and somewhat confusing. There’s a lot of information given about Hanne, her family and the Nytte, which are “gifts” given to from Norse gods to select families. But, once Hanne and her brothers arrive in America and meet up with Owen, the action picks up considerably.

I loved Hanne who in the beginning is full of guilt and self-loathing. It was pure pleasure watching her accept her Nytte and develop into a more self-confident young woman. I also enjoyed the relationship between the three siblings, which is complicated yet believable and relatable. The romance between Hanne and Owen is a little quick to commence, but their relationship is very sweet, and as they’re literally fated to be together, I wasn’t annoyed. I loved the way Emmy Laybourne alternated their POVs before seamlessly merging them about a third of the way through. Her writing style is really quite lovely.

The plot itself which combines Norse mythology with an American western is creative and unique, and makes this standout from all other mythology based books. There’s some incredible fight scenes which further moves the action along. The only other thing I found myself wishing for was a glossary or guide for the pronunciations of some of the Norse names and words. I’m pretty sure I completely mangled some of them.

Overall, I think Berserker is a very promising beginning to this new trilogy and I’m looking forward to Ransacker which will hopefully be out next year. I highly recommend this for teens and adults who love Norse mythology and are looking for something completely different.

The Lost Causes by Alyssa Embree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Murder Mystery, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

344 Pages

Synopsis: They’re the kids that no one knows—or no one wants to know. The rich depressive, the OCD chick, the hypochondriac, the drug abuser, the athlete with anger management issues. All chosen for intensive group therapy because they’re out of other options. They’re lost causes, the therapist tells them. She promises them this support group will help them heal.

There’s only one problem. She’s not a therapist. And that water she offers? It contains a dangerous serum that gives each of the kids a psychic power.

Suddenly, they can think clearly, speak to ghosts, see the past, even move objects with their mind. Their earlier problems have vanished, but their new freedom comes with a price. Sabrina, Gabby, Z, Justin and Andrew are to help the FBI solve the grisly murder that has rocked their small town. Their new powers will help them uncover clues and follow leads that have eluded the authorities. Their outsider status gives them the perfect cover.

But the same traits that make them top investigators also make them vulnerable. As they close in on the murderer, they expose a much larger conspiracy that puts them directly in harm’s way and makes them wonder who—if anyone—they can trust.

The Lost Causes has a slight problem with believability, but it’s an enjoyable twisty mystery nonetheless.

I absolutely loved the way the kids were portrayed! They all suffer from various psychological problems which for the most part, turns them into pariahs not only with their classmates, but their families as well. These kids are all sympathetic and relatable, even Justin, the jock with anger management issues. Their home lives play a big part in what ails them, which brings me to one of the reasons why I didn’t give this 5 stars. Once again, not one single adult was a positive role model. The parents are nightmares who never should have had kids. The teachers and school psychologist aren’t much better with their apathetic attitudes toward anyone who isn’t a perfect student. And the FBI agents have absolutely no issues in using teens for their own agenda. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews that for some reason it seems like the majority of YA fiction lately seems to have one-dimensional, unlikable adults. Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me? It’s extremely annoying and it’s becoming one of my biggest pet peeves along with: love triangles/squares, and insta-love. 

Moving on from my tangent, I loved the the way “the Lost Causes” come together and work as a team despite not being friends at the onset. The psychic powers each teen develops is unique to them, and what makes things even more interesting, as their psychic powers develop, the psychological maladies each suffered from disappear.

The story itself may not be entirely believable, but it’s still a lot of fun. The mystery is intriguing and there are plenty twists and turns which helped keep the story moving. 

Overall, The Lost Causes was a fun and enjoyable read, and it’s one that I think will appeal to a lot of teens. The ending leaves open the possibility of a sequel, and because I liked this group of teenage outcasts so much, I’d definitely be interested in reading another book featuring them.

 

Duels & Deceptions, By Cindy Anstey – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adventure, Historical Romance, Mystery, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Swoon reads for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

368 Pages

Synopsis: Miss Lydia Whitfield, heiress to the family fortune, has her future entirely planned out. She will run the family estate until she marries the man of her late father’s choosing, and then she will spend the rest of her days as a devoted wife. Confident in those arrangements, Lydia has tasked her young law clerk, Mr. Robert Newton, to begin drawing up the marriage contracts. Everything is going to plan.

Until Lydia–and Robert along with her–is kidnapped. Someone is after her fortune and won’t hesitate to destroy her reputation to get it. With Robert’s help, Lydia strives to keep her family’s good name intact and expose whoever is behind the devious plot. But as their investigation delves deeper and their affections for each other grow, Lydia starts to wonder whether her carefully planned future is in fact what she truly wants.

Duels & Deceptions is a fun and frothy Regency-era read with a heroine who Jane Austen would have liked!

Lydia Whitfield is my favorite kind of character. She’s highly intelligent, courageous, has a dry sense of humor, and is a little snarky. The romance between her and Robert, starts a bit awkwardly, but by the end they were utterly endearing. The banter between them is funny and sharp, and I enjoyed seeing them match wits. They’re vividly brought to life by Anstey giving them both third person POVs.

The first part of the book is fast-paced and filled with humor. Then around the halfway point things seemed to slow down somewhat. It wasn’t boring by any means. It just didn’t seem to have as much action. Things picked back up though in the latter part of the story and the ending was picture perfect. 

I found the world-building to be well executed, and it’s obvious that Cindy Anstey did her research into 1800s societal norms, dress, and language. I’m a little fussy when it comes to anachronisms in any of the historical fiction books I read, but I really didn’t stumble across any here.

While the figure behind Lydia’s and Robert’s kidnapping isn’t difficult to figure out, the couple’s investigation is still enjoyable to follow.

There’s not a lot of straight historical fiction for YAs that doesn’t involve fantasy or paranormal elements, particularly Regency era stories, so I’m quite happy that Duels & Deceptions proved to be so enjoyable. The tone of the book is so lighthearted and fun, I think I had a smile on my face almost the entire time I was reading it. I highly recommend this for YA and adult fans of historical romance. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Cindy Anstey.

Black Bird of the Gallows, by Meg Kassel ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Romance, Supernatural Fiction, YA Fiction

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

300 Pages

Synopsis: A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full.

Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.

What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

Dark, haunting and romantic, Black Bird of the Gallows is a lush and beautifully told YA supernatural story that for the most part, hits all the right notes.

While the beginning of the book starts off as so many YA stories do: mysterious, brooding boy moves next door to plucky, outsider teen girl, after the first couple of chapters I wound up really liking both Angie and Reece. In addition to them both dealing with traumatic pasts, now they have to deal with a threat involving supernatural bees. *Shudder*. At first I thought this was going to be an annoying case of insta-love, it’s more like an instant attraction that develops into deeper feelings. I was completely invested in the two of them, and found myself fervently hoping they got their happy ending.

The best part of the book is the word-building and mythology. It’s creepy, yet beautiful, and I was completely enthralled throughout the entire book. The pace slowly built until the nerve-wracking ending, which I thought was a bit rushed, but ultimately satisfying.

Y’all know I read a lot of YA Fiction. Even when I like a book, sometimes it’s difficult to remember it. Black Bird of the Gallows is a story that I will remember days, weeks, and months from now. It’s imaginative and unique, and I HIGHLY recommend it for older teens and adults who love supernatural fiction and are looking for a story and characters they’ll fall in love with.

 

The Bride of Glass (Glass Vault #2), by Candace Robinson ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Dark Fantasy, Horror, YA Fiction

Thanks to Candace for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

233 Pages

Synopsis: Perrie Madeleine is trapped in Vale’s clutches as the Bride. Can Perrie find a way to escape her mental prison?

Maisie Jaser is on a rescue mission to retrieve her cousin and best friend, Perrie. Together, she hopes to bring down Vale and rid the world of the destruction he has caused.

Will Vale prevail?

With The Bride of Glass, Candace Robinson brings her imaginative Glass Vault duology to an exciting conclusion. It’s much darker than the previous book and due to the violence and some sexual scenes, I’d recommend this for older teens and adults. 

I absolutely loved Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault, and unbelievably, this is even better! A combination of horror and fairytale retelling, it picks up where the the first book concluded. Infamous literary and historical figures make appearances as Perrie, Maisie, and Neven, seek to stop Vale and send him and his Glass Vault back where they belong. 

Maisie is featured much more prominently here, which is welcome because she’s such a fun and quirky character. The story is quite dark and Maisie interjects some much needed humor.

Perrie has been transformed into the Bride by Vale, and for the first half of the story, is not only his victim, but also commits some pretty horrific acts herself. Once she out from under his control, her remorse and guilt is easy to understand and heartfelt.

In addition to the other characters in the book, you get to read Vale’s backstory and discover that there are multiple facets to this otherwise despicable character. I was surprised by the myriad of emotions he wound up eliciting in me.

The action begins on the very first page and never lets up. There’s many more details that weren’t in the first book about how characters were imprisoned in the Glass Vault and what happened to them when they were there. It’s impressive how much character development and world-building there is in this relatively short book. 

The Bride of Glass is a little different than its predecessor, it still continues the original story, but it’s dark and violent and leaves you scared for its heroes. But there’s also humor and romance to balance this. The ending satisfactorily ties everything together, yet I can’t help wistfully hoping that this isn’t the last we see of Perrie, Maisie, Neven, and Vale. 

I highly recommend both Quinsey Wolfe’s Glass Vault and The Glass Bride to older teens and adults who love dark fantasy and horror, and are looking for something unique and imaginative!