Author: Natasha Bowen

Genres:  Fantasy

Pages: 400 

Publisher: Random House Children

Review Copy: ARC by publisher

Availability: Available Now

Summary: 

The people are calling . . .

And the gods will answer.

Moremi has only ever known peace in the Kingdom of Kwa, thanks to the two dragon gods keeping an unspeakable evil at bay. But when the king tries to claim the gods’ power for himself, it all goes dreadfully wrong. The great dragons are injured and flee . . . and the world’s darkest shadows are released.

Suddenly, Kwa’s ancient tales of monsters become all too real. Yet as death comes for those around her, Moremi somehow finds herself magically connected to both dragon gods—a feat that should be impossible.

Now, Moremi is Kwa’s only hope for restoring the gods to full strength. But will Jagun, the mysterious prince, let her anywhere near the dragons? And how does her childhood friend, Nox, feel about it all? It may not matter in the end, because if Moremi fails her quest, then she risks the earth caving in and the sky crumbling down.

Review: I never really read high fantasy when I was a teen because I did not see people who looked like me in them so it’s only as an adult and having more fantasy published by Black and other authors of color that I’ve lost myself in the genre. I read Natasha Bowen’s debut novel, Skin of the Sea, and truly enjoyed it. Can you imagine how excited I was to see her newest series and learn it was about dragons? I was so excited to read this novel especially after looking at that gorgeous cover. I found the premise to be unique and couldn’t wait to read it. 

Like many high fantasy, the beginning is a bit slow as the novel is doing the heavy lifting of world building. I’ll admit I struggled a bit but as I read on and understood what was what the reading because easier. Bowen created a fully unique world with a highly developed religious system that was so detailed down to the movement of the prayers (which is an element I really liked). Because Bowen had done the work making her world so detailed, I could clearly imagine the movements of the prayers, so when the three different ceremonies occur to cleanse the world, the power of ritual and faith clearly resonated with me. 

Moremi is the daughter of the high priestess who serves Yida, the female dragon, so she has immense pressure on her to be chosen as one to carry Yida’s power. Moremi struggles with this pressure and doesn’t want to carry this power but due to an incident, finds herself participating in the ceremony connected to Yida. The ceremony has two parts where after Yida shares her power with women, Dam, the male dragon, shares his power with the men. Moremi, in her own way, intervenes and ends up getting power from Dam as well. She knows this is unusual and as chaos reigns after the king tries to claim the dragons power as his own, Moremi sets off on a journey to find the dragons and complete the cleansing ceremony. Thus, this novel becomes a classic hero’s journey type of novel as Moremi travels with her best friend Nox, and her rival Zaye. They encounter the different peoples who live in the kingdom, receive help from religious elders, and of course, battle monsters. There is a lovely twist that I didn’t see coming and is used to propel the series forward.The way the novel ends is intriguing because it takes the story in a whole new direction and one that I’m looking forward to reading. 

Author:  Ravynn K. Stringfield

Genres:  Contemporary/Romance

Pages: 288

Publisher: Joy Revolution

Review Copy: ARC by publisher

Availability: Available now

Summary: Whitney Curry is primed to have an epic semester abroad. She’s created the perfect itinerary and many, many to-do lists after collecting every detail possible about Paris, France. Thus, she anticipates a grand adventure filled with vintage boutiques, her idol Josephine Baker’s old stomping grounds, and endless plays sure to inspire the ones she writes and—ahem—directs!

But all is not as she imagined when she’s dropped off at her prestigious new Parisian lycée. A fish out of water, Whitney struggles to juggle schoolwork, homesickness, and mastering the French language. Luckily, she lives for the drama. Literally.

Cue French tutor Thierry Magnon, a grumpy yet très handsome soccer star, who’s determined to show Whitney the real Paris. Is this type-A theater nerd ready to see how lessons on the City of Lights can turn into lessons on love?

Review: Having been to Paris a few years ago and fell in love with the city myself, I was so excited to read this novel because after all…Paris is the City of Love. And like Whitney, when I first went I had the fantasy of Paris and quickly learned about the real Paris (not that it was bad…I’m still in love with the city). I feel like Ravynn Stringfield captured this feeling perfectly through Whitney’s experience as she arrived all sunshine and full of expectation, but soon learns about the difference between fantasy and reality. 

I will admit that at first Whitney’s character kind of annoyed me. She is very “high-maintenance” in that she is overly cheerful, has a set list of expectations for her stay in Paris, and does come on a bit strong to folks as she’s very over-eager. This behavior got on my nerves but then I reminded myself that Whitney is on a journey and the point of the story. Throughout her friendship and eventual relationship with Thierry, she learns to be open to new experiences that are not a set list and to view the world in absolutes. She had a list of places she wanted to visit, all touristy places (which there is nothing wrong with), but Theirry shows her the real Paris and those interactions are where Whitney begins to understand that there is so much more to Paris than the city in her fantasies. It is a thriving city with real people living real complicated lives. She branches out of her bubble and really begins to live in Paris rather than be an extended tourist. One of my favorite moments is when she realizes she has to refresh her braids and she uses the network of friends she’s made among Black Parisians. Having an experience that is so much like home really hits for Whitney what the true city of Paris is. 

Love Requires Chocolate is of course a romance and I would be remiss if I didn’t write about the romance in the story. It is a nice slow build because Whitney is resistant to wanting to start a relationship with Theirry because she’s there to focus on her senior project and her time in Paris is limited. As Theirry encourages her to try new experiences, her heart opens to him and when they finally admit they feel something for each other, it really is sweet at chocolate. I liked Theirry as a character and he was a great balance for Whitney as he was a little more laid back but had his own issues that Whitney helped him through as well. I really liked them as a couple and hope to see glimpses of them in the upcoming novels. 

Author:  Joelle Wellington

Genres:  Thriller/Horror

Pages: 336

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Review Copy: ARC by publisher

Availability: Available now

Summary: A group of friends fight to choose their own fates in this trope-savvy, self-referential young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their Vicious Games , about a demonic force that acts according to horror movie rules in the spirit of the Scream movies.

Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it’s a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early—The Best Summer Ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don’t ever mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the Best Summer Ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by…a demon?

But while there’s no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn’t feel very demonic at all. In fact, it’s downright human—going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush, Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle.

Devon has never liked playing by anyone else’s rules though, not even a demon’s, and the longer this goes on, the more she feels Drew and Yaya slipping away from her even as she tries to help them all survive. Can they use their horror movie knowledge to flip the script and become the hunters instead of the hunted? Or will their best summer ever be their last?

Review: If you read Joelle Wellington’s first book, Their Vicious Games, you know that she can do thriller extremely well. Now with her sophomore novel, she cranks up the thriller aspect, throws in some supernatural horror and takes the reader on an even more intense journey. Once the action of the story gets moving, it is fast-paced all the way to the end. Amidst all of this action is a story that focuses on friendship and sisterhood. 

Even though she feels betrayed by her twin sister who graduated high school early, Devon tries to make amends by creating a list of things to do before her sister leaves for college. The problem – they don’t really have much in common anymore so Devon makes a list based on the activities they used to do. It all falls apart after they play with a Ouija board at a party and now their friends are being hunted by a demon. Luckily the demon doesn’t seem to be too particular about its kills, so if it can’t have one of the friend’s group, it will take someone near them that “somewhat” fits the bill. This is where the novel gave me the giggles because the group of friends realize they are playing out the plot of a horror novel so they develop a plan to defeat the demon. Like all plans this one falls apart, which as an avid reader I knew was going to happen because I was only about a third of the way of the book but what I loved was how all of it played out, especially because it came through a very cool plot twist. And if you’ve read any of my reviews before you know I love a plot twist that I didn’t see coming. 

While the thriller of the story was fun, the heart of the novel is the relationship between Devon and Drew. At the beginning of the novel, while Devon is trying to make amends with her sister, the relationship between the two is antagonistic. Devon feels like she doesn’t know her sister anymore since they attend separate schools and is a bit insecure about herself due to being compared to her sister. It is a complicated dynamic and one that many of us could relate to – anyone with sisters would. The horror plot they find themselves in brings them together in a way they haven’t been in a while and through the events they learn more about each other and an appreciation for each other. While the novel is told through Devon’s POV, Drew is such a strong character that she almost feels like a protagonist as well. Both grow through the novel as they learn to open up and trust each other. 

The Blonde Dies First is a fun ride of a book and because you get so drawn into the story, it’s a fast read. With school starting and all the stresses that come with it, Wellington’s newest book is a perfect book when you need a break. 

Author:  Renée Watson, Ekua Holmes (Illustrator)

Genres:  Poetry

Pages: 96

Publisher: Kokila

Review Copy: ARC by publisher

Availability: Available now

Summary: In this semi-autobiographical collection of poems, Renée Watson writes

about her experience growing up as a young Black girl at the intersections of race, class, and gender.

Using a variety of poetic forms, from haiku to free verse, Watson shares recollections of her childhood in Portland, tender odes to the Black women in her life, and urgent calls for Black girls to step into their power.

Black Girl You Are Atlas encourages young readers to embrace their future with a strong sense of sisterhood and celebration. With full-color art by celebrated fine artist Ekua Holmes throughout, this collection offers guidance and is a gift for anyone who reads it.

Review: I have enjoyed every Renée Watson book I’ve ever read, even taught Watch Us Rise, so when I saw “Black Girl You Are Atlas” on the display shelf at NCTE, I was more than interested. Watson’s words have always had a lyrical quality that always draws me in and truly moves the spirit.  This collection of poetry is a mix of autobiographical story telling while also reveling in the beauty that is Black culture, Black girlhood. Watson also uses a few different poetic styles from prose, to haiku, to a pantoum, and free verse. 

The title of the collection comes from the poem “Atlas” where she begins with the different definitions of the word then ties the prose style poem to all the different definitions. She plays with the different definitions exploring how Black girls (and women) often carry the world on their shoulders while they also contain the histories of Black people within them. It is a beautiful poem that acknowledges the burdens Black girls often carry while lifting them up at the same time. 

Another poem that I really loved was titled “When I Say I Love Us” which is a love poem to Black culture. The poem is all about the wonderful aspects of Black culture with a rhythm that exudes a certain swagger. The repetition of “When I say I love us” at the beginning of each stanza builds as if the reader is beginning to shout about the love they have for Black people and Black culture. The last line “I mean I love the love that is us” is such a fun line to read and full of love.  

The collection includes poems dedicated to Renisha McBride, Michelle Obama, and a beautiful poem titled “A Pantoum for Breonna Taylor”. All three poems share the injustice these three women experienced and also celebrates who they are (Obama) and memorializes what we lost with McBride and Taylor. 

All in all, this is a lovely collection of poems and as I was reading I was thinking of a few Black girls who could find inspiration from Watson’s poetry. These poems are beautifully written and are the perfect antidote to a world that tries to bring Black girls down. 

Oh! I almost forgot to about the artwork. Since I had a ARC of the collection my artwork was in black and white but I’ve seen a few pictures to know that the Ekua Holmes artwork is stunning. It is full of color that captures all aspects of Black girl and womanhood and accentuate each of the poems. The collaboration makes for an excellent book that any Black girl (or former girl) should add to their collection.

The Merciless Ones by Namina Forna

It’s been six months since Deka freed the goddesses in the ancient kingdom of Otera and discovered who she really is… but war is waging across the kingdom, and the real battle has only just begun. For there is a dark force growing in Otera—a merciless power that Deka and her army must stop.

Yet hidden secrets threaten to destroy everything Deka has known. And with her own gifts changing, Deka must discover if she holds the key to saving Otera… or if she might be its greatest threat.

The Merciless Ones is the second thrilling installment of the epic fantasy series in which a young heroine fights against a world that would dare tame her.

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen

A way to survive.

A way to serve.

A way to save.

Simi prayed to the gods, once. Now she serves them as Mami Wata–a mermaid–collecting the souls of those who die at sea and blessing their journeys back home.

But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and does the unthinkable–she saves his life. And punishment awaits those who dare to defy the gods.

To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . .

Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it.

Within These Wicked Walls by Lauren Blackwood

What the heart desires, the house destroys…

Andromeda is a debtera—an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, Andromeda quickly realizes this is a job like no other, with horrifying manifestations at every turn, and that Magnus is hiding far more than she has been trained for. Death is the most likely outcome if she stays, but leaving Magnus to live out his curse alone isn’t an option. Evil may roam the castle’s halls, but so does a burning desire.

Author: Charlene Thomas

Genres:  Contemporary

Pages: 320

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

Review Copy: ARC by publisher

Availability: Available now

Summary: Seton Academic High is a prep school obsessed with its football team and their thirteen-year conference win streak, a record that players always say they’d never have without Seton’s girls. What exactly Seton girls do to make them so valuable, though, no one ever really says. They’re just the best. But the team’s quarterback, the younger brother of the Seton star who started the streak, wants more than regular season glory. He wants a state championship before his successor, Seton’s first Black QB, has a chance to overshadow him. Bigger rewards require bigger risks, and soon the actual secrets to the team’s enduring success leak to a small group of girls who suddenly have the power to change their world forever. 

Review: Seton Girls is a slow burn type of novel that initially bugged my impatient reader self, but when I reminded myself to enjoy the mystery of the reason the football players revere the Seton Girls, I feel in love with the narration, the characters, the pace and the slow reveal of the football teams secret. The story is told in both the present and the past that leads up to the Seton High community learning the secret as well as a delicious minor plot twist. I wasn’t expecting the flashback chapters told in various characters POV and I struggled with their purpose, but like all good readers, when you begin to figure out the mystery (or at least think you do) I began to enjoy the flashbacks because it allowed me to have insight into the mystery our main character Aly is solving. We can see the bigger picture before her and end up on this unique ride as she discovers the reason and cheer for her as she decides what to do with that information. 

The novel takes place in an unnamed city in an unnamed state because the “where” of antics of elite prep school don’t really matter as the entitlement many of these students feel is what matters. Which is why having the present time period chapters of the novel told by Aly makes the story even more meaningful. Aly is somewhat of an outsider. One of the few Black students at the school, Aly and her boyfriend J (his full name is never given) are bussed in. Aly is the star editor in chief of the school newspaper, as she is the first junior to be named editor, and J is an up and coming football star quarterback. While they are “outsiders” because of their positions they are actually apart of the “inside” group, and when the group falls apart, both find themselves being pulled in two directions. Aly befriends Britt, a Black Seton elite, who finds herself excommunicated from her friend group when she accuses her best friend’s boyfriend of sexual assault.  Aly’s and Britt’s friendship is what ultimately begins Aly’s investigation into the secret as she tries to understand the truth of what happened between Britt and Parker, who is the current senior star football player. 

I can’t really say more without giving much away but Aly and Britt make a great team and the development of their friendship is beautiful. In fact, much of the book focuses on the strength of female friendships. Aly mourns with Britt over her broken friendship and desires for them to have a reconciliation. There are often passages where Aly reminisces on how the girls’ friendship appeared from an outsider’s perspective, that the love the four had for each other was greater than the “love” the girls had for their boyfriends. A number of times Aly says the Britt and her friends are each other’s soulmates. I found this theme a wonderful counter to the mystery behind the reason the football player’s chant of “Seton Girls”. And is what ultimately made the novel for me. 

Seton Girls is a novel for our times and an excellent example of female teen empowerment against toxic male institutions.