The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand

Pages: 385

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural

Notes for Parents: Contains some mature scenes

The Back Cover

On Christmas Eve five years ago, Holly was visited by three Ghosts who showed her how selfish and spoiled she’d become. They tried to convince her to mend her ways.

She didn’t.

And then she died.

Now she’s stuck working for the top-secret company Project Scrooge—as the latest Ghost of Christmas Past.

Every year, they save another miserly grouch. Every year, Holly stays frozen at seventeen while her family and friends go on living without her. So far, Holly’s afterlife has been miserable.

But this year, everything is about to change…

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is based on Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.

What’s good?

Holly is a failed Scrooge that has spent the last six years trying to convince other Scrooges to change their ways. With sarcasm and dry humor, Holly, with the rest of the Project Scrooge team, investigate their new target, a handsome teenaged boy. It’s a compelling premise that is both comical and engaging. The characters are likeable, especially Stephanie, and even Holly and Ethan who are both self-absorbed but also battling grief and trust issues. While a lot of the story is predictable, the conclusion was completely unexpected. The ending is well-crafted.

Best Part: No Scrooges in Canada! Also, I loved Marty’s explanation of why his generation (teens today) doesn’t believe in magic and the supernatural. (page 243-244)

What isn’t good?

For at least the first half, the story moves slowly. We learn about Holly’s past and her present routine, and a little about the new Scrooge, but nothing terribly exciting happens. It does pick up in the second half, and eventually I felt invested enough in Holly and the other characters to want to know how everything turns out. The romance is light and predictable. The story itself stays fairly superficial despite hitting on tough topics like grief and loneliness. There are some cheesy moments and quite a few stereotypes.

Worst part: Nothing was terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☺ (3.5/5)

This could have been a 4 out of 5, but the start was slow. I considered stopping a few times, but I’m happy I didn’t because the last half of the book was well worth it. Ultimately, this was a fun read, and considering I read it over Christmas it was very apropos. The story was light and easy, with the feel of a Hallmark movie. It may be a bit awkward for those who don’t know Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, but otherwise it was entertaining with a great twist at the end.

Hand, Cynthia. The Afterlife of Holly Chase. New York: Scholastic, 2017.

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Pages: 403

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Fantasy / Mystery

Notes for Parents: Contains violence, sexuality, and mature scenes

The Back Cover

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful and cruel father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a trilogy.

What’s good?

Caraval is a game wrought with danger and intrigue, where high risk reaps big rewards. While Scarlett has dreamed for years of participating, she’s not prepared for the stakes when her sister is taken and rescuing her is the only way to win. The writing is heavy with descriptive prose and metaphors. The plot is inundated with twists and turns, misdirection, and deception. Nothing is what is seems. Scarlett’s relationships are tested; who can she trust? This is a dark tale with mystery, adventure, romance, and magic, as well as passion and desperation. The end wraps up nicely but with a tantalizing invitation to the next game.

Best Part: the shifting dress

What isn’t good?

The cover description gives too much away so the readers end up waiting for things we already know are going to happen. The story would have been much better served if the teaser had been as mysterious as the story. While I like the character of Scarlett, her constant wavering gets annoying, her romance is over-dramatic, and her traits are inconsistent. The world-building is disappointingly vague and character development is minimal.

Worst part: When Scarlett tells Donatella, “You can’t be in love with someone you just met,” yet Scarlett is in love with some she just met. Did I miss something?

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻ ☻ (3.5/5)

I really did enjoy this book, but it also felt like it was lacking in so many ways. I was never bored, yet I was often annoyed by inconsistencies, strange metaphors, or missing explanations. The plot is fueled by lies and deception so the twists and turns are dizzying, and in the end, the overall intention isn’t clear. Perhaps the other two books in the series make everything clearer.

Garber, Stephanie. Caraval. New York: Flatiron Books, 2017.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

Pages: 416

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Crime/Mystery

Notes for Parents: Contains some coarse language, mild violence, under-age drinking, and other mature scenes.

The Inside Cover

Ellingham Academy is a famous private school in Vermont. It was founded by Albert Ellingham, an early twentieth century tycoon, who wanted to make a wonderful place full of riddles, twisting pathways, and gardens. “A place,” he said, “where learning is a game.”

In 1936, shortly after the school opened, Ellingham’s wife and daughter, Iris and Alice, were kidnapped. The only real clue was a mocking riddle listing methods of murder, signed with the frightening pseudonym “Truly, Devious.” It became one of the great crimes of American history. Something like that could never happen again, of course…

Years later, true-crime aficionado Stevie Bell is set to begin her first year at Ellingham Academy, and she has an ambitious plan: She will solve this cold case. That is, she will solve the case when she gets a grip on her demanding new school life and her housemates: the inventor, the novelist, the actor, the artist, and the jokester. But something strange is happening. Truly Devious makes a surprise return, and death revisits Ellingham Academy. The past has crawled out of its grave. Someone has gotten away with murder.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series.

What’s good?

Stevie Bell is observant, brave, a little compulsive, and very persistent. She is determined to solve a mystery that has plagued her new school since 1936. However, a present-day death at the school presents her with a new opportunity to put her sleuthing skills to use. Both crimes are intriguing and there’s plenty of suspense and foreshadowing. Mysteries abound and the plot is strong, but the story focuses also on the relationships that develop between Stevie and her new housemates. There’s a hint of romance but nothing distracting. The story ends with a cliffhanger.

Best Part: Stevie.

What isn’t good?

It started slow and it only picked up a moderate amount. There wasn’t much action, and for a place that was supposed to be “a wonderful place full of riddles,” I was disappointed that there were only three. There was no resolution to the first murder (yet), and the second murder’s solution was vague and unsatisfying. It was a bit predictable and the cliffhanger at the end had nothing to do with either murder!

Worst part: the lack of resolution.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻ ☻ (3/5)

It ended on a cliffhanger. I’ll read dozens of books between now and the next book in this series, so I likely won’t read it knowing that I won’t remember the details of the 1930s murder enough to pick up where it left off. Having said that, it was still a fun read. I really liked Stevie and I found both murder mysteries intriguing.

Johnson, Maureen. Truly Devious. New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2018. (Hardcover)

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

Pages: 296

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Dystopian / Science Fiction / Action-Adventure

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Emerging from its hiding place in the hills, the great Traction City of London chases one terrified little town across the wastelands. If it cannot overpower smaller, slower prey, the city will come to a standstill and risk being taken over by another. In the attack, Tom Natsworthy, Apprentice Historian to the London Museum, is flung from its speeding superstructure into the barren wasteland of Out-Country. His only companion is Hester Shaw, a murderous, scar-faced girl who does not particularly want Tom’s company. But if they are to make it back to London before Stalkers or hungry cities get them first, they will need to help each other, and fast. If Hester is to be believed, London is planning something atrocious, and the future of the world could be at stake. Can they get back to London before it’s too late?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first in a four-book series and has been made into a major motion picture scheduled for release in December 2018.

What’s good?

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where cities on wheels travel around “eating” other cities for salvage. The plot is simple, with some twists and turns, and the pace is good with lots of tension and bursts of action. The world building is excellent in this steampunk version of London in the future where old tech (computers, cellphones, etc.) are highly valued. Themes include sustainable living, social activism, political corruption, relationships, and vengeance. The short chapters make this a quick and easy read.

Best Part: Tom finds a “seedy.”

What isn’t good?

I never felt invested in the characters. There was no shortage of suspense and action, but the characters themselves were static and never really cared how they would fare through it all. Hester and Katherine displayed the “strong female character” traits in parts, but it wasn’t sustained long enough. It might be this lack of character development that makes the tone and writing feel juvenile. The relationships they have are complex but are never explored so what happened to them doesn’t really mattered.

Worst part: The occasional change of tense was awkward and had no purpose.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

I decided to read Mortal Engines because it’s been made into a movie that has received a lot of hype. The story wasn’t terrible, but I was surprised by the weakness of the storytelling. I liked the premise and plot, and I loved the steampunk world, but the characters and writing style felt juvenile. I didn’t mind that there wasn’t a lot of politics or history explained, but there was a sense of urgency missing. It’s like the characters knew what was happening, but had no emotional reaction to it.

Reeve, Philip. Mortal Engines. New York: Scholastic, 2018 ©2001

Impostors by Scott Westerfeld

Westerfeld, Scott. Impostors. New York: Scholastic, 2018.

Pages: 405

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Dystopian / Science Fiction

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Frey and Rafi are inseparable…two edges of the same knife. But Frey’s very existence is a secret.

Frey is Rafi’s twin sister—and her body double. Their powerful father has many enemies, and the world has grown dangerous as the old order falls apart. So while Rafi was raised to be the perfect daughter, Frey has been taught to kill. Her only purpose is to protect her sister, to sacrifice herself for Rafi if she must.

When her father sends Frey in Rafi’s place as collateral in a precarious deal, she becomes the perfect impostor—as poised and charming as her sister. But Col, the son of a rival leader, is getting close enough to spot the killer inside her. As the deal starts to crumble, Frey must decide if she can trust him with the truth…and if she can risk becoming her own person.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a four-book series and is set in the same post-apocalyptic world as the author’s Uglies series.

What’s good?

This is rapid-fire, action-adventure that takes place in a dystopian future. Frey must find her own voice after years of living in the shadow of her sister. The plot is intricate, but accessible, as politics and deception pit nations against each other. Frey must decide if she’s willing to risk everything to do what she thinks is the right thing. There’s a budding romance (the dreaded insta-love!), but it doesn’t interfere with the more important mission. The chapters are short with tension throughout. The pacing is swift with bursts of action and ever-present danger. It ends with a cliffhanger that promises more intrigue to come.

Best Part: Zura.

What isn’t good?

If you haven’t read the original Uglies series, you miss out on a lot of the world building. I’m not sure how much this changes the feel of the story since I’ve read them, but it seems like I had to do a lot of remembering. Since this is clearly a plot-driven story, the characters aren’t very fleshed out (perhaps with the exception of Frey), but with subsequent books in the series, hopefully character development will deepen.

Worst part: The cover.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

I’m excited to see where this new story in the Uglies universe will go. There was a lot of foreshadowing about Tally Youngblood that can only mean that she will return at some point. Although you don’t have to read the original series to understand Impostors, I highly recommend that you do as it gives context to what’s happening and why.

The Agony House by Cheri Priest

Pages: 256

Intended Audience: Tweens

Genre: Mystery / Ghost story

Notes for Parents: Contains violence and some mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Denise Farber has just moved back to New Orleans with her mom and stepdad. They left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and have finally returned, wagering the last of their family’s money on fixing up an old, rundown house and converting it to a bed and breakfast.

Nothing seems to work around the place, which doesn’t seem too weird to Denise. The unexplained noises are a little more out of the ordinary, but again, nothing too unusual. But when floors collapse, deadly objects rain down, and she hears creepy voices, it’s clear to Denise that something more sinister lurks hidden here.

Answers may lie in an old comic book Denise finds concealed in the abandoned attic: the lost final project of a famous artist who disappeared in the 1950s. Denise isn’t budging from her new home, so she must unravel the mystery—on the pages and off them—if she and her family are to survive…

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is a mixed media novel with both text and graphic elements.

What’s good?

After Denise and her neighbor Terry find an old comic book, a mystery unfolds that may explain the noises and strange happenings that have been plaguing the old house. This is part ghost story, part comic book, and part murder mystery. The characters are interesting, and the plot is organized. The topic of gentrification is a theme, as is the Comics Code Authority, a regulatory body created in the 1950s. The mystery is intriguing, and the ghostly happenings are creepy.

Best Part: Terry.

What isn’t good?

The pace is slow. Things don’t really pick up until the end. The third person narrative creates a disconnect between the characters and the reader. While the characters are well-drawn, there’s no development throughout the story. Some of the dialogue is awkward and the voices don’t always sound genuine.

Worst part: Nothing is terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☻☻☻ (2.5/5)

Unfortunately, there was an awkwardness in the pace and dialogue that made it difficult to really buy into the premise of this ghost story / murder mystery. It was a quick and easy read, but it lacked storytelling finesse. I didn’t hate it, in fact it was a fun read, but there wasn’t enough substance to warrant a recommendation.

Priest, Cheri. The Agony House. New York: Scholastic, 2018.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Pages: 465

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy / Adventure

Notes for Parents: Contains violence (sometimes graphic), and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

A convict with a thirst for revenge

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager

A runaway with a privileged past

A spy known as the Wraith

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes

Kaz’s crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a duology. The second book is called Crooked Kingdom. The books are set in the same world as the author’s Grisha trilogy.

What’s good?

There is plenty of action in this alternative world adventure about a group of criminals tasked with abducting a scientist who holds a formula that turns people who already have extraordinary gifts into unstoppable weapons. The characters are very well drawn with excellent character development. The world building is strong. The pace varies, but the action is full of risk and tension and there are many heart-stopping moments. The plot is somewhat complex, but it’s easy to follow with many interesting subplots. Friendship, morality, trust, and grief are among the themes.

Best Part: Nina.

What isn’t good?

It was longer than necessary and there are too many characters, making them difficult to keep track of. Kaz was a strong character, but impossible to like. Nina and Matthias were an awkward couple whose relationship was annoyingly inconsistent. Inej, who is meant to be a strong, female character was adept but too reliant on others. Her relationship with Kaz was strange.

Worst part: There’s nothing terrible.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

This is a typical “heist” story set in an alternate world. It has a good pace (in most parts) and plenty of twists and turns fraught with tension and danger. I found the relationships between the characters were awkward, but the characters themselves were very interesting. It was a fun read.

Bardugo, Leigh. Six of Crows. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 2015.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Pages: 512

Intended Audience: Adults

Genre: Romance / Historical / Supernatural / Mystery

Notes for Parents: Contains somemature scenes.

The Back Cover

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white-striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirques des Rêves, and it is open only at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Amidst the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The film and TV rights to The Night Circus were optioned by Summit Entertainment, and a film is being produced by David Heyman and Jeff Clifford under Heyday Films. Moira Buffini was hired in February 2012 to write the screenplay. As of April 2018, there is still no confirmation if a film or TV show will ever be made.

What’s good?

The story unfolds around the dark and mysterious, ever-changing venue of the night circus, where circus-goers wander from tent to tent to find fortune tellers and acrobats, but also wondrous things like rooms that snow and living statues. The circus itself, described in stunning detail, is a living, breathing entity that blankets the story with an ethereal atmosphere that gives the story’s characters a mystical quality. The plot is simple, and the pace is steady. It’s a very visual story and has a satisfying end.

Best Part: The setting.

What isn’t good?

The time jumps are confusing. The plot is very simplistic and lackluster, contradicting the promise of fierce competition, high stakes, and dangerous consequences in the cover description. The romance, what there is of it, is instantaneous and melodramatic. The writing is good, but the character and plot development is lacking. The story appears to be driven solely by the setting.

Worst part: The fierce duel never happened.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (2.5/5)

The setting was amazing, but the story was uninspired. This is basically a description of an amazing, mystical circus, with a thin plot and interesting but under-developed characters. By the end, I didn’t hate the story, but I felt underwhelmed. It was such a spectacular setting, but nothing really happened. I was disappointed.

Morgenstern, Erin. The Night Circus. Toronto: Anchor Canada, 2011.

Ramona Blue by Julie Murphy

Pages: 408

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Coming of Age / LGBTQ

Notes for Parents: Contains mild language, sexuality, underaged drinking, and mature situations.

The Back Cover

Standing over six feet tall with unmistakable blue hair, Ramona is sure of three things: she likes girls, she’s fiercely devoted to her family, and she knows she’s destined for something bigger than the trailer she calls home in Eulogy, Mississippi. But juggling multiple jobs, her flaky mom, and her well-meaning but ineffectual dad forces her to be the adult of the family. Now, with her sister, Hattie, pregnant, responsibility weighs more heavily than ever.
The return of her childhood friend Freddie brings a welcome distraction. Ramona’s friendship with the former competitive swimmer picks up exactly where it left off, and soon he’s talked her into joining him for laps at the pool. But as Ramona falls in love with swimming, her feelings for Freddie begin to shift too, which is the last thing she expected. With her growing affection for Freddie making her question her sexual identity, Ramona begins to wonder if perhaps she likes girls and guys or if this new attraction is just a fluke. Either way, Ramona will discover that, for her, life and love are more fluid than they seem.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

Julie Murphy is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dumplin’ and Side Effects May Vary.

What’s good?

Relationships are complex, and Ramona Blue knows this all too well. She’s just a small-town girl trying to be her authentic self when her own feelings betray her. Things get complicated when her pregnant sister’s boyfriend moves in, her friends start moving on without her, and a boy from her past shows up. The story has emotion, diversity, introspection, and several poignant moments. Ramona is a convincing character and her supporting cast is varied but believable. The ending is deeply satisfying.

Best Part: Freddie.

What isn’t good?

Thanks to the back-cover description, we knew that Ramona was going to fall for Freddie, but after 80 pages, it still hadn’t happened! Overall, the story moved slowly, there wasn’t a lot of action, and it was fairly predictable. I started getting tired of the characters about three quarters of the way in. While the short chapters moved things along some, it was still too long and lacked tension.

Worst part: The sex scene was gratuitous and offered too much information.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (3.5/5)

This is essentially an intricate coming-of-age story. Ramona is a strong, memorable character and her small Mississippi town is a beautiful setting for a story that will resonate with many teens. The diverse cast of characters is wonderfully refreshing. The slow pace was its only real weakness. It’s worth the read. Recommended.

Murphy, Julie. Ramona Blue. New York: Balzar + Bray, 2017.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Pages: 349

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural

Notes for Parents: Contains mild language, violence, and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Sunny Nwazue lives in Nigeria, but she was born in New York City. Her features are West African, but she’s albino. She’s a terrific athlete but can’t go out into the sun to play soccer. There seems to be no place where she fits in. And then she discovers something amazing—she is a “free agent” with latent magical power. And she has a lot of catching up to do.

Soon she’s part of a quartet of magic students, studying the visible and invisible, learning to change reality. But just as she’s finding her footing, Sunny and her friends are asked by the magical authorities to help track down a career criminal who knows magic, too. Will their training be enough to help them against a threat whose powers greatly outnumber theirs?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The author writes fantasy and science fiction for both children and adults. In the past she has won several prestigious awards, including The World Fantasy Award in 2011 for her novel Who Fears Death, and both The Nebula Award and The Hugo Award in 2016 for her novella Binti. The sequel to Akata Witch was published in 2017 and is called Akata Warrior.

What’s good?

As an American living in Nigeria, and an albino, Sunny feels out of place. That is until she discovers she is one of the Leopard People – possessors of magic abilities. She’s taken on a journey, along with three other students, to discover the depth of her abilities. The reader learns along with Sunny who the Leopard People are and what they’re capable of. Running parallel to Sunny’s story is the tale of the Black Hat Killer, a serial killer who is murdering children in the area. The plot and subplots are exciting, it’s easy to read, and the characters are very well drawn. World building is excellent and vividly described. There’s plenty of tension, and themes include family, friendship, bravery, and power. The end was thrilling.

Best Part: People’s names – Periwinkle, Jibaku, Calculus, Chichi, Sugar Cream…

What isn’t good?

Sometimes the story was a little slow.

Worst part: Why is everyone always sucking their teeth?

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☺ (4.5/5)

It seems like a strange comparison, but this reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, only more sophisticated, darker, more mystical, and beautifully infused with African culture, tradition, and language. Visually it was stunning. It would make a beautiful movie. This is a unique and creative story. Definitely recommended.

Okorafor, Nnedi. Akata Witch. New York: Speak, 2011.

The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

Pages: 328

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Supernatural / Mystery

Notes for Parents: Contains some language and mature scenes.

The Back Cover

Amber Sand wants you to know she is not a witch. The Sand family magic gene somehow leapfrogged over her. But she did get one highly specific bewitching talent: she can see true love. As a matchmaker, Amber’s pretty far down the sorcery food chain (even birthday-party magicians rank higher), but after five seconds of eye contact, she can envision anyone’s soul mate.

Amber works at her mother’s magic shop—Windy City Magic—in downtown Chicago, and she’s confident she’s seen every kind of happy ending there is, except for one: her own. (The Fates are tricky jerks that way.) So when Charlie Blitzman, the mayor’s son and the most-desired boy in school, comes to her for help finding his father’s missing girlfriend, she’s distressed to find herself falling for him. Because while she can’t see her own match, she can see his—and it’s not Amber. How can she, an honest peddler of true love, pursue a boy she knows full well isn’t meant for her?

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series. The sequel is called The Sweetest Kind of Fate.

What’s good?

Amber is a matchmaker. She can look into someone’s eyes and see that person’s true love. Charlie is the mayor’s son and he needs Amber’s help solving the mystery of his dad’s missing girlfriend. Together they navigate back alley magic and mysterious creatures to get to the truth. The plot is good and has several easy-to-follow subplots. The pace is steady. Characters are well-drawn and have believable relationships. It’s great that adults have important roles in the story. Themes include family, friendship, love, and fate. It has a great ending.

Best Part: Amber’s friend, Amani.

What isn’t good?

The pace was a bit slow at the beginning but picked up and stayed steady after that. The writing feels a little juvenile. It was odd that there was no real world-building; everyone just seemed to accept that magic was real. Even though Charlie didn’t know about magic, he doesn’t seem at all phased by the revelations.

Worst part: There’s a disturbing scene on page 206 where Charlie is basically sexually assaulted by Ivy.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (3.5/5)

Despite the fact that the writing style feels a little juvenile, the mysteries kept me reading – What happened to Cassandra? Why the change to the coven? Who is Amani’s match and why won’t she use her abilities? I read the first two chapters of the next book that were featured in the back and would have continued reading if I would have had the book on hand. It was a fun read. Recommended.

Cestari, Crystal. The Best Kind of Magic. Los Angeles: Hyperion, 2017.