Review: Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll

Good morning! Today I am sharing my review for Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll - which was a pleasant surprise!

RATING: 4.75/5


I absolutely loved this novel! It was different than I expected, but it was a pleasant surprise.

I found the characters refreshing, and the challenges they faced were realistic. Each experienced growth in their own way throughout the story and overcame periods of racism, guilt, and hardship, resulting in a new positive sense of identity.

I was impressed with the variety of characters, and their different points of view shared insight on the emotions they have. They shared an inside perspective to different cultures, stereotypes, and how to handle racism and abuse. It was a bolder story than I expected, and it was executed very well.

The atmosphere at the Unclaimed Baggage store is one of my favourite parts. It was fun, and exciting to see the unique items, and Red was a great boss. It was engaging to hear their ideas of the story behind each item or suitcase they found.

Overall, I really loved it and would recommend it to any contemporary fan.


Thank you Raincoast books for the review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

ARC Review: Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria

Good afternoon lovelies

I am here with a review of my recent read, Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria! This dark and magical story was a blend of Six of Crows and dark magic, and I was surprised how much I really liked it.


Rating: 4.5/5

Review:

This novel is a dark tale following five main characters and their attempt to overthrow the current government, continuing the rebellion that their parents had worked hard to start. The POV's switch to each character, and are rotated between present and past situations. That writing method I found a bit annoying at first, but it truly keeps the reader engaged as they want to find out what happens next.

My favourite character was Cassa. She was determined to finish off the Citadel council, just like how the council killed her parents 4 years ago. Her perseverance was evident throughout, but she also made incredible sacrifices. Evander was the other character I really liked. His relationships kept him going throughout, and he was a true fighter.

I loved the setting in this novel. The differing wards for each status level were described well. The prisons were dark and menacing, and the inside of the citadel had a feeling of forgotten royalty. The twists and turns in the novel were also very well done. With the varying characters each wanting something slightly different, readers did not who to trust, and it kept them guessing to the end. I found the beginning a bit slow, the changing POV's made it difficult to connect to a character. However, it picked up in the middle and the ending was heartbreaking but beautiful.

ARC Review: An Assassin's Guide to Love & Treason

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of finishing An Assassin's Guide to Love & Treason by Virginia Boecker. It was so enjoyable, funny, and the historical elements were executed very well.


Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐

- Thank you HBG Canada for the review copy, in exchange for an honest review -


"Phillipa Gregory meets Mr. & Mrs. Smith"

A historical story set in the 1600's, that follows a royal spy and an vengeful orphan, the first working to uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, the other carrying out the plan. The novel features a variety of bold and diverse characters, appearances from Shakespeare himself, and learning about sacrifices one can make for love.

I absolutely adored this novel. Katherine was a lady who found her identity throughout the novel, despite playing many roles. After being disguised as Kit, she found strength in herself, empowering her to be more than just a pretty face. She was an easy character to relate too and her determination was easy for a reader to root for. I liked her fierceness and it was clear she wanted to make a difference in the world. Toby was another great character. He was passionate and humorous. In the end, he lets his heart lead him to where he needs to be, and I am glad his numerous years of loyalty paid off.

The historical elements really let this novel stand out. With true individuals from history, including poets, royal advisers, and members from the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, it felt very real and the story immerses readers into the complicated era of the 17th century. Having one of Shakespeare's plays, Twelfth Night, be a prominent part of this novel made it amusing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Globe, the actors, and the area. The setting of this novel truly made it special, and I hope it stands to other releases this month.

Overall, I recommend this one to fans of star-crossed lovers, murderous plots, and unique twists that will surprise readers.

Blog Tour: Grim Lovelies by Megan Shepherd

Good morning lovelies!

I am proud to share with you today's stop on the Grim Lovelies Blog Tour, hosted by Raincoast Books. I read this one last month, and the concept was magical.

Tour Schedule:

Book Details:

Title: Grim Lovelies
Author: Megan Shepherd
Publisher: HMH Teen
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy


Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Anouk envies the human world, where people known as Pretties lavish themselves in fast cars, high fashion, and have the freedom to fall in love. But Anouk can never have those things, because she is not really human. Enchanted from animal to human girl and forbidden to venture beyond her familiar Parisian prison, Anouk is a Beastie: destined for a life surrounded by dust bunnies and cinders serving Mada Vittora, the evil witch who spelled her into existence. That is, until one day she finds her mistress murdered in a pool of blood—and Anouk is accused of the crime.

Now, the world she always dreamed of is rife with danger. Pursued through Paris by the underground magical society known as the Haute, Anouk and her fellow Beasties only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away. If they fail, they will lose the only lives they’ve ever known…but if they succeed, they could be more powerful than anyone ever bargained for.

From New York Times bestselling author Megan Shepherd, Grim Lovelies is an epic and glittering YA fantasy. Prepare to be spellbound by the world of Grim Lovelies, where secrets have been long buried, friends can become enemies, and everything—especially humanity—comes at a price.


Q & A with Megan:

Kat: Would you want Grim Lovelies to become a movie? Why or Why not?

Megan: Of course! I’d love to see it on the big or little screen. My publisher designed a book trailer for it that is so gorgeous it leaves me dying to see what a live-action trailer would look like. The book has lots of action scenes, shots of Paris, and magical elements. It could make a very fun visual experience.


My Review: 

Rating: 3.75/5 ⭐

Grim Lovelies is a haunting story following Anouk, an animal brought to life, called Beasties, to serve a high class witch. After her mistress is found dead and Anouk is suspected to be guilty, she and her fellow Beasties flee. With an underground magical society known as the Haute chasing them, these dark creatures only have three days to find the real killer before the spell keeping them human fades away.

The concept of this novel intrigued me the most. The enchantment of animals to humans is a magical and unique idea for a story. I like the significance of the pelts for Anouk and the other Beasties, and their 3 day timeline created urgency and suspense.

The variety of characters in Grim Lovelies was well done. I liked Anouk's, in a couple of ways she reminded me of myself. Cricket's character however was my favourite. She was strong and bold, and I like her spunky attitude. She made the story amusing and enjoyable! Beau was okay, but at times could be a bit pushy. His protective attitude of Anouk was sweet though, and the last scene in the book was heartbreaking for me. In the next book I hope for more scenes and interactions with Prince Rennar. His character was my second favourite, and I would like to see more of his intentions with the Beasties.

However, I found parts of this book very slow and choppy. There were moments that seemed to come out of nowhere, leading to a disconnect from the story. Scenes seemed rushed and out of place at times. These parts might have been fixed for the finished copy, but unfortunately, it really impacted my enjoyment of the novel.

The ending of the story, approx. the last quarter of the novel, was my favourite part. I am glad the novel picked pace. It was bold and emotional, and will entice readers to reading the conclusion, Midnight Beauties, when it releases.

Review on Goodreads

September Wrap Up & October TBR

WOW September just flew by!

Below are the novels I read, and links to their reviews! I hope to maintain four books per month while I am in school, and hopefully October is just as good of a reading month!

Girls of Paper and Fire: 4.5/5 ⭐️
     Goodreads Review

Grim Lovelies: 3.75/5 ⭐️
     Goodreads Review

For a Muse of Fire: 4/5 ⭐️
     Goodreads Review

Geekerella: 5/5 ⭐️
     Goodreads Review



Looking ahead into this month, I have created my October TBR pile. I am a bit of a mood reader so it might change a bit, but I am excited for all these titles none the less!

I hope to read:

- Assassin's Guide to Love & Treason (first on my list actually!)
- Beneath the Citadel
- Seafire
- Heart of Iron

I cannot wait to read these ones, I have heard good things about most of them 😍