Review: How To Deal

Read if you like: ultra cool and easy-to-understand tarot meanings, and quick, simple ways to be more spiritual.

How To Deal: Tarot For Everyday Life | Sami Main, Marisa De La Pena

Series: N/A

Genre: Young Adult, Tarot, Spirituality
Released: May 1st 2018
Pages: 240
Format: Ebook
Source: Publisher

If you want to channel the power of the cosmos through tarot, this accessible and practical guide is for you. Written for novices and seasoned readers alike, How to Deal is packed with artwork and includes prompts, exercises, and layouts to give you the answers you're looking for.

Sometimes you just need the universe to tell you whether your crush likes you or how to handle that awkward family situation or which life path is the best one for you. Sami Main breaks down how the cards relate to one another, explaining spreads for future readings and questions to ask the cards. And she takes you through all the Major and Minor Arcana, with colorful illustrations of the cards and detailed descriptions of what they mean.

As Sami will teach you: The cards are here to guide you through life’s ups and downs—you just have to understand what they’re trying to say.

I wish I'd had this book as a teenager. How To Deal is an awesome, easy to read, relatable guide to tarot reading, and I hope it introduces a new generation of tarot readers. I loved all the quirks in the writing, the pastel colour scheme adds to the no-pressure vibe of the book, and the illustrations are perfect. All in all, I love not just this book but the approach to tarot reading. There's no stuffy, rigid meanings of cards here - it's not just teen-friendly but beginners-of-all-ages-friendly.

4 stars

Review: Rosemarked

Read if you like: stand-out originality, poisons and healers, sweeping political fantasy, and heartfelt romance.

Rosemarked | Livia Blackburne

Series: Rosemarked

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, High Fantasy
Released: November 7th 2017
Pages: 390
Format: Ebook
Source: Publisher

A healer who cannot be healed . . .

When Zivah falls prey to the deadly rose plague, she knows it’s only a matter of time before she fully succumbs. Now she’s destined to live her last days in isolation, cut off from her people and unable to practice her art—until a threat to her village creates a need that only she can fill.

A soldier shattered by war . . .

Broken by torture at the hands of the Amparan Empire, Dineas thirsts for revenge against his captors. Now escaped and reunited with his tribe, he’ll do anything to free them from Amparan rule—even if it means undertaking a plan that risks not only his life but his very self.

Thrust together on a high-stakes mission to spy on the capital, the two couldn’t be more different: Zivah, deeply committed to her vow of healing, and Dineas, yearning for vengeance. But as they grow closer, they must find common ground to protect those they love. And amidst the constant fear of discovery, the two grapple with a mutual attraction that could break both of their carefully guarded hearts.

This smart, sweeping fantasy with a political edge and a slow-burning romance will capture fans of The Lumatere Chronicles and An Ember in the Ashes. 

This is a slow, incredibly unique fantasy with great worldbuilding. I really enjoyed this book, especially the disease and poisons elements, and the fact that the main characters were a warrior and a healer. I liked their dynamic, too. I thought this was a stand alone, but I'll probably read the next book to see how their relationship develops. This has a lot of great elements too that makes me want to continue: the politics, the war, the different tribes of people, and the memorable characters. I'd definitely recommend it if you want a fantasy that isn't too fast, loud, or violent. This has a good balance of all that, but with slow moments too.

3.5 stars

Review: Blackout

Read if you like: queer main characters, high-stakes plots, tension and romanctic sci-fi.

Blackout | Kit Mallory

Series: Blackout

Genre: Young Adult Dystopia, Science Fiction
Released: May 8th 2018
Pages: 350
Format: Ebook
Source: Author

After the Board came to power the world changed the way a hunter stalks its prey: all paranoia and imagined flickers of shadow, so that while you were being torn to pieces you were still wondering whether you were overreacting.

For 16-year-old Skyler, fear is a way of life. For three years, since the Wall split the UK in two, her survival as an illegal Northern refugee in the South has been a perilous balancing act between staying in the shadows and clinging to her reputation as the South's best hacker.

Fellow refugee Mackenzie is a ghost from her past she'd rather ignore. But when their paths collide unexpectedly, Skyler sees an opportunity to exact revenge on the brutal regime that destroyed her home and family - even if it means she goes down with them.

Forced, with extreme reluctance, on the run together, Skyler and Mackenzie, along with enigmatic contract killer Angel, must find a way to outrun not only the Board and the South's most sadistic crime lord, but their own personal demons. If they can manage to not end up murdering each other in the process, that'll be a bonus.

But more is at stake than any of them realise. And Skyler, who has long believed she has nothing left to lose, is about to discover just how wrong she is.

Shortlisted for the 2016 Mslexia Children's Novel Award, Blackout is a story of resistance, friendship and survival.

I thought this was a stand alone and then THAT ENDING, so I'm pretty glad it's a series.

I started off not sure about this, but honestly I loved the characters quickly. Mackenzie is an utter sweetheart (protect him, my precious, anxious child) and I love how equally badass and vulnerable Skyler is. I'm still not sure about Angel, but I like her relationship with Skyler, and love the inclusion of a f/f romance. I LOVE the friendship between Mackenzie and Skyler, though. It's so dynamic and I honestly just want them to be besties.

As for the story, this is epically dystopian without being too overbearingly sci-fi (to be fair I love sci-fi so this wouldn't be an issue, but if you like your dystopia light, this book is for you!) The Board is a huge part of this book and influences everything directly, but the more urgent threat are criminals, thugs, and enforcers. In short, it's pretty damn exciting and thrilling and edge-of-your-seat stuff. I haven't read a dystopian book as good as this in years, and I can't wait to continue the series!

High-stakes, action-packed yet full of heart, emotion, and humanity. If you're looking for an original science fiction book, I can't recommend this enough!

4.5 stars