Review: Mask of Shadows

Read if you like: fantasy worlds that are gender and sexuality inclusive, assassins, thieves, and to-the-death competitions.

Mask of Shadows | Linsey Miller

Series: Mask of Shadows

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Assassins
Released: August 29th 2017
Pages: 352
Format: Ebook
Source: Publisher

I Needed to Win.
They Needed to Die.

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class—and the nobles who destroyed their home.

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand—the Queen’s personal assassins, named after the rings she wears—Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

Hard to resist making my entire review about Ruby and HOW RUDE that ending was. He was my fave, thank you.

I was surprised by this book. It draws from familiar (slightly overdone) fantasy elements - assassin/thief, a contest) but does it in such a unique way. I loved the gemstone elements, the elite of assassins that is the Hand, and the genderfluid, queer main character. This book is exciting, dramatic, and full of dangers - and at the heart of it, grief and revenge. There's competition, romance, friendship, and plenty of murder. I really liked it.

4.5 stars

Review: You Were Here

You Were Here | Cori McCarthy

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire, March 1st 2016

Genre: YA, Contemporary (but with a horror tone in parts), Comics

Pages: 400

Format: Ebook

Source: Sourcebooks Fire,, via Edelweiss

Grief turned Jaycee into a daredevil, but can she dare to deal with her past?

On the anniversary of her daredevil brother's death, Jaycee attempts to break into Jake's favorite hideout—the petrifying ruins of an insane asylum. Joined by four classmates, each with their own brand of dysfunction, Jaycee discovers a map detailing her brother's exploration and the unfinished dares he left behind.

As a tribute to Jake, Jaycee vows to complete the dares, no matter how terrifying or dangerous. What she doesn't bargain on is her eccentric band of friends who challenge her to do the unthinkable: reveal the parts of herself that she buried with her brother.

Stunning and strange and nothing like I expected. I treasured every page of this, and to be honest I wasn't sure I'd even like it in the beginning. I LOVED it, from tortured, grieving Jaycee, to serious Bishop, sad Zach, and seriously messed up Natalie. And my absolute favourite, precious Mik with his dramatic trench coat and his full-of-words silences.

The format of this book really made it stand out - there's prose, art, and comic pages (which were my favourite.) It did such a good job of telling the story that when I finished it, I immediately wanted to reread it. I fell in love with their idiotic daredevil stunts, their shared grief, and their messy friendships, and I loved every creepy setting from the crumbling mall to the abandoned theme park. This book is perfect. I miss it already.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

Review: Relentless

The Hero Agenda: Relentless | Tera Lynn Childs & Tracy Deebs

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire, June 7th 2016

Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Superhero+villain

Pages: 288

Format: Ebook

Source: Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley

Revenge is easy, but justice is worth fighting for…

Kenna is tired of being lied to—and hunted by the very allies she once trusted. Unearthing the dark secrets of the superhero world has not only endangered her life, now her boyfriend faces execution for crimes he didn’t commit and her mother is being held captive in a secret governmental prison.

Kenna is determined to stand up for what’s right and save those she loves from unspeakable fates. It’s time for the betrayal to end. It’s time for the real criminals to face justice.

But the truth is even more terrifying than Kenna could imagine. A conspiracy threatens the fate of heroes, villains, and all of humanity. If Kenna’s going to survive, she must draw on her deepest strength: her resilience. Because when Kenna’s pushed to the limit, she doesn’t break down. She fights back.

Every bit as awesome and epic and driven as the first book.

This series is so heartfelt and heartbreaking and compelling, and it's just fun, despite all the pain and trauma. The beating heart of this book is really the friendships - not the romance. I love the way the group works together, their dialogue, their complex and trusting bonds. I just love them all. Not to say I don't adore the romance because I so do - Draven, more like Bae-ven - and I FREAKING LOVED Nitro and Riley. They could not be cuter. And gay side pairing - thank you very much, book gods!

I just loved everything - the secrets, the reveals, the evolution of all the powers and Kenna's abilities. The danger and tension ramped up even higher in this book and it was AWESOME. The characters shine, the plot is fast, and the world is just so cool.

You have to read this series.

Characters ★★★★☆
Setting/World ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

ARC Review: Labyrinth Lost

Brooklyn Brujas: Labyrinth Lost | Zoraida Cordova

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire, September 6th 2016

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Queer

Pages: 336

Format: Paperback

Source: Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

I fall to my knees. Shattered glass, melted candles and the outline of scorched feathers are all that surround me. Every single person who was in my house – my entire family — is gone.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation…and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can’t trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange markings on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland…

Beautiful Creatures meets Daughter of Smoke and Bone with an infusion of Latin American tradition in this highly original fantasy adventure.

Sorta what I expected, sorta not, but I really enjoyed it! Here are my thoughts:

- I really like Alex, love Nova, but I'm kinda ehhh about Rishi. I just didn't connect with her at all, which is such a disappointment because it's a f/f romance!

- I am CRAZY about the diversity in this book. It's such an authentic voice and it really shows in the writing and the passionate detail of this book. The main character is a queer WOC and so is her love interest!

-Nova is precious and I want to keep him forever. I'm SO here for his redemption arc!

- I loved the Deos, and Los Lagos was so cool and inventive - bird people! It's just really nice to read about a world and pantheon inspired by another culture than mine

- The magic was awesome, and totally witchy. I've found a new love for Brujas.

- I really, really think Alex's dad is a Deo. That's not really an opinion on the book. I just hope I'm right!

- Beautifully detailed and lovingly written. Alex is fierce and flawed and you'll love her!

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Until We Meet Again (DNF Review)

Until We Meet Again | Renee Collins

Published by: Sourcebooks Fire, November 3rd 2015

Genre: YA, Contemporary, Historical, Time Travel

Pages: 322

Format: Ebook

Source: Sourcebooks Fire, via Netgalley

They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time

Cassandra craves drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger shows up on their private beach claiming it's his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence's life—into jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history…or risk losing Lawrence forever. 

Mehh. Didn't like the characters, thought they were flat and ... I don't know, naive maybe, trusting. One of them could have been an axe murderer and they'd just be like 'you're so pretty and mysterious~~~~' so I didn't connect with them. The girl almost drowned and I wasn't bothered at all. Not invested in the least. Plus, despite the historical parts (this is dual POV apparently!!) and the "time travel" I found very little science in this science fiction in the first 30%. Seemed more contemporary, and not the kind I'm into. Just not for me.

DNF @ 32%

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Cover reveal: Until We Meet Again

Until We Meet Again | Renee Collins

They exist in two different centuries, but their love defies time.

Cassandra is a headstrong teenager craving drama and adventure, so the last thing she wants is to spend her summer marooned with her mother and new stepfather in a snooty Massachusetts shore town. But when a dreamy stranger named Lawrence shows up on their private beach claiming it’s his own—and that the year is 1925—she is swept into a mystery a hundred years in the making.

As she searches for answers in the present, Cassandra discovers a truth that puts their growing love—and Lawrence’s life—in jeopardy. Desperate to save him, Cassandra must find a way to change history—or risk losing Lawrence forever.

About the Author:

Renee Collins grew up on a beach in Hawaii. Sadly, she never met anyone from the past on those shores, but she did go on to get a degree in History, which is almost the same.

http://reneecollinsauthor.com/

https://twitter.com/reneecollins_

This book sounds awesome, and I'll be reviewing it around the release date. Keep up to date with my posts by following me on Bloglovin!