Reviewed by Gail Kamer for Readers' Favorite

Have you ever felt you were different from everyone else? That there was something very strange about you and you must keep it a secret? That’s how Ana feels in S.A. Larsen’s Marked Beauty. She senses other people’s emotions through their life energy auras. Imagine knowing a friend feels sad, or angry, or dangerous. Could Ana’s strangeness be connected to her mother’s disappearance when Ana was young? Ana and her best friend survive a car accident and are saved by a mysterious passerby. While Ana recovers quickly, her friend remains in a coma. Ana learns she is the reason for her friend’s coma and the mysterious passerby had been watching her throughout Ana's entire life.

S.A. Larsen shares a beautiful tale of mystery, love, and romance in her Young Adult fantasy novel, Marked Beauty. The writing is simply amazing and I felt as if I walked beside the main characters throughout the story. The alternating point of view between Ana and another character added depth to the story and deepened the mystery of why their paths were so intertwined. Actually, this story reminds me of the Twilight series mixed with some of the Sooky Stackhouse books. Readers will fall as much in love with the characters in Marked Beauty as they did in the Twilight series. I highly recommend Marked Beauty for any reader who loves fantasy, romance and mystery. You will be surprised throughout, but you will not be disappointed. Your energy aura will glow happy when you finish the last page!

Reviewed by Stephen Fisher for Readers' Favorite

Secrets of the Home Wood - The Sacrifice by Julie Whitley is about a family that lives next a mysterious forest named the Home Wood. There are tales of family members disappearing after crossing the brook where sometimes they don’t return. The story begins with the disappearance of Sarah, after an argument with her husband David. When David calls Sarah’s workplace, he finds that Sarah never showed up. David rushes out to look for her. Overhearing the conversation on the phone, their son Jonathon, rushes out of the house, but not before his grandfather gives him some fruit and a protein bar for his backpack. One at a time, Sarah, David, and Jonathon are pulled into the alternate dimension. Since David became a hero in this mysterious land when he was Jonathon’s age, he is reunited with the Sanigglans. When Jonathon finds his way to the forest kingdom, he is befriended by Pugg, the son of the leader of the Sanigglans. They arrive on the brink of war with the Grue. The chief’s wife has been captured by the Grue, and is to be sacrificed during the next full moon. If that happens, all is lost.

Julie Whitley does a magnificent job of traversing back and forth between our family of heroes, making sure to leave each of the characters with a cliffhanger. Her writing style reminds me of Terry Brooks. As the race against time ensues, while the family members are trying desperately to reunite, they are beseeched by desperate events that require them to improvise, and find courage within themselves. Sarah, with the help of her father-in-law’s brother, who had disappeared into the Home Wood many years ago, discovers a diabolical plot behind enemy lines. Julie’s characters are real, and she really captures the essence of family ties, albeit good guys, or bad. Secrets of the Home Wood is an adventure on all levels, with lots of twists and surprises. Brava, Ms. Whitley!

Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite

The Carnelian is the first book in The Gemstone Chronicles by William L. Stuart. Maggie and Aiden come to stay with Nana and Beebop, their grandparents, for spring break. Their time is usually spent jet skiing, rock hounding, and four-wheeling. On one of the rock hounding expeditions with Beebop, Maggie finds an oddly-shaped rock in the form of a cross. That night, a mysterious human-like shape appears in her room, beseeching them to free him from his prison. Beebop determines they must return the stone to the woods, but Maggie and Aiden have other ideas. They break the rock, freeing a Light Elf by the name of Findecano. He was imprisoned by evil forces of the Drow, a mysterious evil power of his world. The four humans are drawn into an adventure to seek out the missing stones of the Elven bow and put a stop to the evil spreading throughout his world. Will they manage to make it through the first quest alive?

Mr. Stuart is a very clever storyteller. I liked all the factoids about gemstones and their various protective elements. His twist on Elven mythology was also unique. I found the characters entertaining, especially Maggie. She had to be my favorite out of the group, especially with her ferret, Lucy. I felt that the book could use a second editor’s eye to tighten up some of the sentences and remove excess word usage. Other than that, I found The Gemstone Chronicles, Book One: The Carnelian compelling and I am looking forward to reading the continued adventures of the group!

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Lost Boy by Chanda Hahn is the second book in the Neverwood Chronicles. Wendy has returned to her family, but she has no memory of anything before. She was found years prior by her adoptive parents who pulled her out of the water. She struggles to get her life back to normal, but nothing feels the way it should. The boy she's told she liked suddenly isn't so charming. Teenagers are disappearing and the police seem to think she knows why. Then she meets him and everything changes. The mysterious boy claims to know her and opens her eyes to the threats all around her. When monsters find her, everyone she loves is in danger. As she uncovers her past, all roads seem to lead back to the boy who can fly.

J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan hasn't been seen quite like this before. Chanda Hahn spins a modern tale with scientific experiments, teenage struggles, and mystery. Wendy struggles to get her life back to normal but mysterious disappearances of teenagers coincide with her own memory loss, putting her into the spotlight of the police. Hahn includes several Easter eggs throughout which will delight every Peter Pan fan. Peter's infamous name is often referenced with pan meaning a special ability to return from the dead, which is a fun wink at the idea of Peter being a boy who will never grow up. Other notable references found are the clever uses of tick tock and crocodile. The Lost Boys make appearances throughout with some new names included, but readers will recognize a few specific names like Slightly and Curly. The twists on the beloved characters are fun and original, entirely enjoyable and harking back to the original story.

Each of the Lost Boys has special powers which pair with their personalities. Curly has the most potent ability of persuasion and just by touching someone he can control them. Michael has the most tragic time as he struggles to fight what Hook has done to him through his technology based abilities. Hook remains the villain but instead of being a deadly pirate, he's a scientist obsessed with the Neverland experiments. Dr. Barrie is a fun mention, giving him a silent creator and protector role over the Lost Boys freed from Hook which is a delightful inclusion honoring the creator of Peter Pan. Romance is light throughout as Wendy deals with sleazy boys when the image of a boy she liked before her memory loss breaks apart after his true colors are shown. Her romance with Peter is highlighted when he comes back into her life, though she can't remember who he is. This doesn't stop his dedication or you from falling for their sweet and classic dynamic. Hahn has fun moments through significant dynamics between characters. Tink and Peter maintain their strong friendship while Tink has an adorable and funny banter with John, and Slightly and Curly go on their own adventure to find a doctor from the experiments who disappeared. Lost Boy is a tale of adventure, spinning a classic story into a modern fight against the villainous Hook and scientific experiments that allow a boy to fly.

Reviewed by Trisha Dawn for Readers' Favorite

Emily has been in charge of her siblings Aidan, Jacob and Claire ever since their mom got sick and decided to stay in her room indefinitely. Although Emily seems to have things under control in their household, there are aspects in her life which she does not: repeating junior year soon, friendships falling apart and her dad coming home from prison after years of incarceration. In addition to all of this, she woke up one morning to find festering weird cuts on her arms, which she had no idea how she got in the first place. Gabe, her new friend, has been trying to shower her with care and support, but more and more things are unraveling. Refusing to face her cruel past and her depressing present, she turns to medicine and fairy tales. In Riven: My Myth Trilogy Volume 1 by Jane Alvey Harris, Emily’s reality starts overlapping, little by little, with her seventh kingdom fantasy of faes and elves until the latter becomes her truth. Such is the story of Riven.

This novel is a beautifully written masterpiece. The hard truth of serious issues going hand in hand with the comforting escape a fantasy world can offer has been a reality among many victims of abuse, but has never been written down as accurately as in Riven. Author Jane Alvey Harris’ empathy towards victims is the underlying factor of this story. It has made the story relatable, even to someone like me who has not experienced abuse. The way she wrote it tugs at a few issues we have with ourselves, like our refusal to see problems as they are or our denial of the bad things that broke our hearts at one point. There were a lot of dark and sensitive parts, but they were written with caution. The end product is that these parts don’t seem vulgar at all. As for the characters, they are great representations. Emily or Emma is an embodiment of those people who really had it rough in their lives. Her family and relatives have done what anyone would do. Meanwhile, bad people are everywhere and they can even be at a close proximity to us. Riven is eye opening. The way it is written will help people understand how abuse changes a person. It’s definitely a must-read.

Reviewed by Francine Zane for Readers' Favorite

In Moonburner by Claire Luana, Kia's parents raised her as a boy to cover up the fact she was born with great magical power that allowed her to draw power from the moon. In their world, female moonburners are lifelong enemies to the male sunburners who draw power from the sun. When her village discovers the truth, they send her to find death, but the gods have other plans.

Claire Luana's Moonburner heroine is strong but compassionate, innocent and yet filled with all the worldly knowledge her parents could safely instill within her. She leaves behind a happy, if not a bit warped, childhood to face the challenges of a burgeoning warrior who is forced into the role of protector. And Kia does all of this with the grace of one who truly believes in doing the right thing.

I loved, loved, loved Moonburner. The world is easily understood. The characters are realistic, especially Kia. So much so, that I was eager to know her story. I cried when she did. I suffered her injuries and reveled in her successes. And I dearly adored her constant companion Quitsu, a smart-mouthed silver fox whose life is magically tied to Kia's. When I finished reading Kia's story, I was immediately ready for the yet to be released Sunburner sequel. I recommend this book to both young adults and older who treasure a good story that finds a happy medium between breathtaking action and heartfelt emotion. I look forward to reading the sequel, Sunburner.

Reviewed by Stephen Fisher for Readers' Favorite

Secrets of the Home Wood - The Sacrifice by Julie Whitley is about a family that lives next a mysterious forest named the Home Wood. There are tales of family members disappearing after crossing the brook where sometimes they don’t return. The story begins with the disappearance of Sarah, after an argument with her husband David. When David calls Sarah’s workplace, he finds that Sarah never showed up. David rushes out to look for her. Overhearing the conversation on the phone, their son Jonathon, rushes out of the house, but not before his grandfather gives him some fruit and a protein bar for his backpack. One at a time, Sarah, David, and Jonathon are pulled into the alternate dimension. Since David became a hero in this mysterious land when he was Jonathon’s age, he is reunited with the Sanigglans. When Jonathon finds his way to the forest kingdom, he is befriended by Pugg, the son of the leader of the Sanigglans. They arrive on the brink of war with the Grue. The chief’s wife has been captured by the Grue, and is to be sacrificed during the next full moon. If that happens, all is lost.

Julie Whitley does a magnificent job of traversing back and forth between our family of heroes, making sure to leave each of the characters with a cliffhanger. Her writing style reminds me of Terry Brooks. As the race against time ensues, while the family members are trying desperately to reunite, they are beseeched by desperate events that require them to improvise, and find courage within themselves. Sarah, with the help of her father-in-law’s brother, who had disappeared into the Home Wood many years ago, discovers a diabolical plot behind enemy lines. Julie’s characters are real, and she really captures the essence of family ties, albeit good guys, or bad. Secrets of the Home Wood is an adventure on all levels, with lots of twists and surprises. Brava, Ms. Whitley!

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Rise of the Sea Witch by Stacey Rourke is the compelling and tragic origin story for the famed sea witch that stole a little mermaid's voice. When Princess Vanessa's mother dies, she's left to fight for her father's approval while her little brother, Triton, is fawned over and easily coaxed through all his training. Fighting for her voice to be heard, Vanessa discovers a hidden talent for magic, as well as secrets regarding her birth. As humans wage a war upon the kingdoms of the sea, political sides are chosen as Vanessa and Triton end up vying for the crown, with decisions having serious consequences for them both.

In this story expect to find Easter eggs about the Disney classic. It was a nerdy kind of fun to see these little nods to the film, including lines from “Poor Unfortunate Souls.” Greek mythology plays a large role in the story with Hades and Poseidon, and a Kraken. Vanessa is everything that Ursula isn't (at least not yet). She's compassionate and loving, yet has the same drive and craving for power with little hints that show the villain that she's going to become. She's easily likable, endearing, and garners a lot of sympathy. All she wants is to be taken seriously, to have her father's attention, be respected. Reading Stacey Rourke's take on Ursula's story gave me a whole new view on The Little Mermaid, seeing a villain in a sympathetic light. There are darker elements that pay homage to the original fairytale by Hans Christian Anderson. Rise of the Sea Witch is a delightful and dark origin story that more than lives up to the original tale, with all the fun of the Disney film, and all the tragedy of the fairytale. I loved it!

Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite

Heir of Pendel (A Pandoran Novel, #4) by Barbara Kloss is the final chapter of a young adult fantasy series that follows the escapades of Daria. By book four, Daria has left Alex to marry a man she doesn't love in order to save the kingdom. With the marriage proposal intact, Lord Danton Pontefract promises many supportive troops that can hopefully defeat Eris and the shadow guard. Thaddeus and Vera are in the thick of the battle, hoping to slow the shadow guard until Daria's promised reinforcements show up. But can Daria forget about her feelings for Alex? If she doesn't marry the man she's promised to, how will they ever defeat Eris? Sensing a impending victory, Eris has his eyes set on more than just Gaia. He's focusing on all of Earth, and only Daria can stop him.

This is a beautiful fourth installment in a very popular and well written series. I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing the third installment and think readers will enjoy this final chapter just as much, if not more now that they finally have the conclusion that they wanted! The only disappointment is that the series is over and readers can no longer join this fantastic cast of characters on a wild and extremely entertaining adventure. Fantasy readers will love all of the traditional fantasy elements within this story but will also appreciate the romance and heartbreak that this story offers, making it a very well rounded and well written book.

Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite

Breath of Dragons (A Pandoran Novel, #3) by Barbara Kloss is a high stakes young adult fantasy full of action and adventure. After the death of a prince, Alex and Daria go off in search of Pandora's legendary box. The box supposedly holds a power so strong that Daria believes it can overthrow Lord Eris. But Daria doesn't know where the box is and time is not on her side. Lord Eris has amassed an army that cannot be defeated without reinforcements from the other regions. But for those reinforcements, the other lords want Daria's hand in marriage. And another magic stirs in the region, the magic of dragons which hasn't been seen for years and is very unpredictable. Can Daria find the box in time to stop the evil lord? Or will she have to give up on love and marry in order to save her kingdom.

This is a beautifully written book full of love and action and adventure. The writing is strong and readers will love the pacing and details of the story. The characters are interesting and very realistic. Readers will identify with Daria's struggle and understand why she works so hard to bring peace to her region. There are all the typical fantasy elements: evil lords, forced marriage proposals, and even wildly unpredictable dragons. There are other elements in this story too. Strong characters, sweet sensitive sides, and great pacing.