Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite

Child of the Dragon by Ashley N.Y. Sheesley follows a world where dragon shapeshifters called the Rhaegynne are under the control of two tyrannical kings, unable to fully claim their freedom. The story kicks off in the middle of a brutal battle where Coleman and his allies try to resist one of these kings, only for things to go horribly wrong when their leader, Jamie, the last free dragon, is struck by a deadly curse. Before she dies, she reveals that her granddaughter, Kat, might be the key to continuing the fight. From there, the story shifts to Kat, who’s just lost her grandmother and suddenly learns that the magical dragon stories she grew up with are real and that she’s part of them. As she begins to experience visions, uncover hidden truths, and eventually transform into a dragon herself, she’s forced to decide whether she’s willing to step into a dangerous legacy that could either free the Rhaegynne or destroy her.

I really liked how Child of the Dragon by Ashley N.Y. Sheesley throws you straight into the action. It’s intense right from the start, and the writing makes everything feel very vivid and cinematic, especially during the fight scenes. At the same time, it balances that action with a lot of emotion, particularly through Kat’s grief, which made her journey feel more grounded and real. I found the characters easy to connect with. Coleman’s sarcasm and internal conflict stood out, and Kat’s progression from confusion to reluctant acceptance felt believable. The plot itself kept me interested with its mix of prophecy, rebellion, and hidden agendas, and I liked that it didn’t rely too heavily on a typical “chosen one” trope. If anything, it leans more into choice and responsibility, which made the story feel more refreshing. Overall, it’s a strong mix of fast-paced fantasy and emotional storytelling that kept me engaged the whole way through.

Reviewed by Mary Clarke for Readers' Favorite

The Wanderer of the Night: For the Greater Good by Olesia Hukriede is a well-written fantasy about Gael and David, immortals from an underground realm called the Beyond. The ruler of this immortal world is the White Prince, who seeks to invade the mortal world with the help of a supernatural entity known as the Great Malus. Gael, who serves the White Prince, is beginning to doubt his purpose and job as an executioner while struggling to learn the mystery behind the disappearance of his fiancée, Celeste. There is a prophecy about a girl named Maddie—a creature of light—who is supposed to defeat the great Malus. The White Prince and his followers hear about this prophecy and decide to act. They decide to use Maddie to either find the traitor who is against them or kill her before she grows strong enough to oppose them. Gael and David have to protect Maddie while trying to remain loyal to the White Prince.

The Wanderer of the Night is an engaging read. Gael and David are very interesting characters, especially due to the complex lives they lived. They were both against the White Prince, yet they remained loyal, even doing dirty jobs for the White Prince so that their loyalty wouldn't be doubted. I was glad the author added some backstories of the characters; it helped me connect more with them. For instance, Gael's sad past with his family and David's history as a slave made the reasons for their actions and their personal sacrifices more relatable and easy to follow. The narrative covers themes of loyalty, betrayal, good, and evil. I wondered where the author got the inspiration for writing this novel; it went beyond my expectations. The story is well-paced and full of big surprises. The characters are well-developed, and the organization was done excellently. I recommend The Wanderer of the Night by Olesia Hukriede to readers who enjoy fantasy novels about love, personal sacrifice, magic, and friendship.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

Amoura Awakened by Meg Kramer follows sixteen-year-old Amoura Renly, who discovers she is a witch after she inadvertently performs an insane magical act at her human school. There is only one way out for her: to be transferred to the respected Elderwood School for the Magically Inclined. While at Elderwood, her classmates effortlessly channel magic from the world around them, but Amoura struggles to connect to the elements until she realizes that her magic comes from a different source, one that is forbidden. It does not flow through the elements but bursts forth from within her, because she is a creation of magic. She is thrust into a magical society with a relentless rival and predatory mentor. She must unravel the truth about her magic before the Purity Champions, the witch hunters who are committed to eradicating her kind, come for her.

Meg Kramer’s characters appealed to me mostly because of their remarkable psychological complexity. Amoura is neither self-pitying nor sanitized, and the author depicts her rage like a living thing and her empowerment as something personally earned. While Amoura surrounds herself with loyal friends, the author creates an antagonist in Ingrid who raises the stakes for Amoura. The plot skillfully balances a dark conspiracy about erased histories with the cozy yet dangerous magical academy tropes to deliver a suspenseful, unpredictable story. The deliberate pacing allows the emotional dread and the world-building to accumulate before erupting into a propulsive final act. The prose is stellar, and the author captures the dissonance of Amoura’s internal magic and her trauma with unwonted clarity. Amoura Awakened is a well-written story of the power of claiming one’s narrative, even when the world demands it remains hidden.

Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite

Red Summer by Ana Lee is a compelling new adult fantasy that follows Wilder, a boy with unruly red hair and slate-gray eyes who has spent his life in foster care. Wilder has always seen strange, otherworldly things—like a tiny knight riding a mouse—and has an unsettling tendency to start fires unintentionally. After his latest incident, he faces yet another move, this time out of the city. Instead, he runs. With a storm brewing that mirrors his emotions, Wilder encounters a mysterious white owl that seems to be guiding him. He follows it to a crumbling building, only to discover that it conceals a grand Victorian structure behind its illusion. There, he's greeted by Terra, a new girl at his school, who informs him he's not human at all, but likely a Summer Fay—his bright red hair being the giveaway. Wilder is introduced to a hidden world of Vampyrs, Lycans, Magem, and other Fay. Among them, he finally begins to feel at home. With a war brewing in the shadows, Wilder and his new friends may hold the key to saving both the human and Eadar worlds. But secrets still buried in Wilder's past could change everything. Where does he truly belong, and can he face what lies ahead?

Reminiscent of authors like Cassandra Clare and Rachel V. Knox, Red Summer by Ana Lee is an engaging and highly readable fantasy with a strong emotional core. The pacing rises and falls in rhythm with the characters' emotional journeys and the action, creating a dynamic flow. The author's thoughtful use of vocabulary adds richness to the various supernatural groups, enhancing the atmosphere and helping each character feel fully realized. The novel also tackles weighty themes such as abandonment, the foster care system, and the quest for identity, grounding the fantasy elements in emotional reality. Power struggles between light and dark, good and evil, and the hunger for vengeance are central, and Lee shows how long some characters will wait to seize the future they believe they deserve. The world-building is creative and immersive, with a clear distinction between the human world and the magical Eadar realm. The writing is fluid and believable, never feeling forced or overly stylized. While it begins with a familiar "boy who feels different" trope, this story quickly proves itself to be far more nuanced. Red Summer is a thoughtful, well-crafted novel that stands confidently on its own within the genre.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

Sincerely Yours... by Sonia D. Hebdon is set in 1989 in Haven Cove. Seventeen-year-old Josie Worthington is an intelligent senior high school student who begins writing the anonymous advice column “Soul Searcher” for the Haven Cove Gazette. Her carefully constructed world tilts when Blaine Cordwell, the rebellious son of rock star Dean Cordwell, moves in next door. An attraction develops between them as Josie discovers a haunted 1960s Smith Corona typewriter that once belonged to Eleanor Wren, a columnist who disappeared in 1968. The machine still reeks of old ribbon and iron, its keys unnaturally sticky and cold, and when Josie presses them, the Living Ink seems to thrum beneath her fingertips like a second pulse. Soon, Josie is on a quest to free Eleanor’s spirit, break the curse binding June inside Clifftop Manor, and stop editor Mr. Alaric from rewriting reality. To achieve this difficult task, Josie must finish Eleanor’s manuscript beneath a new moon, risking her sanity as she works tirelessly. But time is not in her favor.

Sincerely Yours... by Sonia D. Hebdon is a spellbinding paranormal novel with characters who are emotionally resonant and complex. Josie is spiritually grounded and authentic; Blaine’s arc is deeply affecting, growing from a protected young man to someone who makes choices for himself. The pacing is propulsive, as the story moves from the noticeable nostalgia of the late 1980s to a mounting supernatural dread that accelerates toward an exhilarating climax. This book is about the sanctity of storytelling, the redemptive courage to defy fate itself, and the tension between doubt and faith. The author builds suspense through the atmospheric writing. Sincerely Yours... is hard to put down because of the sophisticated characters and the deft plotting.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Witchfinder’s Sacrifice is a work of fiction by author Rande Goodwin in the fantasy, action, and adventure genres for young adult readers. A week after defeating the warlock Malleus Hodge, Nate Watson struggles to control the serpent-shaped bracelet’s immense powers now fused to his arm. As monstrous beings and dark magick emerge, it becomes evident that Hodge has returned, intent on igniting a modern witch hysteria. With friends and a mysterious ally, Nate fights to stop Hodge and his sinister pact, while grappling with loss, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of the serpent’s magic.

Rande Goodwin's vivid imagery and intense action craft this thrilling and immersive novel, filled with tension and dark enchantment. Nate Watson's struggle with the magickal bracelet created a compelling inner conflict, offering a brilliantly narrated character with plenty of flaws and temptations, as well as highlighting the seductive danger of power. The central theme of inciting fear was intensely penned with confident narrative control of the pacing and twists. The vivid descriptions of hellish monsters and magickal phenomena brought the supernatural elements to life in multisensory terror and glory. Balancing this with the emotional storyline is no mean feat, and the themes of loss and betrayal added emotional weight to the narrative in just the right places. The fast-paced action and constant sense of impending doom kept me engaged, eager to see how Nate and his friends would confront the resurrected evil. It felt like an ideal mix of intensity, drama, and plot intrigue for the target YA audience. Overall, The Witchfinder’s Sacrifice is a recommended read packed with suspense, fantasy, and emotional depth, leaving a lasting impression of a world where darkness and heroism are intricately entwined.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Debilis Rising is the first book in E. K. Wise's Keepers of the Rock series. Tessa Horton and Tú Chen are gifted kids who crave more in life, and when they are welcomed at the College of Geological Evolution, everything changes for them. This school is run by an ancient, shadowy organization known as the Keepers of the Rock, and the college trains future protectors of the Earth from deadly creatures and forces targeting humanity. The friendship between Tessa and Tú grows stronger as they understand the mysterious nature of their mission. But a potent threat looms ahead: the rise of the ancient evil Debilis, a dark force intent on destroying humanity. Can the keepers muster enough strength to stop the evil?

The Debilis Rising by E.K. Wise takes readers on an exhilarating journey through a richly woven narrative brimming with intrigue, magic, and conflict. Set across multiple contrasting locations, including Bangkok, Macau, and Carlsbad Caverns, the novel introduces characters like Rua-Jian Chu, a complex antihero with a shadowy past, and the Keepers, a secret society tasked with nominating and training extraordinary youths with the potential to safeguard the world. The dichotomy of intention—safeguarding vs. exploiting—is skillfully explored in this thrilling fantasy and fuels the question of what it means to wield knowledge responsibly. The detailed settings, from the grimy streets of Bangkok to the ancient, echoing formations of Carlsbad Caverns, resonate with readers, reflecting the characters' inner turmoil. The prose is exceptional, and the narrative is packed with action and conflict that grows at multiple levels. I enjoyed the characters, the expertly handled conflict, and the finely drawn settings.

Reviewed by Chinazo Anozie for Readers' Favorite

In Shari Marshall’s world of magic, Juniper Berry, a 13-year-old, lives with her parents, who love her and teach her how to hone her powers. However, one fateful night, Juniper’s world comes crashing down when unknown assailants kill her parents. Juniper’s ability to see visions and her vision of the imminent attack enabled her parents to hide her from the attackers. Alone and an orphan, Juniper remembers her parents’ instructions on using her powers and begins to search for answers and, possibly, revenge. She meets friends and foes, encounters friendships, betrayal, and loss, and through it all, the once sweet and protected Juniper Berry adapts and evolves into Rye, a master of disguises. Join Juniper on her journey in Shari Marshall’s Vizard: An Ember Files Side Story.

Vizard by Shari Marshall is part of the Ember Files series. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but this didn’t detract from my reading pleasure. It is a testament to the author’s superb writing skills that I could follow the plot without any problems and am indeed intrigued enough to now delve into the whole series. I enjoyed following Juniper as she grew from her teens into adulthood and everything she went through. I ached with her in times of sorrow and was happy when she found friends who were as good as family. A combination of romance, action, and drama, all wrapped up in a YA fantasy, makes Vizard an immensely compelling read.

Reviewed by Gaius Konstantine for Readers' Favorite

“Life isn’t necessarily about what happens to you but rather who happens to you.” That is true, and Daren Hatfield's Nothing Ever Happens On Main Street is a reminder that events do not fashion themselves; people create them through their actions. Young Parker Riley is a 13-year-old boy growing up in the small town of Harding Springs in 1910—a place where nothing interesting ever seems to happen. However, this is by design, thanks to Edison Doyle, the town eccentric and a master of time. When summer arrives, Parker witnesses an event that never occurs. Along with his newfound friends, Miss Cora Swanson and her young daughter Cassandra, Parker begins a journey to uncover the secrets and mysteries surrounding Edison Doyle, discovering that sometimes the best thing that can happen in life is nothing at all.

Delightful and spellbinding, Nothing Ever Happens On Main Street by Daren Hatfield is an adventure tale crafted for young adults with Ray Bradbury vibes. While different and original, this novel compares favorably with Something Wicked This Way Comes. The plot focuses on a clever mystery and the young protagonist's role in it. However, there is much more to this story as themes of growth (for young and old alike) and the choice between greed and self-sacrifice are vital components. A superb cast of lovable characters, which include Tricksy the horse and the kind of villains you boo, enhances the wondrous narrative. Deeply immersive, thanks partly to the author's skillful use of terminology, and with a pleasant overall pace, Nothing Ever Happens On Main Street is a beguiling work. I recommend this book without hesitation.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Raven's Cry by Christian A. Brown is a young adult horror novel, the first in the Orphans series. Set in a dark, urban fantasy world, it follows four witches, known as the Aspects, who must defend Earth against the ancient, eldritch Outer Gods. As the impending Great War threatens humanity, the Aspects must battle not only these cosmic horrors but also their own inner demons. With complex characters to work with and against like Gabriel Mothmann and his power-hungry sister Octavia, the story weaves Indigenous myths and supernatural horror into a thrilling narrative.

Author Christian A. Brown masterfully combines the elements of classic Lovecraftian cosmic horror with a sharp YA urban fantasy pace, creating a dark, immersive world with new frights lurking at every turn of the page. The vivid descriptions are packed with atmosphere to suit the haunting tone, and there’s an interesting mix of contemporary urban situations layered with baroque, gothic undertones that enhance the emotion of every scene. Brown’s characters are just as complex and multi-layered as his story world, making their struggles with both external and internal forces compelling as we get to know each Aspect through distinct dialogue choices and some heartfelt interactions. I was also really impressed with the inclusion and tactful exploration of Indigenous myths alongside cosmic horror, which added originality and cultural richness, but never felt overdone or gimmicky. Overall, Raven's Cry is a brilliant start to a promising new fantasy series that I’d certainly recommend.