Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Two young women, from opposite ends of the spectrum, are set to collide in L.C. Perry's dystopian fiction Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1). Eighteen-year-old Ebony, born a slave, has only ever known the horrors and struggle for survival underground as a slave in the root city. She yearns for one thing only - to end it all and to take some of the accursed overseers with her. Princess Irene is surrounded by luxury and treated with deference by everyone. Her only focus in life is her coming-of-age celebrations and to meet the man of her dreams and marry him, so he can rule and she can live the pampered life she is so used to as queen. Princess Irene has no clue of the way in which her country is structured; that it is slaves who allow the wealthy to live the life of luxury they do. She blithely believes her mother and father rule with a gentle and loving hand. This is a dystopian America some time in the future, and two very different young women will determine its direction.

L.C. Perry, in Gold Shadow (Bronze Rebellion Book 1), has given us a fascinating vision of what a dystopian America could look like if democracy was swept away by a form of monarchical feudalism. The author's ability to contrast the two vastly different lifestyles and makeups of these two women gives the reader a hint of how clever and skilled a writer she is. On the one hand, we have Ebony whose entire life has been dedicated to following orders, to never answering back, to never making connections with others and, most of all, to hiding her beauty from the cruel and merciless masters. Contrast that with Irene, who is the archetypal spoilt little princess, whose every thought is self-centred and vapid. Perry does a marvellous job of serving up both sides of this coin. The book is easy to read and will definitely appeal to a young adult audience, but is equally suitable for all adults. I think the biggest compliment I can pay any author writing the first book in a series is that I want to read book two and find out what happens to these characters I have invested in. I can say this about Gold Shadow. As the beginning of a series, this book has hit the mark - bull's eye. Great job by L.C. Perry.

Reviewed by Becky Walker for Readers' Favorite

In a brilliant start to this new science fiction series, Mary Fan’s writing is fluid and poetic. Starswept centres on the fate of fifteen-year-old Iris Lei, a talented violist who has lived under the protection of the Papilio performing arts school since birth. Earth, 2157, is a dismal place. In this dystopian society, poverty abounds. One of the few ways to escape a life of misery is for a talented artist to impress the rich and powerful from the far-off planet of Adryil. This advanced, telepathic alien race prizes those that perform to the highest standards and the aim of every student at Papilio is to ‘rise in the rankings’ and attract an Adryil patron before they ‘age out.’ Students and their families are in debt to the school, so even if they are lucky enough to find patronage, it will mean a lifetime of service in order to repay the vast sums involved. Despite this, it is every pupil’s dream, for at least they will have an opportunity to live a better life – on Adryil – and, if they succeed, possibly help their loved ones in the future.

Iris’s only true friend in this fiercely competitive environment is Milo, a ballerina who is gradually losing faith with the system. When Iris has a chance encounter with Dámiul, an Adryil youth being chased by the authorities, her life takes a dramatic turn. Via telepathic communications, he warns her that there is more at stake than her musical career. As their relationship starts to blossom, Iris begins to uncover the shocking truth that questions everything she has taken for granted.

The author, Mary Fan, has a lovely flowing style, elevated with enchanting descriptive passages of music and art that contrast so well with the dark portraits of an unfair and unbalanced society. Iris’s character, at the start of the book innocent and somewhat naïve, evolves with the story to become a more analytical and feisty protagonist. Her relationship with both Milo and Dámiul are central to this growth and development, the romantic elements agreeably intertwining with the brooding political backdrop. Some of my favorite sections were those relating to Iris’s inner thoughts as she plays ‘Butterfly’s Lament’, the piece she chooses to play at the school spectacle, drawing a parallel to her growing feelings for Dámiul and her fear that a match between an Earthling and an alien could prove futile. However, this is much more than a romantic read. There are probing questions about the misuse of power, ethics and inequality. I thoroughly recommend Starswept to young and new adults - who will identify with Iris’s coming of age – and also to older readers who are looking for a unique and compelling read. Bring on the next book in the series!

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

Paper Airplane is a compelling read of adolescent angst by Kevin N. Fair that straddles the fence somewhere between upper middle-grade fiction and younger Young Adult fiction. Thirteen-year-old Mitchell (Mitch) Connor Jr. has started the eighth grade at Brookdale Middle School. He and best buddies, Jeremy (Jay) Ramsey and Percival (Peanut) Simmons, are convinced that eighth grade is going to be a stellar year for all of them. Mitch’s life has been pretty good so far – if not entirely stellar. For the most part, Mitch has a great family. His older sister, Yvette, is a senior in high school, his mom – now pregnant and soon to give birth – teaches at her high school, and he also has a seven-year-old brother, Sammy, while Mitch’s dad owns Mitchell’s, a local pizzeria. Altogether, things are pretty good on the home front, but Mitch wishes he wasn’t chunky and that he could be more comfortable around girls, especially when he discovers that Stephanie Miller, the hottest girl at Brookdale, is in his math class. Mitch is a gifted student and hopes to use his skills in math as a way to get closer to Stephanie, who’s on the verge of failing the class. To complicate matters, Mitch has won a spot in the musical chorus where he becomes close to another girl, Becky, whom he also likes. Just when a guy really needs his best buds, Mitch discovers that Jay and Peanut aren’t the stand-up guys he thought they were. Then things with his mom and her pregnancy get kind of hairy and, suddenly, Mitch’s pretty normal life takes a turn for the complicated…

Paper Airplane is compelling and a great read, thanks in large part to the author’s solid voice, which resonates convincingly, making the character of Mitch speak to every kid who’s ever had problems in their life that they’ve never been able to talk about to anyone. Despite the fact that Mitch is likeable and gifted, he’s nevertheless got his hang-ups with his weight and his awkwardness around girls, just like any other kid his age. What is particularly interesting about this story is that it shows that all it takes is for a few things to go wrong and, suddenly, things start to go south very quickly. Despite his intellectual smarts, Mitch is nevertheless a kid who relies on a stable home life when his best friends betray him and, when things at home take a turn for the worse, Mitch reacts and does so badly. The dialogue is genuine and believable while Mitch’s relationship with Becky is sweet and so necessary in order to bring some stability to Mitch’s suddenly turbulent life. Fair’s writing effortlessly gets to the heart of the adolescent psyche and Paper Airplane could easily pass as a collaboration between two of the greatest writers of adolescent angst, John Green and Judy Blume.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

Dealing with the Devil is the first book in The Earthwalker Trilogy, written by Jennifer Siddoway. While visiting her comatose Romani mother in hospital, Wynnona (Wynn) Hendricks catches a glimpse of a handsome stranger in the lobby, staring back at her. Back at home, Wynn finds herself face to face with none other than Lucifer himself, who reveals a shocking secret which forces Wynn to question who her mother had truly been, and the color of her tainted soul. After being rescued by Caleb (a celestial guardian), Wynn is forced to stand trial for her life. With angelic Caleb and purely evil Lucifer cemented into her life, Wynn is destined to fight a terrifying inner battle of good versus evil within her very soul.

In possibly one of the most intense plot twists I have ever read, Dealing with the Devil has everything occult fans could desire. Not only has Jennifer Siddoway created a character whose innocent life seemingly careens off course without any notice, but the level of deception involved in each character's interaction is intense. What I loved the most about this book is that it throws the reader into a world which is so phantasmagorical, immersing them into different realms of both darkness and light. Just as I thought I’d developed a firm grip on the story’s plot lines, each one becomes shrouded in an infinite number of questions, leaving the reader desperate for more and more information, so that they might also come to a logical conclusion.

Dealing with the Devil is left open, making way for the second installment (which I simply cannot wait to read). It is so rare that I come across an occult tale which leaves me with goosebumps – not of the horrific kind – but Jennifer Siddoway’s first book in the series has done just that. I look forward to reading what comes next for Wynn, and recommend Dealing with the Devil to fans of the paranormal genre who do not mind being blind-sided by what jumps out of the shadows of each thrilling chapter.

Reviewed by Stacie Haas for Readers' Favorite

Livia Stone’s life will never be the same again, not since her twin brother, Jasper, was tragically killed while on a college visit. It seems that everyone is trying to help—her mother, best friend, teacher-mentor, and even her dead grandmother—but no one understands the nightmare Livia is living. She can’t seem to stop wearing her brother’s shirts, having sex with his best friend, or taking the little white pills prescribed by her psychologist. When the pills run out, Livia turns to her absentee father’s old alcohol stash. Livia is fully aware of her bad decisions, but feels powerless to stop making them as the grief consumes her. Her spiral escalates when she returns to school and her struggles are laid bare for all to see, including Daniel, a new British student who knows something about loss and pain, and some days helps her cope with her own. Livia comes to see that Jasper lived his truth, but the question is, can she find a way to live hers and go on without him?

Standing Sideways by J. Lynn Bailey is a deeply-felt, heart-wrenching story that drew me in from the very first page. Ms. Bailey’s writing is superb; Livia’s grief is palpably felt throughout the novel. Standing Sideways is well paced and addictive with its emotional pull and perfectly delivered plot twists and revelations of who Jasper was, how he died, and finally how he lived. There were times I had to sigh at Livia, cry with her, and was disappointed in her, but I always rooted for her. Although fiction, the story was based on a real tragedy suffered by the author’s family. This sad truth is unbelievably and bravely shared in Standing Sideways. Reading the book deeply affected me and it’s one I’m not likely to forget. A penetrating and beautiful story about grief, love, and standing in the end—even if it’s “standing sideways.”

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

When Hunter, the young male protagonist of In the Heart of a Mustang by M.J. Evans, learns that his father is neither dead nor a noble hero, his world collapses. His mother had lied to him all those years, and his father is nothing but a useless alcoholic with a violent streak that made him spend some years in prison. Hunter decides that he should not disappoint his mother. After all, she always wanted him to become just like his father. Hunter starts a downward spiral and eventually ends up on a ranch for troubled boys. Initially, he wants nothing to do with the people and the horses. After all, cars are better than horses. But then he meets a female mustang from a recently rounded up herd. The mustang and Hunter are both in need of trust, love, friendship, and time - especially after Hunter receives some additional shocking news that turns his life upside down once more.

I picked up In the Heart of a Mustang by M.J. Evans because I have just started working in a place that has some horses and felt like reading a story involving horses (as the place here also uses animals for therapy purposes). I ended up enjoying the story very much as the characters, their issues, and behaviors were rather believable, i.e. close to how things could play out in real life (though I doubt the taming of an absolutely wild horse would really happen within such a short time - I had issues with being allowed to touch a "normal" horse's hair for seven weeks!). I liked how there were different side characters, too, and how each of them played an important role when it came to moving the plot on another step. It also helped that the writing flowed smoothly and was very well done. It was a joy to read!

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Melinda Richards is just finishing her junior year in high school and, like so many teens, has questions about what she wants to do with her life. She discovers a place where she really feels at home as her father restores Sotheby House, an old mansion deep in the woods in what turns out to be the magical bubble known as Pleasantwick. The barrier between the common world and that of the magical people is thinned and Melinda discovers a secret access. Pleasantwick by M.L. Stoughton follows the adventure Melinda is drawn into as an evil that threatens the protected land targets her as well. Melinda tries to enjoy the prom, but the evil begins to infect people around her, turning what should be a happy time into a nightmare. Feeling secure at Sotheby House, Melinda becomes more and more involved with a handsome young man, Luke, and learns an amazing secret. Will Melinda be able to explore her relationship with Luke or will the age-old issue between the magical families destroy it before it gets a chance to start?

For wonderful paranormal action and a great look at growing pains, Pleasantwick by M.L. Stoughton is the perfect book. The characters are easy to relate to and the action is intense as the real and supernatural worlds collide. With a combination of history and present day, you develop a strong feeling for the problems affecting the magical families and how it could possibly relate to Melinda. Great story! I loved the characters as well as the action - perfect pace and intensity. I certainly hope there is more since the author seems to have left that door open. This is an extremely entertaining story with the hint that there could be more to come.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

“'You’re adopted,' she said, quick as you like, and slapped her hands over her mouth. The words had barely reached my ears when everything went north of normal. Mam erupted into a shaking mess of tears. Dad recoiled with a feverish look to him; his ruddy face deepening to purple and his eyes enlarging to the size of cue balls.” The Origins of Benjamin Hackett by Gerald M. O'Connor is a refreshing coming of age story that is sentimental, bold and hilarious at the same time. Set in Ireland in the summer of '96, 18-year-old Benjamin Hackett finds out that he was adopted. He decides to look for his birth parents and drags his friend JJ with him, traveling all over Cork city while facing unexpected problems along the way.

If you think you’ll find another typical coming of age tale among the pages of The Origins of Benjamin Hackett, it’s best to leave your expectations at the door. O'Connor can definitely make readers feel the heavy past of the Irish land which doesn’t just serve as a mere background for the story. That said, despite the episodic heaviness and contemplation, the story isn’t without its heartwarming, funny and respectable moments, making it fascinating and enjoyable to read. O’Connor’s vivid prose is perhaps even more perceptive in quirky moments, and the plot has solid and unpredictable twists. All in all, this is an unforeseen and profoundly moving tale from O’Connor, a satisfying read where the story concludes with a fitting ending.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

TigerFish: A Memoir of a South Vietnamese Colonel’s Daughter and Her Coming of Age in America by Ms. Hoang Chi T Truong is a compelling memoir that follows a young woman’s journey through the turbulent years of the Vietnam War to finding refuge in the US, and the challenges that came along the way, a story that is well captured in lyrical prose and in an irresistible voice. The memoirist takes readers on a delightful journey through her childhood, growing up as the daughter of a South Vietnamese colonel, and how the war changed everything. Readers are introduced to the life of the protagonist and what the war meant for them. The decision to seek asylum in the US wasn’t an easy one to make and the author introduces readers to the challenges the protagonist had to face to immerse herself into a new setting and culture.

Ms. Hoang Chi T Truong’s memoir is a powerful story of war, family, love, and survival written in a lyrical, absorbing style; it paints the perfect picture of life in war-torn South Vietnam. I enjoyed the masterful use of descriptive prose that gives readers great images of the setting, including the streets, the geography, and the places where the action takes place. The story feels real and the themes are masterfully integrated into the gripping narrative. TigerFish: A Memoir of a South Vietnamese Colonel’s Daughter and Her Coming of Age in America is very entertaining and inspiring, a coming-of-age story that brilliantly handles the theme of survival. The memoir reads like well-crafted fiction with an exciting setting.

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

In They Call Me Alexandra Gastone, a young adult thriller by T.A. Maclagan, all seventeen-year-old Alexandra Gastone wants to do is graduate high school, get into Princeton, and work for the CIA like her grandfather. At least that's what her cover as a spy entails. Undercover as "Alexandra" for seven years, Milena has been trained as a sleeper agent by Perun, a rebellious organization in her home country of Olissa. Her life with her grandfather is much different than she expected and Alexandra begins to relax into her ordinary life, expecting to wait years before she's activated, but Perun has speeded up their plans. They've raised the stakes, affecting those she's grown close to and forcing Alexandra to make a difficult choice. Can she stay true to a country she only has vague memories of or will the comfort of her stolen life be too great?

I really enjoyed They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T.A. Maclagan. It's the type of thriller that grabs the reader from the very beginning and raises the stakes very high. I absolutely loved Alexandra! She's a fierce and determined character, but full of tender moments and vulnerabilities as well. Maclagan does an amazing job weaving together the narrative, creating an evocative tale that's hard to put down once you start. There's definitely a lot of plot twists that I didn't see coming and questions I'm desperate to have answered. Hopefully there's a sequel in the works! They Call Me Alexandra Gastone by T.A. Maclagan is a great young adult novel for any fan of international espionage. Highly recommended.