Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

I would recommend not starting Novus (The Cresecren Chronicles, Book 1) by Crystal Marcos if you have anything planned for the rest of the day, as you will most likely not want to put the book down! Cayden, the main character, is a Cresecren, similar to humans, but made to serve them. Cayden ended up in a colony of Cresecrens who are either not fit to serve any longer or who have been outcasts for some reason. One day, Cayden's life changes completely. He meets an interesting human girl, and then is involved in a rather unpleasant chain of events (which I can't mention as that would be spoilers!) which lead to him and a group of others being on the run, and finding out that the world out there is full of things that are not as they seem.

Novus by Crystal Marcos is one of those gems that make you care about the characters within the story, and while you definitely want to know what happens to them, you can't help but also not want to get to the end of the book. It's the kind of book whose characters you miss when you finish the book. There is good news though, it's the first book in a series and if Crystal writes as well in the second book then it will also be a fantastic read. There still is a lot to explore, quite a few issues to be resolved, and I am sure that more interesting characters will be waiting for readers.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Authors Erik Daniel Shein and Theresa A. Gates continue to delight readers with Sanctuary, Book II of The Monsterjunkies, An American Odyssey series. A year has passed since the Monsterjunkies welcomed several trusted souls to their estate. Crow is now 15 years old and enjoying his friendship with his Schnoggin Knockers gang; Larry, Todd, and Edgar. Despite the joy of camaraderie, the challenges of cruelty and harassment remain, including other issues that Crow and his sister Indigo have to face.

Having read the first book, Being Normal is a State of Mind, the continuation of the story did not disappoint me. The development of the plot and the characters are well-written. Book two continues to depict the personal and social issues that teenagers have to deal with today. The bullying problem in school is still being highlighted where Crow still has to endure the harassment from Grimes and his gang. Worst, Ruth Grimes’s father, Grimes Sr., is determined to get rid of the Monsterjunkies for good – out of the area, or better, out of the country. He would love to get his hand on the Monsterjunkies’ estate.

Beau, the lovable and articulate Sasquatch, also receives an interesting development to his character. Although living with the Monsterjunkies is peaceful and safe, Beau longs to be free in the wilderness. Beau must choose whether to stay happy and protected with the Monsterjunkies or brave the outside world to search for his parents and his own species. Simply put, I find myself growing to love the Monsterjunkies and their extended family members more and more. The great mix of reality, powerful messages on social issues and macabre fantasy in the storytelling make it a worthwhile series to follow.

Reviewed by Savannah Edelen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite

Truth: The Geneva Project Book 1 by Christina Benjamin is a new and inventive kind of story. Long ago, an island was torn apart by a flood and only one city survived. A village right outside the city also survived, along with a few people around the island, but mostly orphaned children whose parents were killed in the flood. Jane 65 is one of these children. Not given names so that they would not have to deal with being called something different if they were adopted, all children are assigned a number. Jane 65 is not a normal orphan. She is the youngest and, as she discovers with the help of Nova, another orphan who knows his name, she has magical powers. There are people who want to hurt Jane 65 and it is up to her and her friends to stop it before it happens. Oh, and they have to save the island while they are at it.

I loved Truth: The Geneva Project Book 1 by Christina Benjamin. It was a wonderful book. I especially love Tippy AKA Jane 65. I really connected with her and it is easy to see why. She has such a strong love for her friends. Plus she has this insecure humble side I believe that many people had. I loved feeling the excitement Tippy felt as she discovered each of her new powers. It was as exciting as it was fun to read. I didn’t want to take my eyes off the pages. Who can forget the subtle budding love between Nova and Tippy. Nothing could possible ruin it, not even Jemma who has always hated Tippy. With no reason for it at all either. Together with her friends, you feel as though Tippy can accomplish anything she wants to. I loved Tippy and you will too.

Reviewed by Raanan Geberer for Readers' Favorite

D’mok Revival: Descension by Michael Zummo, the third volume in a trilogy, continues the story of Rhysus Mencari and his fight, along with the Human Coalition, against the violent and sadistic Nukari. As the book begins, Mencari finds himself stranded and falls through a space rift into a world that has been isolated from the rest of the universe. Once there, Mencari finds that he shares a common ancestry with the inhabitants of this world — the ancestry of the D’mar. Mencari seems to fit in, but one powerful individual won’t accept him. Eventually, he flees, taking along Speru, a young man who, like Mencari, has superhuman abilities. They rejoin Mencari’s crew and go from one planet to another, always at odds with the Nukari — and their fearsome Beasts!

I found D’mok Revival: Descension by Michael Zummo to be an entertaining science fiction novel on a grand scale. If you like Star Wars, you’ll also like D’mok Revival. The characters are well-drawn and entertaining; they range from humans to artificial-intelligence entities like "Mini-T" to a robotic dog. The Nukari are absolutely villainous, and as for their Beasts, let’s just say you wouldn’t want to meet one of them in a dark alley. While some of the elements of the book are frightening, others are humorous, such as the discovery of a space hub where all the mechanical junk from the spaceway seems to collect. The fact that the action takes place on many worlds, not just in one place, gives a variety to D’mok Revival: Descension that will keep readers’ attention. D’mok Revival: Descension is a well-written space adventure novel, one that will definitely be appreciated by sci-fi fans.

Reviewed by Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite

Wildflower by Janine Carbone is a story about Faith, a young college student who is haunted by traumatic events in her past. Her way of dealing with her troubled past is to withdraw from society and shut herself away from those who would befriend her because of a fear of trusting anyone. She has one friend, however, Casey, whose easy-going attitude to life is in stark contrast to her own. Faith is fearful of relationships, but Jason is determined and the two form a somewhat restrictive relationship. As Faith struggles to cope with college life, it becomes apparent that her repressed memories from the past are having a significant effect on her ability to move on with her life. It is only when she faces a tormentor that she draws the strength to deal with the past.

Janine Carbone has created a tense and emotional thriller that left me unable to put it down. The writing is descriptive and emotive and the characters are well-developed and believable. The reader is taken on a journey of despair and hope, of fear and regression, all cleverly crafted into a superb story. The writing style is effortless and I was swept along by the intensity of feeling and the skillful weaving of the relationships that Faith tried to both resist and maintain at the same time, together with her inner turmoil as she struggled to deal with the memories of the past that occur as flashbacks throughout the story. The storyline was not predictable and it is one that will stay with me for some time.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

You Again, written by author Helen MacArthur, is a novel aimed at young adults. The central female character of the tale is skateboarding tearaway Angie Anderson, orphaned as a baby and constantly a worry to those around her. At fifteen, Angie presents a tough façade, but she’s naïve to many of the true horrors in the world. This is where Lennox Jones enters the action, also aged fifteen, and recently relocated to London from San Francisco. Struggling to fit in at a new school is hard enough without falling hard in an instant for a certain skateboarding teen, but Angie and Lennox will face plenty of greater trials before their relationship really has a chance to take off.

Helen MacArthur uses down to earth dialogue and realistic narration to tell this split-perspective story of drama and teenage life. Her locations are vivid and full of action (though I’m not sure what London school realistically has lockers) and though You Again appears at first to be a love story, there are plenty more interesting twists to the tale than the simple boy meets girl approach. I found Angie to be a likeable heroine, trying hard to act cool despite her inner feelings, and I think the YA audience at which the book is aimed will certainly empathize with her. The benefits of the split narrative give us a great insight into Lennox’s head, which helps to unpick his 'been there done that' behaviour. Overall, a well written and deeply character based novel, highly suitable for its intended readership.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

With an interesting twist on the legend of Camelot, Cloak of Shadows (The Netherwalker Series, Book 1) by C.K. Dawn is where Camelot did exist but was destroyed to keep its secrets. The descendants of the Knights of the Round Table live on and defend people from the creatures that lurk within the shadows – the Netherwalkers. Readers are introduced to Lourdes ‘Lourdie’ Reese, a strong, fiercely independent seasoned hunter in the King's Court, and her spunky apprentice, 14-year-old Abigail ‘Abbey’ Thorne. These two are easily likable characters and the quintessence of strong female protagonists, a definite boon for me.

The beginning pace of the story is moderate compared to most YA fiction that I’ve read before. However, when Lourdie and Abbey go to Porthleven, England, the tempo of the pace starts to feel irrelevant as the storyline builds with suspense and becomes much more intriguing. The plot is solid; it is conscientiously written, well thought out and executed. Admittedly, I didn’t expect any less after the excellent prologue. At some point when you think you know what is going on, something else appears to derail your expectations. This holds good right up to and including the end.

Dawn’s writing style is well-targeted for YA fans and the story contains enough action, adventure, humor and emotion to draw readers in. With an ending that promises answers in the next book, Cloak of Shadows kicks off The Netherwalker series well. It will provide great entertainment for YA fans and may well recruit many more.

Reviewed by Brenda Casto for Readers' Favorite

"Glimpse" by Steven Whibley introduces us to Dean Curse, an almost fourteen year old who finds himself witnessing a crime, and becoming an unlikely hero one morning while going to school. When the victim whispers the word "Glimpse" to him just before passing out Dean has no idea what the world it means. When he starts having hair-raising visions of people of course he is terrified. When he tells his best friends Lisa and Colin what is going on they help him figure out that the visions he is seeing are of people that have twenty-four hours to live, and that Dean's job is to try and save them which is no easy task! When he has as a "Glimpse" of someone close to him he is determined to intervene and save them or die trying!

Steven Whibley creates a page turning story that is surely going to appeal to young readers and adults alike with "Glimpse!" In addition to the characters being totally easy to relate to they also seem so very realistic. The relationship between Dean and his younger sister Becky was very real and the picking and fighting was totally a brother sister relationship, but when Becky was in trouble Dean didn't hesitate to do what he had to do! The friendship between Dean, Lisa and Colin totally works. While Dean is the shy one, Colin is the jokester and more outspoken, while Lisa seems to be the voice of reason. Instead of a perfect hero that saves everyone, Dean is someone who often fails, but doesn't give up, and when he does fail, his reactions are human. I like the fact that therapy is used in the story, allowing readers, especially teens, to realize that it is okay to need help once in a while. I also find the family feel of the story appealing. Dean's parents are great characters. Mr. Whibley hits the right balance with them, allowing them to be involved, but not overbearing. He creates a very good parental relationship. Mr. Whibley has the uncanny ability to provide tension, but also knows when to throw in a bit of humor to take the edge off! He also knows how to describe scenes allowing the reader to fully understand what is going on without being graphic, making this a great read for anyone who enjoys a story filled with tension, mystery, suspense and a touch of paranormal, where the characters are teens plunged into something that they truly have no idea about! "Glimpse" is a story that is mature enough for adults, but will totally be a hit with the younger set as well.

Reviewed by Molly Edwards for Readers' Favorite

I love reading and learning about new authors and this was a perfect new author and new book! I loved most everything about this novel. The words, the characters, the plot. All of it was unique and really drew me into the story. I have never read a book quite like this before, but I will say that I hope to read more work like this in the future.

Bappa is a rich cattle herder in Africa with two wives, two sets of children. His wife Demmo, along with Ribaldo and Halimah are abandoned by Bappa and left to live a poor life. While Bappa is looking after his more favored family of his second wife, his young children, Ribaldo and Halimah go against everything in Africa and fight to become educated. They want nothing more than to become better than what they were and live a life of comfort. Little did they know that their father, Bappa, the man who denied and abandoned them, has lost his fortune and home and wants nothing more than to be accepted by his children. His children are torn between doing what is right and the anger they have toward their father.

This is a moving, emotional story that will pull you in, grip you, and take you to the African setting of Nigeria, amongst these African Fulani cattle herders, African Cowboys, and set you down in an unexpected place. You will see the importance of knowledge, the effect that greed and attitude can have on a person. If you have never read a book like this before, then I encourage you to read this 5 star novel. Twists, turns, and compelling characters will surround you and keep you turning the pages until the very last page is reached.

Reviewed by Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

In the novel Fall Down Seven, written by C.E. Edmonson, thirteen-year-old Emiko Arrington witnesses the most shocking events of December 7, 1941, through the window: the Japanese attack on the United States base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. While the unexpected attack prompts the US entry into World War II, it also quickly changes the life of Emiko and her Japanese-American family. Emiko recalls: “Within a very few days, less than a week, we’d cease to be Japanese-Americans. Somehow, without any discussion at all, we would become Japanese. We would become the enemy.”

C.E. Edmonson vividly recreates the events of Pearl Harbor through a robust and dramatic historical fiction. The narrative is truly moving and the author tells his story superbly, like a true master of his craft. The book held my interest throughout. In fact, I couldn’t stop reading it. Fall Down Seven is now part of my Can’t-Put-Down List. Emiko tells the story and I was all ears to what she was going to share about her life after the event. It appears that being Japanese is a curse during this time, and Emiko and her family have to face difficulties if they want to go on living. Like her Dad’s favorite Japanese proverb, “Nana korobi, ya oki,” which means “fall down seven times, get up eight”, I also want to tell the poor child to always rise after every fall because life must go on. Edmonson provides us with a war story that does not drag. This is a book that will definitely grip the heart and stir the spirit.