Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy is a young adult fantasy about a sixteen-year-old orphan named Aurora who gets kidnapped and taken into the magical world of Avalonia. There is dangerous magic in Avalonia and a wicked queen who has proven she will stop at nothing to rule all seven kingdoms. When Aurora is dumped into this magical mix, she unexpectedly threatens to destroy the queen's plans. Aurora is helped by a wide range of interesting characters including Rafe, a handsome mage, a magical Pegasus, and a young fairy. The group heads across Avalonia to discover Aurora's past and help her understand the wickedness of the queen. Can Aurora stop the queen from leaving the entire kingdom in darkness? Or does she just want to go back to her safe, boring life on Earth and forget that anything magical could ever happen?

This is a nice fantasy story with some traditional elements that fantasy fans will recognize and appreciate. It is a good damsel in distress story, how an ordinary girl discovers that she might have the power within her to change the world. The world building is beautiful and I like the fact that there are human characters and fairy and fae characters. That really made the book more complex for me and I think other readers will enjoy learning more about these magical creatures. In fact, it is the journey of discovery for Aurora and the reader that makes this an interesting story.

Reviewed by Lisa McCombs for Readers' Favorite

High school graduation is a rite of passage both painful and full of celebration. Billy and his buddies met the challenge head-on, ready to face the unexpected future. Parties were planned, summer jobs lined up, and the finishing touches on the conclusion of childhood stared them in the face. Mark knew what he wanted to do with his life. Charlie was keen to pursue a vocation in law enforcement. Billy was still undecided about what course his college career would take. As he delves into a summer stint at a local animal shelter, an unexpected idea forms; blurring the lines between right and wrong. When tragedy intrudes on an otherwise phenomenal summer, Billy is torn between doing the right thing and keeping his friend’s secret a secret.

The Changing Season by Steven Manchester is a powerful tale of young adult consequences. At an age when we believe we know it all, Billy exhibits the first signs of adulthood while struggling to hang on to the last traces of his childhood. The painful transition into mature attitude is evident in Manchester’s story of spiritual growth. With young adult “boy” themed books a rarity, Manchester brings the reader a story reminiscent of the classics. As Billy mumbles, “They can keep this whole adulthood thing,” I was reminded of such literary greats as Catcher in the Rye and A Separate Peace. The Changing Season is certain to join the ranks of such classics. Lovely story! I really enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite

The Chosen Knights is the second book in the Angel Knights series written by Mary Ting. In fourteenth century France, a member of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, rushes to the church when he sees the flames. Hoping to rescue Father Simon from the blaze, he is instead accosted by evil as Cyrus, the master of all demons, appears and demands to know the whereabouts of the treasure before cursing all future generations of the Knights Templar. Fast forward to current day, and seventeen-year-old twins, Lucia and Zach – demon-hunting angels (Venators) from the Crossroads – are about to start their schooling year on Earth. Sent as undercover students to Hilo High School in Hawaii, the twins are to investigate a spate of mysterious disappearances, each occurring on Friday the thirteenth, while trying to blend in with the locals. Danger also lurks during every Blue Moon. Their socially awkward next door neighbors, Jack Molay and his family, seem to have many of the answers they are looking for, with Jack’s lineage shocking the Venators. Thrown into a world of jealousy, vindictiveness, and bullying, the twins are puzzled as to why humans behave so abysmally to one another. Trying to determine good from evil on Earth is a lot more difficult than Lucia and Zach could have ever imagined, but they must in order to break the deadly curse.

Mary Ting has captured ‘newcomers to Earth’ so beautifully, both in the teenage twins and their guardian, Uncle Davin. With so many supernaturals on the scene, it truly is a mind-twister trying to differentiate between a bully and a demon, as their traits are so similar. The Chosen Knights was addictive as I was unable to stop reading from first page until last. The different players are clearly set out in the initial chapters, making it easy to follow the story which is fast-paced and incorporates just the right amount of drama, action and comedy. I very much enjoyed this incredible tale of the Knights Templar and appreciate the research that Mary Ting has obviously put into writing such an epic. I will be seeking out more of Mary’s titles in the future. I recommend this book to those who enjoy their fantasy laced with history, action, drama, romance and love in this hilarious, yet suspenseful, supernatural cocktail which will leave you begging for more.

Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite

In The Monster Realm, Nara Duffie takes readers on an exciting and sometimes hair-raising adventure. Lillian has always been drawn to the Greek myths, but she never suspected that they might play a role in her sister's disappearance two years earlier. When she feels compelled to revisit the location of her sister's last known whereabouts, she meets an enigmatic boy named Jack, who leads her into the hidden land of Lanodeka. This is a world where the myths of old are still alive, but perhaps not quite content with their present obscurity. Accompanied by her two good friends, Maisy and Katy, she soon finds herself dodging deadly mythical beasts and bloodthirsty elves. Will she finally find the answers to all her questions? Will she ever find her way home?

Do not expect to encounter the noble, handsome elves of Tolkien or the pretty, innocent mermaids of Disney in Nara Duffie's The Monster Realm. The otherworldly beings that populate Lanodeka are a different brand. Yet, although they are deadlier, they are also full of surprises, turning familiar tropes on their heads. The odd physics and geography of this world likewise take a little getting used to, although this is adequately explained within the narrative. The characterization, however, is solid, balanced and consistent. We learn that impulsive Maisy, who often rushes headlong in the wrong direction, is also a collector of spicy Shakespearean curses while Katy, the most timid of the trio, is revealed to possess a rather unusual talent. Similarly, when Lillian explores her memories of her sister Bluebell for clues, confusingly painful memories are dove-tailed with heart-warming ones. I loved the styling and the illustrations of this e-book. The story is fast-paced, fun and, fortunately, there is a sequel.

Reviewed by Janelle Fila for Readers' Favorite

The Summer Solstice Enchanted by K.K. Allen is a young adult fantasy about a young woman's secret. When Katrina is fifteen, her mother dies and she is taken to Apollo Beach. There, she discovers the legends about her ancient Greek ancestors. The Summer Solstice is Kat's 16th birthday, and all of the questions she had about her past and future come crashing together. She begins to have disturbing visions and dreams and, when they start coming true, Kat worries about those around her. That includes her neighbor, Alec Stone, who is the one rock she can lean on during this trying time. There are witches and myths and dark prophecies swirling around Kat, and enchantments that she isn't sure if she hopes will or will not come true. She just wants to know the truth about her life and her mother's death, and keep everyone else in her family safe.

The Summer Solstice had a lot of history and back story about witches and their source of magic. After Kat turned 16, the action within the story amped up. There was good character development which I enjoyed. I also was intrigued by the blooming romance. K.K. Allen gave readers a surprise ending that ended on a cliffhanger and left readers wanting more. This was a great supernatural story that was heavy on history with a lot of action happening in the second half of the story.

Reviewed by Siobhan Quinlan for Readers' Favorite

The Sirens of Falkeld by Julie Tuovi is set in war torn Scotland. We follow Kade Finley nine years after his father dies. His Gaffer is sick and to save him Kade needs a mermaid's magic. Captured while on the restricted beach, Kade must help the Admiral Gilbert Owen before he can continue his quest to save his Gaffer. In this tale, mermaids are not beautiful, peaceful creatures, but soul-sucking, evil beings. Never trust a maighdean mhara.

The Sirens of Falkeld by Julie Tuovi was not what I was expecting, but in a good way. I thought I was getting a mermaid story and things were going to be lovely and peaceful, but I was proven wrong. Kade's back story is very interesting. The story gives us a rich history of the area and the legends the locals believe in. When going anywhere, we are given a full, detailed description, helping us feel we are there. The chapters rotate between Kade and Cora, but not in a confusing manner. I normally do not root for the bad guys, but by the end of this I was siding with the mermaids and the ending had me on the edge of my seat. I fell in love with all the characters and with the story. The story gripped me from page one and, even after it is done, I cannot stop thinking about it. The story drags you into a world of magic, legend, and death, and you will not be able to put down this beautifully written tale.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is a young adult adventure novel written by Brady Stefani. Courtney is about to turn 15 years old and it’s the night before her birthday. Her mother has planned a big party for the event, but Courtney is not at all interested in playing at being happy and excited by having all those people there in her house. Courtney has bigger problems, much bigger problems. Her dreams are filled with the visitations of strange alien beings and, that evening, with the rain pouring down and the wind gusting, she finds herself running away in fear of those strange beings that she believes are coming after her. It’s not something she could really feel safe explaining to anyone, except maybe Astra, her imaginary friend, whom she hadn’t seen in about two years now.

It all seemed to stem back to that last night she spent with her grandfather, when she was seven years old. Her mom and dad thought her grandfather was a bit crazy, and he did have all sorts of ideas about aliens, but they were going to visit some old law school friends and dropped Courtney off to stay with Grandpa. After a strange day that included her getting a tattoo she hadn’t wanted, Grandpa made her dinner, burning the hamburgers, and suddenly there was a pounding on the door and some of Grandpa’s old friends from the university rushed in. One of the men said that ‘they’ were coming. She could hear them talking from the other room, and then she heard someone say that she wasn’t safe. Courtney still remembered that night as vividly as though it were just yesterday. But the strangest thing of all about that night was the fact that her beloved Grandpa had tried to drown her in the bathtub.

Brady Stefani's young adult adventure novel, The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman, is a grand read that kept me enthralled for hours. One can't help but feel for the young woman who seems to have no one she can trust -- especially not her lawyer mother and her mother's doctor boyfriend. But Courtney is bigger and braver than anyone expects, and her coming of age is a spectacular thing requiring resilience, self-sacrifice, and imagination. Stefani's heroine is unforgettable, and his plot is inspired. This novel has a breakneck pace and Stefani's writing is fluid and perfectly suited to this most extraordinary tale that blends the coming of age, adventure, science fiction, and post-apocalyptic genres -- and it all works beautifully. The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman is a thriller of a ride, and it’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

In an excellent new offering from author Michael Pang, In the Eyes of Madness: Declan Peters Chronicles Book One, readers will be treated to a highly original book that will keep them obsessively turning the pages from the very first words all the way through to the last. Follow the story of protagonist Declan Peters, as he struggles with the aftermath of his psychotic mother's actions. Determined as an adult to forge a relationship with his mom again, he takes a job at the institution where she lives, hopeful that he will learn more about the woman who brought him into the world. But what he finds isn't what he expected. In fact, what he finds leads him to question almost everything he has ever known, and throws him into a world of demonic possession and beings with tendencies he could never have imagined. Will Declan ever get what he came for? Will he even survive? You'll need to read the book to find out!

I very much enjoyed In the Eyes of Madness: Declan Peters Chronicles Book One. This book is full of twists and turns that even I, a prolific reader, didn't expect, and that is saying quite a lot. Author Michael Pang has done a fantastic job in creating characters, especially Declan, that his readers will relate to, connect with and care about. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. Any reader, young adult or not, that loves a unique book of paranormal fiction, or just an interesting work of fiction in general, should read this book. I highly recommend In the Eyes of Madness: Declan Peters Chronicles Book One, and I look forward to reading the next book in this very promising series by author Michael Pang, as soon as I possibly can.

Reviewed by Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer) for Readers' Favorite

The Ghost of Normandy Road: Haunted Minds Series Book One is a thrilling tale about a boy named Danny who lives in a town with three local legends. The first legend is the Witch of Hill Top Green, which Danny doesn’t believe and thinks it was designed to make kids run faster. The second legend is the Tooth Fairy with Blood Red Wings, which Danny doesn’t believe until it attacks him. The third and final legend is the Ghost of Normandy Road. Danny is unsure whether to believe it or not, but he thinks there is something unusual about 110 Normandy Road. Follow Danny as he falls in love with a girl named Rebecca, but then she vanishes. Other strange disappearances happen that lead others to suspect Danny. Discover the truth about the ghost of Normandy Road.

The Ghost of Normandy Road is a thrilling, must-read book that is action-packed and will leave you on the edge of your seat. Author John Hennessy describes the events so well that I felt as though I was there alongside Danny. I found the characters relatable and the scenery spectacular. Author John Hennessy leaves us spellbound and in awe. The Ghost of Normandy Road should be an award-winning novel because it is well written and riveting. I highly recommend it for adults, as well as young adults. It is the perfect book for anyone who likes scary stories. It has the kind of cliff-hanger ending that will make you want to read the next book.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

The Last Orphans by N.W. Harris is a story about teenagers and kids who have to learn to deal with the fact that all the adults are dead, and that they might be next. A deadly virus was accidentally let loose on the planet, and it killed every adult. Only teenagers and young children are left. Shane is one of them. With a group of other kids, he tries to survive, and comes across the horrifying message that the virus will soon attack even younger victims. Only he and his new friends can stop the total destruction of all humanity - but will everyone be on his side? And how can kids survive without adults?

The Last Orphans by N.W. Harris was a nicely paced book with interesting characters, an exciting plot, and enough surprises to keep you turning page after page. While I am not a young adult or teenager any longer, I still enjoy reading books with younger characters as they usually have a different dynamic than books with "older" people. While the circumstances of those kids in this story are, of course, horrendous, and you wouldn't wish it on anybody, it was a very enjoyable and entertaining read. N.W. Harris also wasn't afraid to kill off nice characters, so you could never be sure who would make it to the end - or whether the kids would even be successful. The characters are well developed, and some of them stand out. It's definitely worth a read if you enjoy dystopian YA novels.