Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Zombie Squad is a young adult horror novel written by Bryce Bentley Summers. Sam, Rylee, Ava and Jordan are attending a special youth leadership conference held in New Orleans. When they get off the plane from Kansas City, they go with Mr. Grant, their chaperone, to a coffee shop where Rylee has arranged to meet her older sister, a medical student. As they’ve arrived early, the four high school seniors decide to go across the street to visit Zombies R Us, a voodoo and magic shop. Jordan’s looking for a natural version of Viagra, which this store doesn’t carry, but the shopkeeper suggests another store around the corner. Voodoo Junk and Magik used to be the biggest voodoo store in New Orleans, but the original store was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. When they enter the store, the owner tries to get them to leave, claiming the store is closed, and he finally gets the four students to go after filling a bag with touristy items for them. Unbeknownst to them, he’s included a powerful voodoo talisman called the Zombi Astral which a trio of mobsters is willing to kill him for.

Bryce Bentley Summers’ young adult horror novel, The Zombie Squad, is an original and entertaining take on the zombie novel. Summers creates a compelling voodoo story based on Haitian tradition and weaves an exciting tale in which the four resourceful friends attempt to survive a New Orleans that’s been taken over by zombies. The four main characters are well-defined, and I enjoyed their banter, good-natured digs and loyalty. My favorite character has to be Sam, the gymnast and artist, whose decision to come out led his driver’s ed teacher to flunk him, but whose acceptance by his parents and friends is heartwarming. Datal, the owner of Voodoo Junk and Magik, and his assistant Vic are also marvelous characters. While I am not a huge fan of zombie literature, I was quite pleasantly surprised by The Zombie Squad. I loved reading the history behind the zombie mythology and seeing the sights of New Orleans through the students’ eyes, and found the hotel sequences to be highly imaginative and a visual treat. The Zombie Squad is highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Phantom Of Faerie Mountain is a young adult fantasy novel by E.M. McIntyre. Set initially in contemporary Scotland, the plot follows our fourteen-year-old heroine Abby Fletcher, who appears to be just an ordinary girl. Things take an incredible turn when she encounters a dog with peculiar powers, and then a prophecy is unveiled: “The Red King must set me free.” Abby finds herself thrown seven hundred years into the past, where she and Scottish hero Rory begin unravelling the mystery at hand. Expect action, riddles and occasional insertions from the mysterious Finlay as Abby’s modern attitude clashes with the time she’s trapped in.

I would recommend that this book is very much situated at the youngest end of the young adult spectrum, with no graphic content that would be unsuitable for its readership. It was wonderful to read a YA tale that didn’t center on a pointless love story, as E.M. McIntyre firmly gives Abby and Rory their own goals and motivations within the plot. The pace of The Phantom Of Faerie Mountain is speedy but vividly descriptive. I particularly enjoyed Rory’s dialect, which enhanced the medieval Scottish setting of most of the novel. The fantasy elements of the story were fascinating and well developed, and I feel that fans of YA fiction are bound to be swept up in the action and puzzlement of the tale. Overall, I’d definitely recommend The Phantom Of Faerie Mountain for readers looking for a non-romantic, action packed plot.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Whizbang Machine: The Whizbang Machine Series, Book 1 is a young adult mystery novel written by Danielle A. Vann. Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Yale loves her typewriter, even if it's not as efficient and easy to use as a laptop or word processor. While she's no stranger to tech and loves her phone, there's a special connection that she feels to the clanging chatter and other little noises that the typewriter emits as she works, and the feel of the keys hitting her paper. She's reluctant to leave her typing incomplete when her mother calls and tells her to come downstairs, but it is Grandpa Jack who's coming to see them, after all. It's been eight long years since he left, almost immediately after the sudden death of her father, Jesse. Having her grandfather desert her so soon after the loss of her dad hurt deeply, and while she's thrilled to be seeing him again and still has the hundreds of postcards he sent her during his travels, there's just a touch of resentment and hurt lingering from his desertion when she needed him most. But when the door opens, and she sees him standing there looking at him, she can't help but rush into his arms.

Danielle A. Vann's young adult mystery, The Whizbang Machine: The Whizbang Machine Series, Book 1, is an exciting and fast-paced novel that follows Elizabeth and her grandfather, Jack, as they follow the trail of clues relating to the strange typewriter he found in Morocco which bears Elizabeth's initials on it. Along the way, they discover hidden documents, share in an amazing genealogical trip into their family's past, and travel to Leiden in the Netherlands where it may all have begun. I loved revisiting the main branch of the New York Public Library with them and found the descriptions of Leiden so compelling that I searched Google for images to go along with my reading. Vann's characters are well-defined and authentic, and I especially appreciated Elizabeth's resilience, imagination and courage as she teams with Grandpa Jack. The plot is superb, mingling history with mystery as the two persist in following their clues, despite the dangers they come up against. While this is a relatively lengthy work, I actually found that this book ended all too soon, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. The Whizbang Machine: The Whizbang Machine Series, Book 1 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Charlotte Weaver for Readers' Favorite

Heroism, courage and romance; just a few of the words that come to mind when I think of Autumn in the City of Angels by Kirby Howell. Autumn has to face that everyone around her is falling victim to an apocalyptic plague, leaving less than one percent of the population immune. When her family fails to arrive home, Autumn realizes she is alone; her goal - learn how to survive. Survival becomes unforgiving when The Coalition takes over the city. Autumn goes into hiding with a small group of underground survivors. After a dangerous encounter with The Coalition, Autumn feels a deep connection towards the group leader. A rather dashing young man, he harbors an otherworldly secret. Can Autumn cope with this revelation? Survival always comes with sacrifice.

Autumn's story is an outstanding read. This story captures your attention from its very first pages. You feel every aspect of sorrow, hope and love. I feel it shows a brilliant author, one that can captivate you from that very first page and make you feel true emotions. The characters are solid and developed extremely well; you're able to watch them grow throughout the book. Overall, I feel this is a perfectly constructed story with lovable characters. I adored every page of this book and its wonderfully courageous characters. I'm truly excited to be going onto Book #2. I recommend this book. I feel this story is suitable for all Y/A readers and over.

Reviewed by Rich Follett for Readers' Favorite

The Healer by C.J. Anaya (Book One of the Healer series) draws upon ancient forces, gods, and demons from Japanese mythology to craft a thrilling and richly layered modern epic for Young Adult readers. In the first book of what promises to be an enthralling series, Hope, a seemingly normal (albeit slightly introverted) motherless teenager with a strange ability to heal the sick, makes surreptitious visits to the hospital in which her physician father treats patients. Her primary purpose is to offer healing and – dare we say - hope to suffering patients without drawing attention to her abilities and exposing her secret. Along the way, she befriends a terminally ill patient and begins to feel a burgeoning desire to test the boundary between life and death when she realizes that she cannot save those who are meant to die.

With the help of her red-headed, boy crazy siren of a best friend, Angie, Hope sorts out life issues as diverse as mourning her mother’s passing and defending her choice to postpone thoughts of romance. Enter Victor and Tie, two ‘new boy’ cousins too hot to go unnoticed by any of the girls at school, and Hope begins an adventure worthy of the most timeless traditional epic heroines. Layer by layer, a life-or-death scenario unfolds as characters and concepts from Japanese mythology begin to invade Hope’s world and cause her to discover powers, wisdom, and abilities no one could have guessed she possesses. As “The Healer” comes into her own, lives are changed and young female readers everywhere are empowered in extraordinary ways. The Healer by C.J. Anaya is a wonderful, uplifting, and educational Young Adult adventure, full of prescient messages and timely reminders that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

In a great first book of the planned Ice Series Trilogy by author Jennifer Comeaux, Crossing the Ice will appeal to many young adult readers who love a sweet romance. Follow the story of pair skaters Courtney and Mark as they are working to their goal, a shot at making the Olympic team. They promise not to let anything get in their way. Another pair couple, Stephanie and Josh, a sibling duo, is their primary competition. But when Courtney finds herself more and more drawn to the sweet and shy Josh, will their dreams be forever changed? You'll need to read this fantastic book to find out!

I very much enjoyed Crossing the Ice. Author Jennifer Comeaux has done a wonderful job at creating characters that her readers will connect with, relate to, and continue to think about long after the book is finished. If that isn't a sign of a great author, I'm not sure what is. The story line is sweet with the promise of young romance without going too far, so both young readers and their parents will approve of this story. Any young reader, and perhaps especially young women who enjoy a romantic read, will certainly enjoy Crossing the Ice. I highly recommend this book. I was happy to find that this is the first book in a trilogy, and I can't wait to read more from the Ice Series as soon as I am able to do so. If the subsequent stories are anything like Crossing the Ice, they will certainly be worth the read!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Oldest Soul: Animus is the first in a romantic science fiction trilogy by author Tiffany FitzHenry. Our central heroine is Eve, who is discovered to be the oldest soul on the planet when her DNA is dated back through all the lives she has lived on Earth. Eve is seventeen, and she finds herself in a dilemma when she meets Jude, who appears to be the last soul created for a very long time. Whilst Jude is intensely attractive, Eve also has to contend with Roman, whose soul has been matched to hers over many lifetimes. As this one small conflict begins to eat away at Eve, a much larger battle is looming overhead, foreshadowing a war that could end one side of the human race forever.

The power of Tiffany FitzHenry’s work first and foremost lies in the superb concept she has created. The Oldest Soul: Animus sits on the border of young adult and adult fiction for me, as Eve’s youthful stance on life is interspersed with her Zodiac soul, which tells of the many lives lived before her current body. I really enjoyed the idea that the soul transcends race, gender, or any other physical factor, and her relationship with Roman really puts the idea of soul mates under a new kind of microscope. Brilliantly crafted, well written, and compelling, The Oldest Soul: Animus is a true page turner that will satisfy audiences of romantic fiction and sci-fi alike. I would recommend it to readers seeking something totally original, detailed, and deep.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Orah and Nathaniel are on a journey in The Stuff of Stars. It is a journey that began in the first Seekers book, The Children of Darkness. A journey that began with a desire to recover the wonders of an intelligence that existed before their days until temple rule, this journey takes the couple across an ocean to find the descendants of the original keepers, those whose knowledge and intelligence will help, or so they believe, their own world as it struggles to recover from a life marred by multiple restrictions. Orah and Nathaniel do find the descendants of the keepers, but those they seek are now known as dreamers and they are neither alive nor dead. Those they meet represent opposing views of the age of intelligence that led the dreamers to an existence far above and beyond the realms of basic human comprehension. So how will Orah and Nathaniel communicate with these dreamers? How will they convince the opposing communities that there really is no right or wrong and it is better to work together?

This is another powerful story from popular author David Litwack. The Stuff of Stars, although part of a series, is expertly told as if it were a stand-alone novel. Background information from the first book in the series is presented and unraveled as needed. The centuries-old search for a utopian existence is challenged in this second novel as the two protagonists, Orah and Nathaniel, find themselves pitted against two points of view: that intelligence and living with intelligent machines is the only way to survive, and that returning to nature and living off the land is the right way to go. The utopia that the protagonists seek is mired in questions with no answers, and the truth they hope will help their own people across the ocean is difficult to ascertain. Is there a right or a wrong answer? Can a real utopia truly exist? The reader is left with these troubling questions as the novel ends with a bridge to the third book.

Excellent plot development, description, characterization - the reader truly feels like he/she is part of this story. This is a fantastic story that continues the plot initiated in the first Seekers book: a tale about a futuristic utopian world that is anything but perfect. There is only one word to truly define this novel: WOW!

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

In The Cloud Seeders by James Zerndt, Thomas and his young brother Dustin haven't seen a drop of rain in over a year. With the water drying up, the government had gone from Eco-conscious to Eco-hysterical making sure that every drop of water is accounted for, turning things like home gardening and car washing into serious infractions. Thomas is more intent on keeping his brother safe and making it through the day while his rebel rousing friend, Jerusha, feels that there's more to the drought than what the government's spilling. She's determined to find out even if it means going with Thomas and Dustin on a cross-country road trip. A novel that defies easy explanation, The Cloud Seeders is great for anyone interested in the HAARP project or post-apocalyptic, road tripping adventure.

In his acknowledgment, Zerndt said that The Cloud Seeders was turned down by several publishing houses, which is usually my cue to avoid the book like a vampire shuns sunlight. However, The Cloud Seeders was a fantastic read, one that I would love to see on the shelves (mine especially). The characters were very realistically written, nothing struck me as manipulative or sentimental, the way Thomas, Dustin, and Jerusha reacted to various situations I couldn't imagine happening any other way. I found myself thinking of them long after the book was done. I even enjoyed the poems. Usually after reading one or two I wind up skipping over the rest, but in The Cloud Seeders the poems were funny and interesting and gave us little hints about the characters. A thoroughly enjoyable book and I’d be interested in seeing more what Zerndt has to offer.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

The Gay Teen's Guide to Defeating a Siren is book one of the Seeker series by Cody F. Wagner, and an interesting mix of fantasy, boarding school drama, and gay coming of age story. Blaze Trales, who gets to hear plenty of jokes about his name, accidentally outed himself in front of his parents. Fortunately, they have just received a flyer about a boarding school that would help to "pray the gay away." Blaze is not happy, but once he arrives at the school, he finds it different from what he expected. He lives in a dorm with another gay boy and one girl. They quickly become friends of sorts, and soon Blaze finds out that the school is not what the parents who sent their kids there to be "healed" would expect. And the school has an ancient enemy. A siren.

The Gay Teen's Guide to Defeating a Siren by Cody F. Wagner is a good introduction to the Seeker series and gains momentum with every chapter. The book has a lot of humour. While it is aimed at young adults, especially gay teenagers who still have issues with being gay, it is a great book for readers of all ages. I wasn't quite expecting the story to turn into something so interesting and exciting. The more you read, the harder it is to stop reading, and you get one or the other surprise, especially towards the end. At the end, things definitely did NOT go the way I thought they would go at all. Cody F. Wagner's writing has a fresh feel to it, the characters are well written, and at the end you're left wanting more.