Book Briefs - Bringing you Young Adult book reviews since 2011

{Review+Giveaway} Art of Death by Becca Vincenza

{Excerpt+Giveaway} The Rule of Many by Ashley & Leslie Saunders

{Release Day Review} We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

{Interview+Giveaway} A GOOD ENOUGH MOTHER by Bev Thomas

{Review+Giveaway} S.S.S. Year One (Supernatural Spy Academy) by Yumoyori Wilson

{Guest Post+Giveaway} The Isle of Gold by Seven Jane

May 22

{Interview+Giveaway} The Divorce Planner by Angela Lam

The Divorce Planner Angela Lam Published by: The Wild Rose Press Publication date: May 20th 2019 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance When her daughter suggests Darcy Madison attend her ex-husband’s wedding, Darcy enlists the help of her colleague, divorce attorney Victor Costello, to pose as her dashing young date. But when Victor proposes to Darcy at the reception, Darcy forgets they are pretending and says, “Yes!” Between her false engagement to Victor and her daughter’s suggestion to have a double wedding, Darcy falls even further in the fantasy of being a blushing midlife bride. The longer the masquerade continues, the more Darcy starts to wonder what is love and can it last forever in a world where divorce is the only language she knows? Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo — What inspired you to write The Divorce Planner? Shortly after my year-long divorce was finalized, I wistfully wondered if the process would have gone more smoothly if I had hired someone to navigate… Read more »

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May 21

{Review+Giveaway} Art of Death by Becca Vincenza

Art of Death is a new adult urban fantasy by author Becca Vincenza, and is the first book in the curse breakers series. Art of Death was a quick, but action packed read that really got me interested in this new series. I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in the curse breakers series, Secrets of the Dead, which is out now as well. Fans of fast paced, action filled stories will devour Art of Death. There is a smidge of romance in this one as well, but it is not an overly heavy part of the story. I wish there was a bit more romance, but the romance that was there was good, and I am hoping to see even more in the second book. In Art of Death we meet twins, Rowan and Abel. I so loved the two of them, both together and as individuals. We see so many dysfunctional and unhealthy sibling/family/friend relationships in young adult books, that it was pleasantly refreshing… Read more »

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May 21

{Release Day Giveaway+Excerpt} Neliem by Clare DiLiscia

Happy release day to Clare DiLiscia!!!! Neliem Clare DiLiscia Published by: Month9Books Publication date: May 21st 2019 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy. Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection. Why… Read more »

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May 19

{Excerpt+Giveaway} Taken by the Phantom by Isabella King

Taken by the Phantom Isabella King (The Phantom of the Academy, #1) Publication date: May 16th 2019 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance I’ve never felt at home at Juilliard. My stagefright always makes me choke when I’m under the spotlight, to my classmates’ delight. But when I’m dragged into a new world, to a new school—where singing is more than a talent, it’s magic—I can’t hide my voice anymore. This new power is tempting, but terrifying forces swirl around the kingdom of Cantus. Missing girls, rivals at my new academy, Rebels, demons slaying people in the street—and it all leads back to him. The mysterious, powerful Phantom, who lurks beneath the opera school and demands he be my teacher—a demand which soon grows into something deeper, darker. But if I want to survive this place, or have any hope of going home, I may have no choice but to give in to him… and all he desires. Goodreads / Amazon — I appraise the Phantom of the Opera in shadow and… Read more »

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May 16

{Excerpt+Giveaway} The Rule of Many by Ashley & Leslie Saunders

The Rule of Many Ashley Saunders (The Rule of One #2) Published by: Skyscape Publication date: May 7th 2019 Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult Born to a death sentence in a near-future America, rebellious sisters herald a revolution—if they can survive. Twins Ava and Mira Goodwin defy the Rule of One simply by existing. The single-child law, ruthlessly enforced by Texas’s Governor Roth, has made the sisters famous fugitives and inspirations for the resurgent rebellion known as the Common. But the relentless governor and his implacable Texas State Guard threaten that fragile hope, as Roth consolidates his power in a bid for ultimate authority. As Ava and Mira relinquish the relative safety of their Canadian haven to stand against Roth, new allies arise: Owen, a gifted young programmer, impulsively abandons his comfortable life in a moment of compassion, while Zee, an abused labor camp escapee, finds new purpose in resistance. The four will converge on Dallas for a reckoning with Roth, with nothing less than their destinies—and the promise of a… Read more »

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May 14

{Release Day Review} We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

We Hunt the Flame is a young adult fantasy by Hafsah Faizal. I should point out that I have known Hafsah for several years now, ever since she was a book blogger and then a graphic designer in the book community. I have been a big fan of hers since day one, so when I heard she is writing a book, I knew I had to get a copy ASAP! And when I heard it was going to be an epic fantasy, I was even more excited. We Hunt the Flame is the first book in the Sands of Arawiya series, and I have to say…it did not disappoint. This book is a long one. It clocks in at almost 500 pages, and it sets up what is going to be a crazy awesome fantasy series. I am already salivating for the second book. In We Hunt the Flame we meet Zafira, who hides as a male hunter at the start of the novel. I will admit that it took… Read more »

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May 09

{Excerpt+Giveaway} The Forgotten Ones by Andrea Bills

The Forgotten Ones Andrea Bills Publication date: May 6th 2019 Genres: Adult, Mystery, Romance, Thriller From the iBooks Bestselling Author of Hardwired comes One small town. One lost love. One killer. Agent Caitlin Cade is called back to her hometown by a serial killer. She’s avoided the town for six years, trying to create a new life away from the painful memories of the sudden passing of her father and a love lost. Dean Campbell was given a mission that forced him to walk away from the only woman he had ever loved. Just as his mission is over and he can return to her news reaches him that a serial killer has Caitlin caught in a deadly game. Can Dean handle not being the one in control in order to show Caitlin he’s back for good? Can Caitlin not only face her past but also a killer who always seems two steps ahead of her? As a game of chess plays out using human bodies, secrets and lies come… Read more »

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May 01

{Review+Giveaway} The Peabrain’s Idea by Martha Carr

The Peabrain’s Idea is the first book in the Peabrain Adventures series, which is a fantasy series, by Martha Carr. First of all, I should say that I am not a huge fan of the title. In this series, a peabrain is a word used to describe humans (more on this later), but the zany, and kind of rude, name fits with the zany nature of this story. The Peabrain’s idea was certainly a different, in a mostly interesting way fantasy novel than I am used to reading. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t blow me away. In the Peabrain’s Idea, we meet our main character Maggie, who is a detective. I love that she is such a logical practical person, because seeing her get swept up in something so zany and not practical was kind of funny. The Peabrain’s Idea starts off on a great note. We dive right into the action and we learn very early on that Maggie is an elemental, right after a weird encounter with… Read more »

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Apr 30

{Excerpt+Giveaway} As Silver Is to the Moon by R. A. Watt

As Silver Is to the Moon R. A. Watt Publication date: April 28th 2019 Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult New school. First love. A psychotic werewolf that wanted me dead. And it was only week one in Santa Isadora. For fifteen-year-old Teavan Laurent and his older sister Suzanne, Santa Isadora seemed like a sleepy and idyllic California town to finish high school after their unexpected move west from New York City. As he struggles to make friends in a town shrouded in secrets, Teavan soon finds himself the target of an irrational tormentor and rumored-to-be werewolf. The revenge-obsessed psycho vows to wipe out Teavan and his small family due to past wrongs beyond Teavan’s control or knowledge. The twisted legacy left to him by his late grandfather brings Teavan at odds with everything he knows to be true—or at least everything he thought to be true. The impossible truth of the tale begins to gain traction at his first wolf sighting, and Teavan and Suzanne soon find themselves in the crosshairs… Read more »

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Apr 29

{Interview+Giveaway} A GOOD ENOUGH MOTHER by Bev Thomas

Thank you so much to Bev Thomas for stopping by Book Briefs today to chat about her book, a Good enough Mother, which releases tomorrow. Check out her interview below and then enter the giveaway to try and win a copy of the book for yourself! The protagonist of A GOOD ENOUGH MOTHER is Ruth Hartland, an experienced therapist who specializes in helping trauma victims. You were also a clinical psychologist for many years, and have an in-depth understanding of this world. What made you want to explore the patient-therapist relationship in fiction and how did your real-life experiences inform the novel? In my work, I had always been very interested in grief and loss – powerful emotions that not only underpin the human condition, but frequently find their way into the therapy room. But I was initially reluctant to explore the therapeutic world in fiction, as I didn’t want the focus to be on a patient. It was only when I flipped the concept and made the protagonist a… Read more »