The Poppy War | Book Review

Title: The Poppy War
Author: R.F. Kuang
Series: The Poppy War #1
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Trigger Warnings: Genocide | Murder | Torture | Violence | Sexual Assault | Child Death | Animal Death | Drug use | Self-Harm | Gore

A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired by the bloody history of China’s twentieth century and filled with treachery and magic, in the tradition of Ken Liu’s Grace of Kings and N.K. Jemisin’s Inheritance Trilogy.

When Rin aced the Keju — the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies — it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard — the most elite military school in Nikan — was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power — an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive — and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away…

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity… and that it may already be too late.

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Picture-Perfect Boyfriend | Book Spotlight

Title: Picture-Perfect Boyfriend
Author: Becky Dean
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary

Release Date: May 23rd, 2023

Two strangers, one tropical island, and lots of lies in this funny beach romance from the author of Love & Other Great Expectations!

Aspiring nature photographer Kenzie Reed just can’t get her straitlaced family of optometrists to take her art seriously. She’s resigned to putting aside her dreams and accepting the depressing life that awaits her at the family business. She even makes up a fake, boring boyfriend — Jacob — to get her parents off her back.

But when the Reeds arrive in Hawaii for spring break, Kenzie is shocked that “Jacob” shows up at the airport — and joins their vacation. Kenzie can’t reveal him as a fraud without confessing her lie, so she’s stuck playing along while trying to find out who he really is.

No way is she going to actually fall for him — because even though he’s funny, nice, smart, and cute, he’s also a liar. Isn’t he?

Filled with warm summer breezes and salty sea air, Becky Dean’s Picture-Perfect Boyfriend will sweep you off your feet into a tropical paradise, sun on your shoulders — where love is just around a palm tree.

When Oceans Rise | Book Spotlight

Title: When Oceans Rise
Author: Robin Alvarez
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy

Trigger Warnings: Gaslighting | Physical abuse

Release Date: May 23rd, 2023

Submerged in a toxic relationship and disconnected from everyone, she turns to the sea to decide her fate. Its decision? Toss her to the sea witch.

Seventeen-year-old Malaya is cursed. In her family, every girl’s first love ends in death after falling for someone evil. Good thing Malaya’s dream guy isn’t monstrous.

Except the curse is real and preventing Malaya from noticing how much he has gaslit and isolated her until she can’t be saved. With no other options, the sea witch is the only one to help her. Bartering her voice for a new life where she and her abusive boyfriend never met, Malaya accidentally swaps places with an alternate timeline version of herself who didn’t make her mistakes. As she tries to undo the switch, the sea witch uses Malaya’s voice to unleash Filipino mythological creatures into the worlds.

Can a champion, an alternate timeline sister, and Malaya fight these beasts and stop the sea witch before she destroys both timelines?

Under Radar YA 2022 #18 | 7 YA books for your week 📚

Under the Radar YA is a Sunday feature of little-known YA books turning one year.

How does this work?

📚 The books featured on this little-known YA books list have less than 150 reviews on Goodreads and were published one year ago this week.
📚 There are no sequels featured, only standalones and first books in a series.
📚 The list used for reference is YA Novels of 2022.
📚 I’m not recommending any of these books, this is just a feature list.

I hope you enjoy these books and that maybe you find a new favorite in this little-known YA books list.

PUBLISHED MAY 15th TO 21st 2022

From Brick & Darkness
by J.L. Sullivan
GR rating: 4.57 (89 reviews)
Genre: Fantasy
Release date: May 16th 2022

Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts.

The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn’t what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering. With everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish Ifrit forever.

Brand New YA Books [Released May 13th to 19th 2023]

Brand New YA Books is a Saturday feature showcasing all the Young Adult books released in the last week.

If you are an author and want to see your book featured on this list, send me an email to pagesplots@gmail.com will all the details.

PUBLISHED MAY 13th TO 19th 2023

Fake Dates and Mooncakes
by Sher Lee
Genre: Contemporary | Romance | LGBT
Publisher: Underlined

Release date: May 16th 2023

Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs — in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.

Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.

In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend… but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors — but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.

Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart — or will he fail to do both?

We’ll Never Tell | Book Spotlight

Title: We’ll Never Tell
Author: Wendy Heard
Genre: Young Adult | Mystery | Thriller

Release Date: May 16th, 2023

An ambitious and juicy whodunit doused in Hollywood lore, perfect for readers of sexy summer thrillers like The Twin by Natasha Preston and The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson.

No one at Hollywood High knows who’s behind We’ll Never Tell — a viral YouTube channel where the anonymous creators trespass behind the scenes of LA’s most intriguing locales. The team includes CASEY, quiet researcher and trivia champ; JACOB, voice narrator and video editor, who is secretly dating EDDIE, aspiring filmmaker; and ZOE, coder and breaking-and-entering extraordinaire.

Now senior year is winding down, and with their lives heading in different directions, the YouTubers vow to go out with a bang. Their last episode will be filmed at the infamous Valentini “murder house,” which has been left abandoned, bloodstained, and untouched since a shocking murder/suicide in 1972. When the teens break in, they capture epic footage. But someone trips an alarm, and it’s a mad dash to get out before the police arrive — at which point they realize only three of them escaped instead of four. Jacob is still inside, slain, and bleeding out. Is his attack connected to the historic murder, or is one of their crew responsible?

A week of suspicions and cover-ups unfolds as Casey and her remaining friends try to stay alive long enough to solve murder mysteries past and present. If they do, their friendship may not survive. If they don’t, the house will claim more victims.

If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come | Book Spotlight

Title: If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come
Author: Jen St. Jude
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi | Romance | LGBT

Trigger Warnings: Suicide ideation | Depression

Release Date: May 9th, 2023

We Are Okay meets They Both Die at the End in this YA debut about queer first love and mental health at the end of the world — and the importance of saving yourself, no matter what tomorrow may hold.

Avery Byrne has secrets. She’s queer; she’s in love with her best friend, Cass; and she’s suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But in the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.

Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left.

If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come is a celebration of queer love, a gripping speculative narrative, and an urgent, conversation-starting book about depression, mental health, and shame.

April 2023 wrap-up | When life takes a 180 turn…

My Saturn Return hit like a fast train and oh boy, is my life a mess right now 😅 The only good part is that I’m taking more time for myself and truly getting to know who I am, on top of hoping and ✨manifesting✨ what I want for my future. And oh, what a future will it be!

I feel like I’m slowly, but steadily, going back to my reading habits, and this April I read a total of 3 books (and half of another one), which is a victory for me. And they were all 4 stars, so I also count that as a win.

Don’t Ask If I’m Okay | Book Spotlight

Title: Don’t Ask If I’m Okay
Author: Jessica Kara
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary

Trigger Warnings: Death of a friend | PTSD

Release Date: May 16th, 2023

Heartfelt and bittersweet, this coming-of age story explores the tender space of healing where grief meets love.

A year ago, Gage survived a car accident that killed his best friend, Hunter. Without the person who always brought out the best in him, Gage doesn’t know who he is. He likes working as a fry cook and loves his small-town friends and family, but they weren’t in the wreck and he can’t tell them how much he’s still hurting. He just wants to forget all his pain and move on.

So when his stepdad shows him a dream job opening in one of his idol’s restaurants, Gage knows this is his chance to convince everyone and himself that he’s fine. To try to push past his grief once and for all, Gage applies for the job, asks out a crush, and volunteers to host a memorial for Hunter.

But the more Gage tries to ignore his grief, the more volatile it becomes.

When his temper finally turns on the people he loves, Gage must decide what real strength is — holding in his grief until it destroys him, or asking for help and revealing his broken heart for all to see.

Brand New YA Books [Released April 29th to May 5th 2023]

Brand New YA Books is a Saturday feature showcasing all the Young Adult books released in the last week.

If you are an author and want to see your book featured on this list, send me an email to pagesplots@gmail.com will all the details.

PUBLISHED APRIL 29th TO MAY 5th 2023

The Legend of the Solstice
by Lauren Evers
Series: Modern Mythos #1
Genre: Romance

Release date: May 1st 2023

GROWING UP IS REALIZING YOU MIGHT NOT BE ALL THAT HUMAN…

Thousands of miles apart, three strangers share nothing but a birthday. Deep down, they harbor a secret that will kill them if they don’t remember it in time.

After Ethan, Isolde, and Ridley celebrate their twentieth birthdays on the winter solstice, they begin to develop frightening powers that none of them understand. In the midst of bizarre, worldwide storms, Ethan meets a magical girl who claims to understand him, Ridley has vivid dreams of a man she can’t remember sharing a life with, and Isolde embarks on a journey she didn’t intend to set out on. With ancient enemies, past loves, and a forgotten war, three separate stories culminate into one fable of fate and mythology.

A Shadow Crown | Book Spotlight

Title: A Shadow Crown
Author: Melissa Blair
Series: The Halfling Saga #2
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy

Release Date: May 9th, 2023

The highly anticipated second installment of the fantasy saga that took BookTok by storm sees Keera navigate political scheming, backstabbing, and her own grief as she moves against the cruel king that holds her kingdom hostage.

To the kingdom, Keera is the king’s Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow — the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king’s head.

A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined…

The Rules of Us | Book Spotlight

Title: The Rules of Us
Author: Jennifer Nissley
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary

Release Date: May 9th, 2023

Come out. Break up. Stay friends? In this heartwarming queer love story about love of all kinds, exes navigate new crushes, new feelings, and a newly uncertain future after unexpectedly coming out to each other on prom night turns their lives — and their friendship — upside down. Can they figure out how to move on without losing each other?

Jillian and Henry are the kind of couple who do everything together. They take the same classes, have the same hobbies, and applied for the same super-competitive scholarship so they can go to the same dream college. They even come out as gay to each other on the same night, after junior prom, prompting a sudden breakup that threatens their intertwined identities and carefully designed future. Jillian knows the only way to keep everything on track is to approach their breakup with the same precision and planning as their scholarship application. They will still be “Jillian and Henry” — even if they’re broken up.

Except they hadn’t planned on Henry meeting the boy of his dreams or Jillian obsessing over a cool girl at school. Jillian is desperate to hold on to her best friend when so much else is changing. But as she and Henry explore what — and who — they really want, it becomes harder to hold on to the careful definitions she has always lived her life by. Stuck somewhere between who she was with Henry and who she might be on her own, Jillian has to face what she can’t control and let go of the rules holding her back.

Under Radar YA 2022 #17 | 3 YA romances & 1 YA mystery 📚

Under the Radar YA is a Sunday feature of little-known YA books turning one year.

How does this work?

📚 The books featured on this little-known YA books list have less than 150 reviews on Goodreads and were published one year ago this week.
📚 There are no sequels featured, only standalones and first books in a series.
📚 The list used for reference is YA Novels of 2022.
📚 I’m not recommending any of these books, this is just a feature list.

I hope you enjoy these books and that maybe you find a new favorite in this little-known YA books list.

PUBLISHED MAY 1st TO 7th 2022

The Dove in the Belly
by Jim Grimsley
GR rating: 4.25 (112 reviews)
Genre: Historical | Romance | LGBT
Publisher: Levine Querido
Release date: May 3rd 2022

At the University of North Carolina, Ronny made some friends, kept his secrets, survived dorm life, and protected his heart.

Until he can’t. Ben is in some ways Ronny’s opposite; he’s big and solid where Ronny is small and slight. Ben’s at UNC on a football scholarship. Confident, with that easy jock swagger and an explosive temper always simmering. He has a steady stream of girlfriends. Ben’s aware of the overwhelming effect he has on Ronny. It’s like a sensation of power. So easy to tease Ronny, throw playful insults, but it all feels somehow.loaded.

Meanwhile, Ronny’s mother has moved to Vegas with her latest husband. And Ben’s mother is fighting advanced cancer. A bubble forms around the two, as surprising to Ronny as it is to Ben. Within it, their connection ignites physically and emotionally. But what will happen when the tensile strength of a bubble is tested? When the rest of life intervenes?

The Dove in the Belly is about the electric, dangerous, sometimes tender but always powerful attraction between two very different boys. But it’s also about the full cycles of love and life and how they open in us the twinned capacities for grief and joy.

The Fine Print | Book Review

Title: The Fine Print
Author: Lauren Asher
Series: Dreamland Billionaires #1
Genre: New Adult | Contemporary | Romance
Publisher: Piatkus Books

Trigger Warnings: Sexual content | Parent death | Emotional abuse | Cancer | Suicidal thoughts

Rowan
I’m in the business of creating fairy tales.
Theme parks. Production companies. Five-star hotels.
Everything could be all mine if I renovated Dreamland.
My initial idea of hiring Zahra was good in theory, but then I kissed her.
Things spiraled out of control once I texted her using an alias.
By the time I realized where I went wrong, it was too late.
People like me don’t get happy endings.
Not when we’re destined to ruin them.

Zahra
After submitting a drunk proposal criticizing Dreamland’s most expensive ride, I should have been fired.
Instead, Rowan Kane offered me a dream job.
The catch? I had to work for the most difficult boss I’d ever met.
Rowan was rude and completely off-limits, but my heart didn’t care.
At least not until I discovered his secret.
It was time to teach the billionaire that money couldn’t fix everything.
Especially not us.

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Fake Dates and Mooncakes | Book Spotlight

Title: Fake Dates and Mooncakes
Author: Sher Lee
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary | Romance

Release Date: May 16th, 2023

Heartstopper meets Crazy Rich Asians in this heartfelt, joyful paperback original rom-com that follows an aspiring chef who discovers the recipe for love is more complicated than it seems when he starts fake-dating a handsome new customer.

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs — in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.

Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.

In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend… but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.

Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart — or will he fail to do both?