ARC Review: Song of the Crimson Flower (Rise of the Empress companion) by Julie C. Dao

Book info:

Title:  Song of the Crimson Flower
Author:  Julie C. Dao
Series:  Rise of the Empress companion

Genre: YA fantasy
Release Date:  November 5th, 2019

Publisher: Philomel Books
Source:  ARC one on Bookish First which did not influence my opinion
My rating:  4 stars

Synopsis: 
From the acclaimed author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns comes a fantastical new tale of darkness and love, in which magical bonds are stronger than blood.

Will love break the spell? After cruelly rejecting Bao, the poor physician's apprentice who loves her, Lan, a wealthy nobleman's daughter, regrets her actions. So when she finds Bao's prized flute floating in his boat near her house, she takes it into her care, not knowing that his soul has been trapped inside it by an evil witch, who cursed Bao, telling him that only love will set him free. Though Bao now despises her, Lan vows to make amends and help break the spell.

Together, the two travel across the continent, finding themselves in the presence of greatness in the forms of the Great Forest's Empress Jade and Commander Wei. They journey with Wei, getting tangled in the webs of war, blood magic, and romance along the way. Will Lan and Bao begin to break the spell that's been placed upon them? Or will they be doomed to live out their lives with black magic running through their veins?


My Review:
I really enjoyed this story of love and magic.  There was a lot I didn't necessarily see coming from the beginning.  Of course it is always a story-line that the orphan who isn't good enough for the princess ends up actually being royalty in some way, but it's nice that the "princess" in this story was really a nice person, and her one time of lashing out and acting above someone had to do with some really  heartbreaking news she'd received at that time, from him.  The story also showed how a girl had to deal with the prejudices of the males, not only our main character, but even other warriors and young women trying to do what they wanted.  While I haven't read any of the other books by this author that are part of this series, it wasn't needed in order to understand and enjoy this story.  I am definitely interested in reading other books in the series now, and will be sure to recommend it to my students at my library, as well as customers at the bookstore where I work.  

ARC Review: The Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren

Book info:

Title:  The Virtue of Sin
Author:  Shannon Schuren
Genre:  YA contemporary
Release Date:  June 25th, 2019
Publisher:  Philomel Books, Penguin Teen
Source:  ARC won through Bookish First giveaway which did not influence my opinion.
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:
A compelling novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free -- perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale.

Miriam lives in New Jerusalem, a haven in the desert far away from the sins and depravity of the outside world. Within the gates of New Jerusalem, and under the eye of its founder and leader, Daniel, Miriam knows she is safe. Cared for. Even if she's forced, as a girl, to quiet her tongue when she has thoughts she wants to share, Miriam knows that New Jerusalem is a far better life than any alternative. So when God calls for a Matrimony, she's thrilled; she knows that Caleb, the boy she loves, will choose her to be his wife and they can finally start their life together.

But when the ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone else, she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question not only the rules that Daniel has set in place, but also what it is she believes in, and where she truly belongs.

Alongside unexpected allies, Miriam fights to learn--and challenge--the truth behind the only way of life she's ever known, even if it means straying from the path of Righteousness.

A compelling debut novel about speaking out, standing up, and breaking free.

Praise for The Virtue of Sin

"Shannon Schuren weaves a complex tale of love, faith, and lies in her thought-provoking debut The Virtue of Sin. As important as it is entertaining, this is a must-read for anyone who knows that independent thought trumps fitting in. One of my favorite reads of the year." --Christina Dalcher, bestselling author of VOX


My Review:
I'm always intrigued by any story about a cult, don't know why, it's just something that grabs me.  And this book did just that from the time I read the sneak peek, and then once I actually had the book in my hands and started reading, it was so hard to put down.  This one was even better than others, because while I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author threw in several twists and turns that I did not see coming.  My guesses as I went along were either so on track, or just to the side of what was actually happening.  It all made sense as the twists were explained, and made the story, the cult itself, that much more devious.  It also made you think about how what you've been told your whole life is always dependent on who is telling you those things, and what more is out there that you don't even know about it, if you don't look beyond what is easy and normal.  I definitely will be recommending this for my students, as well as at the bookstore where I work.   
 

Review: Keepers of the Labyrinth by Erin E. Moulton

First, thanks to the author, Erin E. Moulton, as well as her publisher, Philomel Books, for sending me an advanced readers copy of this title to review.  I got a little behind, and didn't get started and finished till this past weekend, and the book came out on Tuesday.  I was ready to do a review on Tuesday, but then my time got away again, crazy busy stuff at school, so I am a couple days late with my review. I am very glad to share my thoughts on this one, as I'm sure there are many out there who will enjoy it. 

The main character is Lilith Bennette.  Her mother killed herself a few years ago, but it was entirely unexpected, as there was never any suggestion of depression or a reason for her to do that.  Now she has the opportunity to go to Greece, Crete to be exact.  She's been invited to a leadership conference, one that her mother also attended when she was younger.  She's hoping to learn some things about her mother, especially from a person she sees in a photo of her mother from that time. 

When she gets there, she finds different kinds of girls.  Some that she seems to get along with right away, and that she fortunately gets teamed up with.  Others that are snobby, and seem very rich, in a way that they lord it over the other girls.  Lil's teammates are not the rich ones, some of them, most of them, are there to win a scholarship given to the winning team. 

Readers get a little bit of extra information, first there are people at Melios Manor, the instructors actually, that we get a glimpse into one of their rituals, as well as a discussion.  There is also someone out there who seems to be after something there.  He goes by the code name of Hermes, and well, he doesn't sound like a very nice guy.

The girls will get some great experiences in solving riddles and puzzles based on what they know about Greek mythology, as well as some major team building type of activities that include very athletic types of tests.  When Hermes shows up, things go downhill quick, and to get away from him and his crew, the four girls will have to go into a labyrinth and solve even more riddles, and find out that what they've always thought were the stories, weren't quite the way things were.

I loved all the mythology "change", the way that you could kind of turn the myth into a different story, but still stay true to the original, or well known version easily.  The trip through the labyrinth really reminded me a lot of the movie The Goonies.  Solving riddles, and all the dangerous booby traps and paths. 

If you are a big fan of mythology retold, kind of like the Percy Jackson series, or dangerous adventures like in The Goonies, then this is the book for you!