The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me

The Birds, the Bees, and You and Me by Olivia Hinebaugh

This book does contain themes of sex and sex education, but it doesn't really get into any graphic sex scenes, just a very kind of clinical approach to the situation. Or if a sex scene kind of comes up, they show like, we're kissing, and then the scene kind of fades out to a time lapse. Eh? Just a heads up.

Do you remember the days of high school (or are you entering the day so high school) and remember it to be kind of confusing in general (or you should expect it to be confusing in general)? What are these social expectations? How am I going to survive this class? What am I going to do with my life AFTER high school? Does that person actually love me?

High School.

An amazon summary, "A teen who's never even been kissed becomes her school's unofficial sex expert in Olivia Hinebaugh's fun, voice-y contemporary YA romance debut. 

Seventeen-year-old Lacey Burke feels like the last person on the planet who should be doling out sex advice. For starters, she’s never even kissed anyone, and she hates breaking the rules. Up until now, she's been a straight-A music geek that no one even notices. All she cares about is jamming out with her best friends, Theo and Evita.

But then everything changes.

When Lacey sees first-hand how much damage the abstinence-only sex-ed curriculum of her school can do, she decides to take a stand and starts doling out wisdom and contraception to anyone who seeks her out in the girls' restroom. Meanwhile, things with Theo have become complicated, and soon Lacey is not just keeping everyone else’s secrets, but her own as well." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

Lacey has grown up for most of her life as the single child of a teenage mother. In the last few years, a stepfather and baby half brother has entered her life. Her mom works at the hospital where Lacey worked over the summer, and her two best friends once dated but are no longer dating. Lacey is kind of clueless in the romantic love department, but she is NOT clueless when it comes to sex.

Thanks to her mother, not thanks to her public education... even though Lacey has never been kissed.

Lacey is also very passionate about music, she plays the viola, dabbles on keyboard where her bff Theo plays cello, and her other bff Evita plays console (which, being an old person and not in touch with the music world as much, I assumed was some sort of DJ-mixer-type-of-doo-dad). Together, the three of them rock out and are in a band. They're working towards getting gigs. They're ultimate plan is to attend school in Boston, get an apartment together, and live life out loud. Theo's girlfriend, Lily Ann, is pretty much disliked by Evita, and Lacey is pretty neutral. 

Circling back, Lacey's life slowly starts to change after a horrific demonstration in her health class about the dangers of STDs while not talking about condoms at all. Lacey, gives a rather abrupt demonstration on how condoms would be effective within the demonstration, and she gets scolded in so many words. But Lacey isn't backing down, she starts teaching her classmates things about sex on the down low. She also ends up as a doula intern once she meets a classmate of hers who decided to be home schooled when she got pregnant and who would have benefited from a better sex education course.

That's enough summary. There are a lot of intermingled storylines within this book and they definitely mesh well together without making anything except Lacey the focal point while managing to showcase the different aspects of her life.

I REALLY liked this book. There was so much to cheer for, so much to kind of like "wtf public school" kind of moments, and a few kind of chaotic romantic moments as well.

Lacey was a pretty great main character, and most of the time I was cheering as I was reading this book, there was a lot to like.

However, this book was also too... tidy? Everything wound up for the better, or had a good solution, and the one thing that did get messed up, well that side character basically fixed it for Lacey. There was too much of a chummy good ending all around to every situation. There was like too much of an effort to make it all work.

This is slightly spoiler-land, but let's take Theo. Theo winds up breaking up with Lily Ann, he had previously dated Evita, but then he winds up with Lacey. Theo also tries to be at anyone else's house but his own because his Dad is a garbage person.... BUT there isn't any diving into Theo or his life issues, it's just kind of accepted as fact, and Theo is a happy go lucky person nine times out of ten. Like, the dude claims to have struggles, but there isn't really evidence of struggles.

Also, when a struggle cropped, all the main characters really reacted to it like emotionally stable adults, rather than hormonal teenagers. On the one hand, sweet, legitimate conflict resolution. On the other hand, not very realistic...like at all.

I did enjoy reading this book, but it also required a hefty dose of being able to suspend disbelief.

Happy reading!

The Next Great Paulie Fink

The Next Great Paulie Fink by Ali Benjamin

This book will be published on April 16, 2019. I read the advance reading copy and undoubtedly there will be differences between the version I read, and the published edition.

That being said, an amazon summary, "When Caitlyn Breen enters the tiny Mitchell School in rural Mitchell, Vermont, she is a complete outsider: the seventh grade has just ten other kids, and they've known each other since kindergarten. Her classmates are in for a shock of their own: Paulie Fink--the class clown, oddball, troublemaker, and evil genius--is gone this year. 

As stories of Paulie's hijinks unfold, his legend builds, until they realize there's only one way to fill the Paulie-sized hole in their class. They'll find their next great Paulie Fink through a reality-show style competition, to be judged by the only objective person around: Caitlyn, who never even met Paulie Fink. Who was this kid, anyway--prankster, performance artist, philosopher, or fool? Caitlyn's quest to understand Paulie is about to teach her more about herself than she ever imagined.
Told via multiple voices, interviews, and other documents, The Next Great Paulie Fink is a lighthearted yet surprisingly touching exploration of how we build up and tear down our own myths...about others, our communities, and ourselves." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

First, this story is told through a mix of interviews (and a few other documents) and Caitlyn's perspective. I found the blend to be very interesting and refreshing, especially as the kids compete to become the next great Paulie Fink.

Alright, so Caitlyn's mom got a new job and uproots Caitlyn from a city in New York (not NYC) to go live in Mitchell, Vermont. To say the least, Caitlyn is NOT happy about the move. She's already got a notion of how people are divided into social groups in schools, and is determined to be on top. What she encounters in school is a lot, lot different. The small town of Mitchell has one school that's run out of old mansion. Her class size is 11...for her whole grade. While the school is small, it's got it's own set of quirks, like the seventh graders all sit with a mini (kindergartner) for lunch. Caitlyn starts out at a bit of a loss, as her first day of entering the classroom, her classmates were cheering for Paulie, only to get Caitlyn instead.

Paulie Fink is a notorious class clown and troublemaker, but his jokes/pranks never hurt anyone or are mean in any way. Caitlyn begins to hear loads of stories about the legendary Paulie Fink, until her classmates decide that they need a new Paulie Fink, and set her up as the judge/contest planner since she's never known Paulie Fink and cannot be biased about the decision making process.

There's also a big soccer game with a rival school that they want to play on their field... however, the field is overrun and the science teacher has decided to use goats to clear the field... which the seventh graders help take care of.

There's also a hilarious zucchini day moment, which was probably one of my most favorite moments in a book in a long time. Definitely was grinning from ear to ear reading through the scene.

That's enough summary.

This book was very, very heartfelt. It deals with the serious issues of loss, but not the sense of loss with death. It's the grieving process for the old life, the familiarity, and the comforts of knowing what to expect. Kind of like a very good story about coming out of your shell. However, if you think that only applies to Caitlyn, you as mistaken, as you also get to see the other seventh graders come to terms with Paulie Fink being gone without explanation.

I loved this book. I would have loved to attend this school and be able to learn in their ways. I really loved the perceived social rules that Caitlyn knew from her old school slowly be deconstructed by her new school and classmates. I also loved the honesty of Caitlyn's voice, and how she ultimately did not shy away from her previous behavior.

I think this would be a very good book for anyone going through a period in their life where they kind of need to let go of something and embrace change. It goes through why it's scary, but it also is very insightful at pointing out all of the new and good stuff brought about by change, and the not so good stuff too.

When I looked at the amazon summary, it mentioned another book by this author, and I'll probably be reading that sometime this summer. It's always nice to fall in love with a new to me author's works.

Happy reading!

Charlie Hernandez & The League of Shadows

Charlie Hernandez & The League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo

This is going to SCREAM similar to Rick Riordan books to anyone who has ever read a Rick Riordan book, but hang on one moment. Let me just say that Rick Riordan made a genre of retelling myths and plunking modern day people in the middle of them wildly popular, but he wasn't the first one to do so. He won't be the last, and he may not be the best. BUT, a huge thank you to Rick Riordan for paving the way a little better for books like this.

If you haven't figured it out by my little rant, this book will have myths in it with modern day characters figuring it out. ...yeah.

An amazon summary, "Charlie Hernández has always been proud of his Latin American heritage. He loves the culture, the art, and especially the myths. Thanks to his abuela’s stories, Charlie possesses an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the monsters and ghouls who have spent the last five hundred years haunting the imaginations of children all across the Iberian Peninsula, as well as Central and South America. And even though his grandmother sometimes hinted that the tales might be more than mere myth, Charlie’s always been a pragmatist. Even barely out of diapers, he knew the stories were just make-believe—nothing more than intricately woven fables meant to keep little kids from misbehaving.

But when Charlie begins to experience freaky bodily manifestations—ones all too similar to those described by his grandma in his favorite legend—he is suddenly swept up in a world where the mythical beings he’s spent his entire life hearing about seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Hispanic folklore and into his life. And even stranger, they seem to know more about him than he knows about himself.
Soon, Charlie finds himself in the middle of an ancient battle between La Liga, a secret society of legendary mythological beings sworn to protect the Land of the Living, and La Mano Negra (a.k.a. the Black Hand), a cabal of evil spirits determined to rule mankind. With only the help of his lifelong crush, Violet Rey, and his grandmother’s stories to guide him, Charlie must navigate a world where monsters and brujas rule and things he couldn’t possibly imagine go bump in the night. That is, if he has any hope of discovering what’s happening to him and saving his missing parents (oh, and maybe even the world).
No pressure, muchacho." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

A few major things happen to Charlie all at once; his house burns down while he's away, his parents are missing (their bodies were NOT found in the house), and now he lives in a foster home. ...he also manages to manifest horns on the same night that he hides under his hoodie until they go away.

He's really worried about his parents, and in the midst of being a middle schooler, he also has grown feathers all over his body randomly. In a desperate attempt to cover them up, he ventures to the lost and found and finds the ugliest giant sweater, but wears it to hide the feathers. A few school bullies find him and start, well, bullying him, but enter Violet; a plucky young woman with dreams of being a journalist comes to his aid. She helps him out, asks about the locket he's wearing (which was given to him in the duration of the whole house burned down ordeal), which has a series of complicated locks on it. Violet manages to open them to find a map hidden inside the locket, and soon Charlie and Violet are off on an adventure to figure out where the map leads and why is he covered in feathers.

During their adventure, their lives only get stranger as Charlie realizes that the myths his grandmother (abuela) raised him on may actually be more true than fiction. Charlie is swept up into a war between the land of the living and the land of the dead, and Violet is adamantly along for the ride.

That's enough summary.

I really loved both the characters of Charlie and Violet. They felt wonderfully realistic as they're swept into all of these instances of finding mythical creatures in their own back yard (so to speak). This is definitely the start of a series, and I would be curious to read more, except...

A lot of the war between the land of the living and the dead seems too far from home. Yes, Charlie and Violet came across a few creatures they had to outsmart to get away safely, but it doesn't really feel like there's an actual war going on. It feels more like a lot of isolated incidences rather than one big battle, and they kind of explain it, like why that is, but I don't really like the explanation. I think there could have been more discussions about the differences between the land of the living (our world) and the land of the dead. I know we're probably going to see more about this as the book series progresses, but I think it would have gone a long way to set up more in book 1.

A lot of the environment and world building were sufficient, but there was nothing that really wowed me even as Charlie or Violet were wowed while walking into certain places.There were a few too many details that were glossed over, and again, because this is book 1, we'll probably get a better idea for it in book 2.

I think there were also a few too many mythical creatures introduced in this book, especially if you're unfamiliar with the myths. There were a handful that had really good impressions and stood out, but when you haphazardly introduce many of them all in one go, it can get a little confusing as to what mythical creature looks like what and why they're either scary/important/powerful. I think the book could have given some more cushioning details around the myths every time they appeared.

I did like the book a lot overall, but I needed more concrete details at this stage to continue to book 2. Even the ending of the book felt a bit forced rather than something that could more easily transition into book 2. It also kind of read like a popcorn book; a book that you rush through the pages a little too fast as you're shoveling popcorn into your mouth because the action really pushes you through the plot. There were a few breather scenes between the action, but it wasn't enough.

...I really did like this book, but I don't think I'll continue on to book 2.

Happy reading!

The Shadow Glass

The Shadow Glass by Rin Chupeco

This is the third and final book in the series. I reviewed the first two, THE BONE WITCH and THE HEART FORGER. If you don't want anything spoiled about the previous books, I'd strongly recommend skipping this review.

An amazon summary while you make good choices, "In the Eight Kingdoms, none have greater strength or influence than the asha, who hold elemental magic. But only a bone witch has the power to raise the dead. Tea has used this dark magic to breathe life into those she has loved and lost...and those who would join her army against the deceitful royals. But Tea's quest to conjure a shadowglass, to achieve immortality for the one person she loves most in the world, threatens to consume her.

Tea's heartsglass only grows darker with each new betrayal. Her work with the monstrous azi, her thirst for retribution, her desire to unmask the Faceless―they all feed the darkrot that is gradually consuming her heartsglass. She is haunted by blackouts and strange visions, and when she wakes with blood on her hands, Tea must answer to a power greater than the elder asha or even her conscience. Tea's life―and the fate of the kingdoms―hangs in the balance." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

This is the trilogy finale, and like oh my gosh what a crazy finish as all of the pieces finally come together of such an ambitious project to even begin with. Like what. I kind of want to go back and reread all three books together just to make sure I didn't miss anything...but there are so many other books waiting for me to read. Book life struggles.

Anywho.

The present Tea is on the hunt to uncover the truth of kind of a founding story of the Asha. She's also fleeing her kingdom and dealing with a new threat of people becoming blighted. After consuming a certain amount of doses within regular meals, they're transformed into a crazy monster without any way to revert back to human. The present Tea is wrestling with a lot of internal conflicts as well as external conflicts. She's very worried about the dark flecks that are still appearing in her heartsglass, and she also wants to look out for her brother, friends, and family (kind of in that order too). However, Tea still needs to figure out which faceless needs to be taken out to undermine the faceless organization (this book's team rocket. No, I will not stop referring to them as team rocket because it makes me laugh and still feels fitting). There are many trials ahead of her as we know from the previous books, but the journey she has to make is still crazy, and it's still a surprise some of the ordeals she goes through to become the future Tea we've seen since book 1.

The future Tea is kind of, well, quiet so to speak in this book. The future sections are more so through the eyes of the journalist and he becomes separated from Tea, but still wishes to get back to her. He also has letters from her which she promises tell a more complete story of what's going on.

However, as all of this begins to come together, it's crucial to see that Tea is trying to make the best choices for her friends and family as she ultimately seeks the Shadow Glass.

That's enough summary.

I really like this conclusion to the series. I think it wrapped up enough of the unanswered questions, while not giving the sensation of everything being wrapped up too neatly. There were also so many times I wound up cheering for present Tea, even though I had a hint of some of the brutal hardships that were going to happen thanks to the previous books, but actually reading through it was a little gut wrenching.

I also had a few questions about the heartforger in particular, but I don't think those questions were meant to be answered in this book. I kind of wander if we're going to see a side story or a spin off story despite how the book ended. There was also so much rich history introduced in this book that I would hate to see that not come to a greater fruition. I would love to read more stories set in this world.

But, this feels like the conclusion of Tea's story, with potential appearances in someone else's story if there are more books in this world. I'll remain hopeful.

Happy reading!

The Storm Keeper's Island

The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle

This book was published on January 22, 2019. I read the advance uncorrected proof version, so there will undoubtedly be some differences between the version I read, and the published edition.

I didn't really know what to expect out of this book, but I was more than happy with what I got.

An amazon summary, "Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can’t help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too.

Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore’s most powerful families fight to become the island’s next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn’s life and the island’s future forever." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

Fionn is off to spend time on the island with his grandfather and sister while his mother stays home to rest. His sister is incredibly annoying and didn't tell him anything about the island. As he makes his way through the oddities of his grandfather's cottage that are still within the realm of normal, his grandfather gives him some change to go down to the store.

On his way there, he starts to notice something odd about the flowers. Fionn starts picking the flowers and they start regrowing right away. By the time he gets to the corner store, he has a bouquet of wilted flowers and he runs into Shelby, a granddaughter in the Beasley family. Shelby tells him about the sea cave, and scatters his flowers on the ground...where they regrow instantly. Fionn is a little bewildered by being exposed to the magic of the island and is slowly starting to wrap his head around it. He starts learning about the history of the island, and he starts to learn of his own heritage.

That's enough summary.

I freaking loved this book. It had some hiccups along the way, but it was still a solid story filled with wonder, magic, and adventure...but also love.

I felt the story progressed with such a great pace, and there was a reveal that took me off guard that I kind of cried a little at. If you read this, you'll know the part.

I also loved the mythology of Morgan le fey brought into it, but also given such a different retelling or different side to the story. I really love the books that took a mythology and make it into their own story. They give enough details to kind of give credit to the original story, but shape it into their own lore. Love it.

...so why am I not listing this as a recommended book? 

Mostly because of Fionn. His character development and growth, and overall personality feels very inconsistent throughout the book. There are a few times where it seems like his personality has completely disappeared and he's going through the motions, where other times he's so PRESENT and there, that it makes it more noticeable when he's gone.

However, despite all of that, I had a wonderful time reading it. I just wish the main character of the story had been a bit more consistent. There will be a sequel, so maybe we'll see some more out of Fionn then. Time will tell.

Happy reading!

The Adventure Zone

The Adventure Zone by Clint McElroy, Griffin McElroy, Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and Carey Pietsch

Normally, as this is a graphic novel/comic book, I would put it as a listing in the Comic Book Chronicles, but I have things I want to say about this one. THINGS.

An amazon summary, "Welcome to the Adventure Zone!

SEE! The illustrated exploits of three lovable dummies set loose in a classic fantasy adventure!

READ! Their journey from small-time bodyguards to world-class artifact hunters!

MARVEL! At the sheer metafictional chutzpah of a graphic novel based on a story created in a podcast where three dudes and their dad play a tabletop role playing game in real time!

Join Taako the elf wizard, Merle the dwarf cleric, and Magnus the human warrior for an adventure they are poorly equipped to handle AT BEST, guided ("guided") by their snarky DM, in a graphic novel that, like the smash-hit podcast it's based on, will tickle your funny bone, tug your heartstrings, and probably pants you if you give it half a chance.

With endearingly off-kilter storytelling from master goofballs Clint McElroy and the McElroy brothers, and vivid, adorable art by Carey Pietsch, The Adventure Zone: Here There be Gerblins is the comics equivalent of role-playing in your friend's basement at 2am, eating Cheetos and laughing your ass off as she rolls critical failure after critical failure." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

A brief note on my background, I was a part of an after school club in high school that played Dungeons and Dragons. It was really fun and I loved every gaming session. I have since dabbled in the game on and off since then over the years, but never had a solid campaign.

Which brings me to my next point. If you've never played Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) or any other kind of role playing game, I highly doubt you're going to understand the jokes, mechanics, or even story of this book. It's all heavily intertwined with D&D.

Within the first few pages, the characters have spoken to their dungeon master, and are declaring different abilities or spells they're using. Which, makes sense, if you've played D&D. If you haven't played D&D, I have high concerns that the nuances of how the characters are behaving/interacting with the world are lost on you.

That being said, is the story funny? Yes.

Is it an illustrated D&D adventure? Yes.

Does it feel like how a campaign would most likely normally go? Yes.

Will people who have never had anything to do with D&D enjoy it? ehhhh, most likely not.

I'm not bothering with a summary for this book review since you can sum it up with "The beginnings of an intricate D&D game". 

ALL OF THAT BEING SAID.

If you have played D&D, would you enjoy this book? PROBABLY YES. There is a ton of stuff scattered throughout the pages for D&D players. There's a lot of fun ingenuity for tackling different situations while also having some classic missteps throughout the story.

I did enjoy the book, but again, I think it's intended for the audience of people who have at least played one game of D&D. It's fun, I'd recommend trying it once.

Happy reading!

We're Not From Here

We're Not From Here by Geoff Rodkey

This book will be published on May 5, 2019. I read an advance reader's copy, and there will undoubtedly be differences between the version I read and the published edition.

That being said, there are also themes of immigration within this story and a lot of correlating themes as well. If that bothers you, perhaps skip this book and book review.

An amazon summary, "Imagine being forced to move to a new planet where YOU are the alien! From the creator of the Tapper Twins, New York Times bestselling author Geoff Rodkey delivers a topical, sci-fi middle-grade novel that proves friendship and laughter can transcend even a galaxy of differences.

The first time I heard about Planet Choom, we'd been on Mars for almost a year. But life on the Mars station was grim, and since Earth was no longer an option (we may have blown it up), it was time to find a new home.
That's how we ended up on Choom with the Zhuri. They're very smart. They also look like giant mosquitos. But that's not why it's so hard to live here. There's a lot that the Zhuri don't like: singing (just ask my sister, Ila), comedy (one joke got me sent to the principal's office), or any kind of emotion. The biggest problem, though? The Zhuri don't like us. And if humankind is going to survive, it's up to myfamily to change their minds. No pressure." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

The humans have destroyed Earth and have colonized Mars. However, they're Mars colony isn't doing well, and they need to find another home, soon. There are three schools of thought; return to Earth, seek out a planet to terraform, or go coexist on planet Choom. This story is centered on the group that chose to coexist on planet Choom.

They travel 20 years while in deep sleep, but at the end of the 20 years, it turns out Choom was no longer interested in coexisting with the humans. A planet that once held 4 species only holds 3... what happened to the fourth species? 

In a desperate attempt to prove that humans can coexist with the other species, Lan and his family are going to do a trial run of being down on the planet. Everything must go well for the other humans to stay on the planet as well (they're currently in the spaceship orbiting Choom). Lan and his sister Ila go to school while their parents try to work different jobs on the planet.

...but the Zhuri (main species on the planet - look like giant mosquitoes) are very resistant to humans and Lan's family has no idea why. As the kids attend school, they find out that not everyone agrees explicitly with the proclaimed views of the Zhuri government... and something definitely happened to the fourth species.

That's enough summary.

So there was a lot of culture shock portrayed throughout the story, as is appropriate when trying to live on a different planet with aliens. I really liked those aspects.

I also thought the family dynamics within Lan's family were interesting, as it felt like due to the ongoing tragedies they had experienced and their desperation to make it work, they were also determined to work as a family (a notable exception to Ila a few times).

The humans also seemed to be left with mostly the ideal people; people who strive for species survival and have given up many trivial customs and habits they had while on Earth. It also may be the year 2028, or sometime after that, and we're not given a concrete reason as to why Earth is dead. Presumably, some ecosystem disaster happened rendering the planet "dead", but that wasn't spelled out.

All that being said, I really liked how the alien technology was introduced, and also the subtle and overt differences in the species. I suspect there will be a book two where some nuances may be delved into, but I would also be content if this was a stand alone book.

I think the book did a good job of delivering a message of the benefits of understanding each other and achieving a coexistence, and it also did a great job of not beating the reader over the head with that message at every moment. It gave the scary moments their just due of being well, scary, and for all the right reasons.

It was a pretty solid book.

Happy reading!

The Lantern's Ember

The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

This is one of those books that I just picked up because the cover was kind of like hauntingly beautiful, and seemed to imply a different kind of adventure was in store.

...plus it may also be a semi-retelling of sleepy hollow.

An amazon summary, "Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It's difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern--one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal--or not-so-mortal--soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O'Dare. 
Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack's warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire--and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.
Colleen Houck, the New York Times bestselling author of the Tigers Curse series and Reawakened series, breathes new life into classic folklore in this wild, twisting adventure propelled by the spirit of Halloween." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE

Jack is a lantern who guards the crossroads between the mortal world and the Otherworld. A witch wind has blown into his crossroads, and he's on high alert to find the witch who caused it. Hes been at a couple crossroads in the past where a witch wind has blown, and it didn't yield very pleasant results... to say in the least. A lantern is usually a mortal who has had his soul removed and placed in a container of some sort. Jack's happens to be in a gourd (imagine a jack o' lantern). 

A young orphan comes into a few days later, and her name is Ember. She is the cause of the witch wind, and Jack vows to keep her safe and out of sight of his master for as long as possible. He doesn't want to see what happened to the others, happen to her. He has a vague suspicion of what happens to the witches.

Ember grows up under the watchful eyes of Jack. She can sense him and visits him at his crossroad even though she can't see him. The village boys have eyes on her, but she has no time for them (it's also roughly the 18th century by the way). There is one boy in particular who she befriends and he's an inventor. Ember knows she's a witch, but she's never been taught how to harness her power, and she's not entirely sure what she can even do. There's one thing she's certain of, she has to go to the Otherworld. ....which is precisely what Jack needs to stop her from doing.

That's enough summary because anything more may just be too much.

First and foremost, I love how many allusions and references were made to Halloween, kind of like a play on words but also perhaps an origin story. It's marvelous.

Secondly, I freaking adored Ember. She's like the perfect kind of badass for this story; a lady who fights against stereotypes, isn't afraid to speak her own mind, deviously clever, and well, packs a magical wallop. I also super adored how much Ember sought a peaceful resolution over any other alternative. So good.

Thirdly, Jack was so good. I feel like he straddled the gray area between knowing what the right thing to do in his heart is, but also his obligations to his "job" (really servitude). His soul is in the hands of "the devil" kind of, and it'll take him 1,000 years to pay back the debt. He's made it about 500 years so far, and he does worry about being away from his post....but his determination to protect Ember spurs him on. It came across as more endearing rather than obnoxious to me.

Fourthly, the best friend Finney was such a weirdly perfect balance to the rest of the group.

Fifthly, there's a vampire who is everything you would expect out of a suave vampire but who can also be kind of surprising.

...I just want to be done counting.

HOWEVER. I really liked the story so, so, soooooo much... until the end. The end wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't what I was looking for to an ending. There were a few too many things to me that were wrapped up a little too nicely for me... but everything else about the book was very solid. Even like the last few pages were adorably great. But, I'm still pretty held up about just a bit of a too neat ending. Too many things lined up too well, even though they were still filled with very fun homages to Halloween.

Happy reading!