Apollo continues his quest to reclaim his godhood, free the sources of prophecy, and defeat three evil emperors with the help of his demigod master MeApollo continues his quest to reclaim his godhood, free the sources of prophecy, and defeat three evil emperors with the help of his demigod master Meg and anyone else they can muster. Most recently, their quest has led them to Camp Jupiter with sad tidings. They don't even reach the demigod outpost before being attacked by ghouls, leaving Apollo with a wound that could turn him into a zombie. Apollo also runs into a ton of trouble brought on by his own past jerkishness. Lots more sneaking, fighting, and ukulele music in this action-packed fourth volume....more
Nora had already steeled herself for the awkwardness of the first interaction between her new girlfriend and ex-boyfriend after the latter learned aboNora had already steeled herself for the awkwardness of the first interaction between her new girlfriend and ex-boyfriend after the latter learned about the former. Then the bank they're all in is robbed by a moron and a psychopath and everything gets so much worse. Luckily (?), Nora has an ace up her sleeve: her mother raised her from birth to be a con artist. All the false lives she led arm her with the guile, wit, and ruthlessness she needs to do whatever it takes to save the people she loves. Both a fast-paced thriller and a gut-wrenching character study of the inimitable Nora....more
To save his friends (especially Laila, who only has ten days to live), Severin had to appear to betray them. He was a little too effective with his ruTo save his friends (especially Laila, who only has ten days to live), Severin had to appear to betray them. He was a little too effective with his ruse, so now the crew is fractured. Severin is in Venice, being kept on a tight leash by a megalomaniac who knows where the map they need to complete their quest is hidden. Zofia, Enrique, Hypnos, and Laila are right behind, short on clues and shorter on trust. Though their mission will have earth-shattering repercussions if they succeed and there's plenty of action and riddles, it's the emotional interplay between these characters we've come to love that is the most affecting. ...more
To reclaim his godhood, Apollo must liberate five oracles and vanquish the three evil Roman emperors who took them. So far, he and his ever-changing dTo reclaim his godhood, Apollo must liberate five oracles and vanquish the three evil Roman emperors who took them. So far, he and his ever-changing demigod squad have done better at the former than the latter. For their next mission, they travel to California, which is currently stricken by hellish droughts and wildfires. There, they must rescue an oracle from a particularly perilous corner of the Labyrinth and face down the most wicked emperor of them all. The brutal fight will leave them all forever changed. There is still humor, but the series is rapidly growing darker. Egotistical Apollo is slowly, grudgingly growing into a proper hero....more
When Queen Victoria chose to strengthen her empire through intermarriage rather than subjugation, she created the egalitarian utopia her descendant PrWhen Queen Victoria chose to strengthen her empire through intermarriage rather than subjugation, she created the egalitarian utopia her descendant Princess Margaret will one day rule. First, though, she gets one summer in Canada pretending to be a normal teenager. She soon forms a fast friendship with Helena, whose presumptive engagement to lifelong friend August is imperiled by his unwise business decisions and a shocking discovery about herself. Unfortunately, a world cleansed of negative emotions turns to be quite bland despite its colorful cosmopolitan trappings. The few obstacles are hastily wrapped up and all angst tidily tucked away before the abrupt ending....more
Simon was supposed to be the savior of the World of Mages. That turned out to be an elaborate, sinister plot of the part of his guardian. Now Simon haSimon was supposed to be the savior of the World of Mages. That turned out to be an elaborate, sinister plot of the part of his guardian. Now Simon has no magic, lots of psychological baggage, and a doting vampire boyfriend, Baz. Also, enormous dragon wings. New Chosen Ones are popping up all over, which Simon feels he ought to do something about. Meanwhile, his best friend Penny is trying to uncurse the Normal she brought back from America and his ex Agatha is trying to find a new path for herself. This involves an unexpected number of goats. Full of lots of big feelings, and sometimes plot....more
Once a generation, the Blood Moon rises and the seven cursed families of Ilvernath send their strongest teenager into a fight to the death for the worOnce a generation, the Blood Moon rises and the seven cursed families of Ilvernath send their strongest teenager into a fight to the death for the world's last source of high magick. For centuries they kept their bloodbath secret, until a salacious tell-all revealed the truth to the world. Now the Slaughter Seven have journalists and government agents to worry about on top of their impending deaths. Schemes fly as fast a curses as they struggle to stay alive, bring honor to their families, save their souls, or maybe end the whole brutal system. Deliciously dark, but that cliffhanger is just cruel. Thanks, Netgalley....more
The god Apollo has been demoted to acne-riddled teenager. To regain his divinity, he must defeat a trio of the most blood-thirsty, power-hungry Roman The god Apollo has been demoted to acne-riddled teenager. To regain his divinity, he must defeat a trio of the most blood-thirsty, power-hungry Roman emperors ever. Luckily, he has an array of allies, most recently the former sorceress Calypso and her demigod boyfriend Leo. His quest takes them to Indianapolis, which is infested with excessively polite monsters. He will have to pull off one epic deed after another: prison breaks, heists, infiltrating an oracle designed to cause madness, and always at the crack of dawn. Ugh. Apollo's evolution from jerk god to decent human continues....more
Squad 312 failed. They couldn't even try to destroy the voracious Ra'haam hivemind because the superweapon they needed had already been stolen by the Squad 312 failed. They couldn't even try to destroy the voracious Ra'haam hivemind because the superweapon they needed had already been stolen by the genocidal Caersan and aimed at Earth. Then it just vanishes. Only squad leader Tyler is left to stop the Ra'haam, which is tricky because he's being held captive by an alien warrior princess who either wants to stab or kiss him. Unbeknownst to him, his teammates Zila, Fin, and Scarlett are stuck in a time loop in the past, while Aurora and Kal are trapped on the superweapon with Caersan. Somehow contains even more epic action than the first two books and no less snark. Thanks, Netgalley....more
Individually, the members of Squad 312 are a bunch of misfits, but collectively they are the greatest team Aurora Academy has ever produced. This is fIndividually, the members of Squad 312 are a bunch of misfits, but collectively they are the greatest team Aurora Academy has ever produced. This is fortunate, because they are charged with saving the galaxy from being consumed by the hivemind of the Ra'haam. They already have the Trigger: Aurora, a teenager who spent 200 years in cryosleep and woke up with psychic powers. Now they need to find the Weapon, but bad luck, the machinations of the Ra'haam, and some serious family baggage thwart them at every turn. Plenty of action, humor, and plot twists....more
Mateo and Rufus are going to die today. No one knows how Death-Cast makes their predictions but they are never wrong so once the teens get their callsMateo and Rufus are going to die today. No one knows how Death-Cast makes their predictions but they are never wrong so once the teens get their calls, they have to make the most of their final hours. Luckily, there is an app for that. Last Friend connects timid Mateo with brash Rufus. The former just wants to see his best/only friend and comatose father; the latter is trying to outrun the blowback from pummeling his ex’s boyfriend. The alchemical reaction between the boys, and all the lives they touch throughout the day, makes for a poignant and heartbreaking tale of lives fully lived despite their brevity. ...more
For a century and a half, the town of Four Paths has balanced on a knife’s edge between the depredations of the Beast and the heroic efforts of the FoFor a century and a half, the town of Four Paths has balanced on a knife’s edge between the depredations of the Beast and the heroic efforts of the Founders’ descendants, protecting them with the supernatural powers of their bloodlines. But now a horrifying corruption is overtaking both the town and the netherworld that overlaps it. Violet, Harper, Isaac, Justin, and May, the latest generation of Founders, have had their lives pretty much wrecked by their families and the weight of their legacy. Somehow they find the strength to fight back against the Beast, little suspecting an even more insidious danger. Deliciously tense and creepy. ...more
Marvin loves his twin brother Tyler, but he has been making some really dumb decisions lately as he gets tangled up with local thug Johntae. Marvin foMarvin loves his twin brother Tyler, but he has been making some really dumb decisions lately as he gets tangled up with local thug Johntae. Marvin follows him to a party to keep an eye on him, but the event dissolves into violence. Marvin makes it out by the skin of his teeth, then goes home and waits for Tyler to get back. And waits. And waits. A heart-breaking indictment of endemic racism and police brutality. The dust jacket spoils plot points from deep within the book, which definitely contributes to pacing issues. ...more
Mena and her friends attend the terribly exclusive Innovations Academy, where their accelerated course of study includes etiquette, domestic arts, beaMena and her friends attend the terribly exclusive Innovations Academy, where their accelerated course of study includes etiquette, domestic arts, beauty, and compliance. Their parents are paying a great deal of money to have them molded into perfect young ladies, so the bars on the windows and overzealous guardian who never lets them out of his sight are completely reasonable precautions. The occasional rounds of impulse control therapy none of them can remember afterwards are necessary for their emotional health. The slow build from unease to rage is well handled. The obviousness of the shocking twist doesn't detract from the scathing indictment of endemic sexism that precedes it....more
Once she runs through her fifteen minutes of fame for solving the infamous Truly Devious murder at her school, Stevie finds herself right back where sOnce she runs through her fifteen minutes of fame for solving the infamous Truly Devious murder at her school, Stevie finds herself right back where she started: a teenage girl with severe anxiety, an obsession with cold cases, and a stifling home life. Then a quirky true crime aficionado offers her a job as “counselor” at the summer camp he just bought, the site of a horrifying multiple homicide in the 1970s. Her real job involves fewer lanyards and more sleuthing. About half her school friends tag along as Stevie starts picking at the wholesome small town facade of Barlow Corners and uncovers its rotten underbelly. Tautly plotted....more
Elena has been a miracle since her virgin birth. Naturally, she is written off as a fake by everyone despite irrefutable scientific proof. The situatiElena has been a miracle since her virgin birth. Naturally, she is written off as a fake by everyone despite irrefutable scientific proof. The situation doesn't really change when her crush is shot in front of her and she simultaneously realizes that she can heal injuries and rapture people. The voices in her head explain that she has a vital role to play in saving the world, whether she wants it or not. Elena drifts back and forth between mundane (bullies, exes, awful stepfathers) and earth-shaking (free will, the end of everything) concerns for a really long time before anything much happens....more
In the centuries since the Hunduns invaded Earth, humanity has progressed and regressed in equal parts. On one hand, they now have battle mechs capablIn the centuries since the Hunduns invaded Earth, humanity has progressed and regressed in equal parts. On one hand, they now have battle mechs capable of taking down the alien scourge when powered by pairs of teenagers. On the other hand, girls are so egregiously devalued that they are given as sex slaves to male pilots and expected to die in combat. Wu Zetian volunteers to become a concubine to avenge her murdered sister, little suspecting that her bloody quest for vengeance will uncover all the festering lies at the heart of her society. Bonus: it totally upends the tired YA dystopia love triangle. Thanks, Netgalley....more
Apollo is the god of music, archery, and healing. Usually, anyway. Right now, he's an acne-riddled teenager. Such is the price of enraging Zeus. To reApollo is the god of music, archery, and healing. Usually, anyway. Right now, he's an acne-riddled teenager. Such is the price of enraging Zeus. To regain his godhood, Apollo must bind himself to a demigod and complete a sufficiently impressive quest. The demigod he ends up with is Meg, a quarrelsome twelve-year-old. They head to Camp Half-Blood with Percy Jackson to gather intelligence, dodging monsters all the way. But the camp is not the haven it once was. Apollo will have to complete the hardest tasks of his long life without any of his divine powers. POV Apollo is smug, arrogant, and a delightful change of pace....more
When the mighty hero Dreadnought is killed, fifteen-year-old Danny inherits his mantle based on mere proximity. It's awesome: she gets enhanced strengWhen the mighty hero Dreadnought is killed, fifteen-year-old Danny inherits his mantle based on mere proximity. It's awesome: she gets enhanced strength, durability, flight, and the body she's always dreamed of. On the other hand, she gets walloped with a massive dose of transphobia from her family, friends, and fellow superheroes that not even her bullet-proof skin can deflect. As she grapples with that on top of the usual great power/great responsibility burden, Danny's investigation into Dreadnought's murder uncovers something absolutely cataclysmic. The use of the tropes of the superhero origin story to illuminate the trans experience works surprisingly well....more
In the six months since her terrifying fight against La Llorona, Paola’s life has gotten markedly worse. Her friend Emma has a whole new group of buddIn the six months since her terrifying fight against La Llorona, Paola’s life has gotten markedly worse. Her friend Emma has a whole new group of buddies, her mom has a really annoying new boyfriend, and her own boyfriend (?) Dante keeps pushing her away. But when Dante’s abuela falls into a definitely supernatural coma, everyone has to get over their weirdness for another epic quest. This time, they need to track down Pao’s father, who she hadn’t seen in years until she started having creepy dreams about him. A nicely spooky adventure with some solid lessons about friendship and becoming your own best self. Thanks, Netgalley. ...more
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