The Second-Best Haunted Hotel on Mercer Street by Cory Putman Oakes Genre: Paranormal, Humor Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: August 18, 2020 The Second-Best Haunted Hotel on Mercer Street is a fun book that isn’t afraid to make its characters fight hard for their goals. At the crux of the story is a competition … Continue reading
Dungeon Critters by Natalie Riess and Sara Goetter Genre: Fantasy/Graphic Novel Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: September 29, 2020 Review Dungeon Critters is a fun-filled graphic novel that may take its inspiration from the standard tabletop RPG but ultimately creates into a fun and original world that stands on its own as well as … Continue reading
No Ordinary Boy by Tracey Mayhew Genre: Fantasy Age category: Chapter book Release Date: October 1, 2020 Review This is UFM’s first review of a book younger than middle grade. I’ve been reading a lot in this age category lately, both for my own research as I attempt to write a book in it and … Continue reading
Never Date a Siren by Byrd Nash Genre: Urban Fantasy Age category: Young Adult/New Adult Release Date: November 19, 2019 Review If you’re in desperate need of a refreshing new series (and who isn’t right now?), College Fae Magic by Byrd Nash may be just what you’re looking for. I was drawn into this first … Continue reading
Lobizona by Romina Garber Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Age category: Young Adult Release Date: August 2, 2020 Review The concept of this book drew me into it right away. Often realistic, contemporary problems are reserved for realistic, contemporary books. “Supernatural” tends to invoke images of escapism. But Lobizona by Romina Garber deals with a real, heart-wrenching … Continue reading
The Waking of Ghosts Lost Souls Academy Book 1 by Lilliana Rose Genre: Teen, YA Paranormal Fantasy There is an evil awakening. At the Lost Souls academy, students aren’t your typical everyday alumni. Rejects from clans, packs, and covens walk these halls, but there’s something more sinister haunting the academy. A resident ghost has a … Continue reading
The Fantastical Exploits of Gwendolyn Gray by B.A. Williamson Genre: Portal Fantasy Age category: Middle Grade Release Date: April 28, 2020 Review When it comes to children’s entertainment, there’s always two categories: the stuff kids will like and the stuff grown-ups want them to like. It’s a rare work that fits into both, yet Gwendolyn … Continue reading
The Last Atlantian by Mikki Noble Genre: Urban Fantasy Age category: Young Adult Release Date: December 13, 2019 Spencer did not plan to work on her birthday. She didn’t plan a lot of things, but they happened anyway. Like, when she touched a guy and he turned into a gold statue, or when some stranger … Continue reading
Gorgon’s Price Redemption of the Gorgons Book 1 by Claire Davon Genre: Paranormal Romance Print Length: 209 pages Publication Date: December 3, 2019 Euryale will never forget the day the gods turned her into a monster. After millennia, her heart beats faster at the idea of regaining her normal form. For the feel of skin … Continue reading
The Shrike and the Shadows by A.M. Wright and Chantal Gadoury Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror Age category: Young Adult Release Date: March 3rd, 2020 Review To start off, a quick content warning: Although I have seen this shelved with YA, the content is very mature. A parent with a precocious tween would probably want to steer … Continue reading
A Violet Fire by Kelsey Quick Genre: Fantasy Age category: Young Adult Release Date: December 9th, 2019 Kelsey Quick is a novelist, artist, and businesswoman who loves her husband, huskies, and video games. Since the age of two, Kelsey has been bound and determined to create. From traditional impressionist paintings, to digital comic creation; from … Continue reading
Witch and Wizard by James Patterson was originally released in 2009, just qualifying for our retro review requirement of being ten years old or more. It grew into a five-book series and has a manga version as well. I read this book originally pretty close to publication and while I jotted down some thoughts at … Continue reading