Review of Crooked Kingdom-Leigh Bardugo

I loved her novel, Six of Crows and this sequel is even better.  The world that Bardugo creates is very complex but these two books are more accessible than her previous trilogy, and the resolution more positive.  Her characters are complicated but so very likable.  The book is thrilling, with fascinating dialogue and gorgeous descriptions.  There is a steam-punk flavor to the story, along with capers, slavery and magic.  Fabulous!  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens and adults

Review of Because You'll Never Meet Me-Leah Thomas

Ollie and Moritz are best friends but they can never meet.  Ollie is deathly allergic to electricity and lives like a hermit in the woods of the Upper Peninsula.  Moritz must have a pacemaker and other electrical implants to be able to see and function; he lives in Germany.  Because they are both lonely, a doctor brings them together as pen pals and their friendship slowly grows.  But, Ollie and Moritz are linked by more than their handicaps as each encourages the other to stretch their boundaries.  Both teens are unusual and compelling; you find yourself rooting for them, hoping they'll manage to meet someday.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens and adults

Review of Ink and Bone

I loved this novel, the first in the Great Library series.  Set in a world where ownership of books is forbidden, the great library controls all the books and the populace.  War is raging worldwide but the library only cares about defending the books and its power.  When Jess enters training to be a scholar for the library, secrets are discovered and he learns that the library values control over human life.  The characters in this novel, including Jess, are compelling and stay strong even when confronting danger.  I am anxiously awaiting the sequel!  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens and adults

Review of Harry Potter & the Cursed Child-Rowling/Tiffany/Thorne

Based on a new story by J.K. Rowling, this is a script from the new play rather than a novel.  Because it's a script, the reader must use their imagination to fill in the scenes but because of past visuals of the Potter world, I found it easy to supply scenery and details.  The story is a bit convoluted but always keeps your interest.  Harry's youngest son, Albus, tries to fix a problem caused by Potter's famous legacy and soon realizes that he's changed everything... and not for the better.  3 Elves - Recommended for readers young and old

Review of The Wrath & The Dawn-Renee Ahdieh

This reworking of the fable Shaherazhad, the debut novel introduces a terrorist king who is only a teen yet takes a bride each night & then murders them.  After the murder of a close friend, a young girl volunteers as a "bride" to the king & keeps him entranced with epic stories so she isn't murdered with the dawn.  She soon find more to this king than she expected and finds herself falling in love despite vowing revenge for her friend.  The sequel is out now and I look forward to reading it.  3 Elves - recommended for teens and adults

Review of Flamecaster-Cinda Williams Chima

I loved this author's Seven Realms series and in this novel, she brings back some characters from that series but also introduces many from the new generation.  And the new characters, especially Ash and Jenna, are wonderful!  You instantly care about them and root for them to overcome the ruthless king and his cronies.  This book is full of thrills, magic dark & light, complicated politics between the kingdoms and an ending that will have you crying for more.  I can't wait for the sequel to this epic fantasy, and I'm sure you'll feel the same.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for teens and adults

Review of Me Before You-Jojo Moyes

Louisa has an ordinary life; she lives with her parents, works in a small restaurant and dates a man she's not too excited about.  When she loses her job, she is desperate to find work right away to help out her parents and is hired as a caregiver for a man who is a quadriplegic after an accident.  This man, Will, was extremely successful, traveled the world and participated in extreme sports before the accident and doesn't want to live now that he is confined to a wheelchair.  Louisa's job is to convince Will to live.  4 Elves - Highly recommended for adults and teens