Book Sketch: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

DAUGHTER OF THE SIREN QUEEN
By: Tricia Levenseller
Published By: Feiwel Friends
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King
Pages: 341
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: King's English

Goodreads Summary: Warning--May contain spoilers for Daughter of the Pirate King.

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

First Thought After Finishing: I’m going to miss all of the adventures of Alosa and Riden!

I picked up Daughter of the Pirate King in April, and I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to read it! It was such a fun escape, especially right at the beginning of the Covid-19 quarantine, and their rollicking adventures kept me turning page after page. Daughter of the Siren Queen picks up right not long after the first book ends, and there are more hijinks, heists, and heated moments filling every page!

Alosa is a woman on a mission to fulfill her pirate dreams: Find the hidden treasure, take her rightful place as the new pirate queen, and exact revenge on her enemies. But while making her plans back at the Keep, she realizes that she doesn’t know her father quite as well as she thought. Suspicion leads her to investigate and uncover long-held secrets that will change her life forever. Before she can finish plotting and planning, Alosa is once again racing across the ocean with her crew and Riden by her side. This may be her most dangerous adventure yet, but she’s not the daughter of the Pirate King and Siren Queen for nothing. She’ll make her dreams come true, or die trying.

The fierce and feisty heroine is back for another round of adventures in Daughter of the Siren Queen. While the first book was nonstop adventure, this book has more introspection and soul-searching from Alosa. After uncovering her father’s secrets, she has to come to terms with her childhood and everything she thought to be true. But that is not to say this book isn’t full of action. There are plenty of high-stakes battles from feuding pirates, not to mention page-turning tension. Alosa also has to confront the siren half of her nature if she wants to find the treasure and keep her crew safe. Once again, this is a battle of inner strength, and I could really appreciate the transformation that Alosa goes through in this story.

One of the best parts of this book was getting to see more of Alosa’s crew and the bonds between all the members. The crew epitomizes squad goals that takes sisterhood to new levels with their quick wit, fierce loyalty, and mutual respect. I’m sure there won’t be more books written in this world, but I can imagine all of the female pirates having the most interesting backstories with such exciting futures.

Finally, there is the relationship between Alosa and Riden. The tension isn’t quite as high as the first book, but there are definitely more intimate moments. We finally get to learn about Riden’s past, and it made him even more endearing. These two complement each other so well, and I couldn’t help cheering for them as they found happiness with each other.

With this duology, Tricia Levenseller has made it onto my auto-buy author list. I can’t wait to read more of her books!

Most Memorable Aspect: The bonds between the female pirate crew.

Book Sketch: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING
By: Tricia Levenseller
Published By: Feiwel Friends
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King
Pages: 311
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought (OwlCrate)
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

First Thought After Finishing: Why did I wait so long to read this book?

Not long after I joined Bookstagram, there was a fair amount of hype about Daughter of the Pirate King. Sometimes that makes me nervous to start a book, but in this case, there was nothing to worry about. I flew through this novel in one day, and it was every bit as enjoyable as the hype had promised it to be.

Brave, fearless pirate Alosa has been sent on a mission by her father to retrieve a map that will lead to untold riches for the pirates. So Alosa devises the perfect scheme—fall into enemy hands, search their ship undetected, and prove herself as the best of the best. Alosa has no reason to doubt her skills or her success, and she is fully devoted to her mission. Only Alosa never bargained for Riden, the first mate of the enemy ship. The more time she spends with him, the harder it is to separate the prisoner role she is playing from her own feelings about Riden. But as a pirate, she should know that schemes always abound, and this mission may prove to be one too many for the pirate princess.

“Oh, the ridiculous things one has to do when one is a pirate.”

Alosa is everything one could want in a heroine—fierce, witty, and cunning. Her confidence in herself and her skills is a refreshing change of pace from main characters who are convinced they are “nothing special.” Alosa doesn’t need anyone to validate her, and yet, she desperately wants the approval of her father. This vulnerability, along with her humor, makes her quite likeable. Then enter Riden, the charming yet sly love interest. He is wonderful in his own way, and the banter between him and Alosa is very entertaining.

“Everyone has something dark in their past. I suppose it’s our job to overcome it. And if we can’t overcome it, then all we can do is make the most of it.”

Moreso than the budding romance, this book is nonstop adventure—escape attempts and capture, working against the clock on dangerous searches, and twists that might be predictable but also keep the story engaging. With the high stakes on the high seas, the schemes, and the romantic tension, there is never a dull moment. Both of the main characters also have their secrets, and those revelations have set the stage for a sequel that I can’t wait to read.

This was Tricia Levenseller’s debut book, and if all of her other books weren’t already on my TBR, they would be after reading this one. If you are looking for the perfect book to escape reality for a few hours, look no further than Daughter of the Pirate King!

Most Memorable Aspect: Alosa’s confidence and witty humor.

Blog Tour & Book Sketch: All We Could Have Been by T.E. Carter

ALL WE COULD HAVE BEEN
By: T.E. Carter
Published By: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: April 23, 2019
Series: None
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Five years ago, Lexie walked home from school after her older brother failed to pick her up. When she entered her house, her brother sat calmly, waiting for the police to come arrest him for the heinous crime he had just committed.

Treated like a criminal herself, Lexie now moves from school to school hiding who she is—who she's related to. She struggles with loving her brother, the PTSD she now suffers from, and wanting to just live a normal life. But how can she be normal when she can’t even figure out how to just live?

This is a powerful look at the assumptions we make about people. Lexie's emotional journey to separate her brother's horrific act from herself is stunning and heartbreaking. This is Lexie’s story and journey—not her brother's—and it will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

First Thought After Finishing: What a journey!

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book--the sister of a convicted murderer seemed like such an interesting perspective. This book was an emotional journey, to be sure, but there was also an examination of the nature of people and whether or not change is possible.

Ever since her brother committed and confessed to murder, Lexi's life has never been the same. She was never particularly popular at school, but now school is a battlefield, and she is always the victim. Lexi has spent the past five years moving every year, praying that nobody would find out, but she has yet to survive a school year. But this year will be different, she promises herself. She will keep her head down for 162 days, nobody will find out about Scott, and she'll graduate and be done with it. Only not letting people in is much harder than it sounds, especially when the possibility of friends is so tempting. But what will she do if they find out?

This book delves into the age-old question: Can people truly be loners? Lexi wants to keep to herself, but when she meets Ryan and Marcus, she can't help but be drawn to them, although for different reasons. Ryan's enthusiasm and general kindness make him impossible to ignore, and when he introduces Lexi to his friends in the drama club, she can't help but be caught up in their infections energy. With Marcus, she can't help but want to know him better, and to want him to know her, despite the warnings from her aunt. And although all of these characters may seem straightforward, there is more to each of them than meets the eye.

Lexi has been battling a fair amount of mental health issues ever since her brother's arrest. She has a therapist and has internalized many of his sayings, but that hasn't solved any major problems yet. The depth of Lexi's pain goes beyond what might be expected. But with the help of Marcus, she starts to realize that perhaps she wants more out of life. In some ways, Marcus is a bit of a crutch for her, but I think everyone needs that at some point. The themes of the book certainly made me think--is it human nature to be selfish? How fair is it to expect people to change? How does one keep trying for genuine connection in the face of so much hurt? These questions may not be definitely answered in the book, but I think they have the possibility to make the reader reflect on their own emotional lives.

To be honest, a few of the characters--especially Ryan--disappointed me. I wanted more for him; I wanted to see something more hopeful. In other ways, I would have liked to see more depth and development from Lexi. I felt a sense of disconnectedness through most of the book, and although that reflects her current emotional state, there was an opportunity for so much more depth of feeling. Still, I would be open to reading more from this author in the future to see what other emotional journeys there are.

Most Memorable Aspect: The premise is unlike anything I've seen before.

~ ~ ~ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ~ ~ ~

TE Carter was born in New England and has lived in New England for pretty much her entire life. Throughout her career, she’s done a lot of things, although her pas-sion has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she can generally be found reading classic literature, playing Xbox, organizing her comic collection, or binge watching baking competitions. She continues to live in New England with her hus-band and their two cats.


Find her online:
Website


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Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

SCARLET
By: Marissa Meyer
Published By: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: Feb. 5, 2103
Series: Lunar Chronicles (#2)
Pages: 452
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon

Note: Scarlet is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles, and the following summary may contain spoilers. To read my review of the first book, Cinder, click here.

Goodreads Summary: Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.



Last year, I was hesitant to read Cinder, but it surprised me in a good way. I loved seeing how the old fairy tale of Cinderella was transformed into a futuristic world of cyborgs and androids, powerful world leaders and a new evil queen. I've been excited for a long time to read Scarlet, and the book didn't disappoint.

Scarlet Benoit is searching for her missing grandmother. Most people seem to think that her grandmother left on her own - even the police have given up the case - but Scarlet knows that can't be true. On her routine deliveries, Scarlet just happens to run into someone who might have some information. He's a street fighter who goes by Wolf, full of contradictions, and yet Scarlet knows that he's her best chance for finding out what really happened to her grandmother. But can she really trust a wolf? Meanwhile, Cinder hasn't disappeared. She knows what she has to do, and she won't let a little thing like prison stop her. These two girls would never have had a reason to meet...but when someone like Queen Levana is involved, the enemy of an enemy becomes a friend...

In Cinder, Marissa Meyer took the basic outline of the fairy tale but fleshed it out with new details and characters. In Scarlet, she does the same. The story of Red Riding Hood is there, but once again this book is so much more than its inspiration. Scarlet was strong and determined, loyal and dedicated to her grandmother and the farm. But in her narrative, Wolf stole the show. He was intriguing from the beginning, shy yet strong, fierce yet lacking confidence. Even though I knew I shouldn't trust him, I couldn't keep from softening to him right along with Scarlet. I was also glad to see that Cinder's story continued here. She's trying to figure out her new life, but fortunately she has help - Captain Carswell Thorne. Thorne's larger-than-life ego really brought out Cinder's snarky side, which made for great comic relief. Another relief - Thorne is never portrayed as a love interest. The one person I really missed in this book was Kai. Although we see him briefly, it wasn't nearly enough for the prince.

One of the things I loved in Cinder and again in Scarlet is how many layers there are to the story. There are surprises, even if they aren't completely shocking, and the books are never dull. Even with hard-to-imagine sci-fi elements, the stories really come to life and the pages fly by. The world Marissa Meyer created is fascinating. I loved how the stories of Cinder and Scarlet intersected, and I can't wait to see what happens next for all of these characters.

If you like fairytale retellings, sci-fi books, or just a great story, Cinder and Scarlet are definitely books you want to pick up. I'm already eagerly awaiting the next Lunar Chonicles book, Cress!

Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

OF POSEIDON
By: Anna Banks
Published By: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Series: None
Pages: 324
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA Midwinter
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he’s heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen—literally, ouch!—both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma’s gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.



Confession time: As a child, whenever I was at a pool or the beach, I always wanted to pretend to be a mermaid. I thought it would be awesome to be Ariel and swim around with friends like Flounder and Sebastian. Now, whenever I see tales about mermaids, I want to read them. Of Poseidon is certainly a story that lives up to its gorgeous cover and all of its possibilities.

Despite living on the Jersey shore, Emma has never been a huge fan of the water. But when she goes on vacation with her friend to the beaches in Florida, not only will she be forced to swim, but also this swim will change the course of her life. Galen thinks that Emma could be just the person he is looking for, but convincing Emma that she is will be no easy task. Emma may have a lot to learn about herself and Galen's undersea world, but Galen has just as much to learn about Emma. Sparks might fly between them, but there are other plans that might threaten Galen and Emma's happiness. Can Emma accept the truth and embrace her destiny? And if she does...what will happen to Galen?

Forget any preconceived notions you may have of paranormal YA books where the heroine doesn't know she's paranormal. Of Poseidon will blow them all out of the water...literally. We are almost thrown into the middle of the story with Emma running into Galen, and the fast pacing, snappy banter, and sizzling romantic tension never abates for the remainder of the novel. I enjoyed watching Galen trying to navigate life on land with a little help from Emma and Rachel, and with Toraf, one of Galen's Syrena friends, in the picture, there is no shortage of laughter. I also loved learning the history and lore of the Syrena and reading about the underwater adventures that Galen and Emma shared. Also, being able to read from both Emma and Galen's perspective was quite interesting; I felt like I came to know both of them better and it allowed me to understand Galen's world in a way I wouldn't have otherwise.

Did I mention that Of Poseidon doesn't follow so many conventions that other novels do? I liked that Emma did not merely acquiesce to what Galen wanted and told her. Instead, she wanted her own answers and, prince or not, she wasn't one to let him order her around. I also appreciated that not everything was perfect between Emma and Galen. There were real obstacles, but moreover, there were real feelings, which made loving their relationship so much easier.

Of Poseidon will draw you in and have you floating away with the story, and after that ending, I am dying to know what happens next! This is a fantastic debut from Anna Banks that you will not want to miss.

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

CINDER
By: Marissa Meyer
Published By: Feiwel and Friends
Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012
Series: Lunar Chronicles (#1)
Pages: 387
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads Summary: Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl... Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future.



When I first heard about Cinder, I wasn't sure that it was something I would want to read. Cinderella meets cyborgs? It seemed a little out there. But after hearing so many good things about it, I decided to give this book a chance, and I am so glad that I did. Cinder is an incredibly inventive spin on a fairy tale and one that will keep you captivated from beginning to end.

Cinder is one of the most well-respected mechanics in New Beijing, but she also has a secret - she's a cyborg. She does everything she can to hide this from others, including always wearing gloves and boots in the market. Her family knows the truth, though, and her stepmother constantly uses Cinder's nature against her. But things begin to change the day that Prince Kai comes to the market. Because not only does Prince Kai come, but also the deadly plague that is sweeping the country strikes those near to Cinder. When her stepmother blames Cinder for her sister's illness, Cinder finds herself handed over to the government to be a research subject for an antidote to the plague. But everyone involved in that research will learn more than they bargained for. And on top of everything else, Cinder's struggles with her family and the plague research, there's still the matter of the prince and the ball...

Cinder is nothing like your usual fairy tale retelling. The basic tenets of Cinderella are there - the wicked stepmother, stepsisters, a prince, a ball - but the similarities end there. Cinderella was merely a starting point for Marissa Meyer; she expanded the tale into something new and wonderful all on its own. I really enjoyed Cinder's character, cyborg nature and all. Then again, I really enjoyed all of the characters (wicked stepmother and stepsister aside - those two I wanted to strangle). And Iko, even if she was an android, was such a great best friend. I loved how this story had multiple layers, encompassing not only Cinder's struggle with her family and the plague research but also political crises and the hardships that Prince Kai had to endure. Because Prince Kai...who wouldn't want a prince like that? He loved his people and was so dedicated to doing what was best for them. From family tragedy to political unrest he had to deal with more than any teenager should. And yet, with his kindness, he completely won my heart just like a real prince should.

There are many surprising twists and turns along Cinder and Kai's respective journeys, though one important plot twist is fairly obvious early on in the story. Despite that, the many layers and especially the sci-fi elements kept me intrigued and made it nearly impossible to put this book down. The only thing I did wonder about was the setting - it seemed that New Beijing could have just as easily have been any other city if the Chinese names and appellations had been omitted. Because I love foreign settings, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of vivid setting, but everything else in the book more than makes up for that.

Cinder is a great debut novel from Marissa Meyer and one that will keep you turning the pages because you just have to know what happens next. I can't wait to read the next book in the Lunar Chronicles!