House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

The novel House of Earth and Blood written by Sarah J. Maas is the first novel in the series Crescent City. This novel centers around the main character Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar. 

Bryce is half Fae and half human. She is overlooked in this world filled with shifters, witches, Malakim (angels), elementals, sprites, mer, nymphs, vampyrs, dragons, etc. However, this does not bother her, not when she has her best friend Danika Fendyr, an alpha of the Pack of Devils. One night, Bryce was partying all night long and came home to witness the massacre of the entire pack and Danika as well. Bryce felt devastated, not only was she out partying while her best friend was getting slaughtered, she didn’t respond to her texts, which were from Danika. When the murderer is behind bars, but the crimes contiue to occur; there was one conclusion Bryce could make: that man behind bars is not the killer. After two years without Danika, Bryce finds herself in the heart of the investigation. She just couldn’t give this up and as she investigates she learns things about Danika that her best friend never told.

Orion “Hunt” Athalar is a well-known fallen angel who has been enslaved by the Archangels he once tried to overthrow for a rebel cause. His ability and power is unique compared to the paranormal world. He is known as the Umbra Mortis, which means shadow of death in Latin. His job for the Governor was to kill people who are not cooperating. However, with a demon causing havoc in the city, he’s offered an appealing deal: if he can assist Bryce identify the murderer, he’ll be set free. He of course takes the offer, it was too good to resist, and braces himself to work with Bryce.

Bryce and Hunt both discover a terrible force that threatens everything and everyone they care about as they delve deeper into Crescent City’s underbelly, and they discover a connection like nothing else. As they go through this journey, they learn more about themselves, the case, and gain friendships. The plot is complicated in all the right ways. It was a beautifully crafted novel.

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Imagine a book where you’re following four college friends through their years after high school: their highs and lows, best and worst. Now imagine that storyline, but way sadder. That is the most simple synopsis of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. I cannot stress this enough, but please read the trigger warnings before embarking on the Little Life trip. Yanagihara writes in such a beautiful way that many scenes feel real. The emotions expressed in this book are very raw and uncensored. It highlights the premise that not all stories have a happy ending. The story is mostly all character driven, which is one of the most gripping parts of the book. Though as harsh as some points in the book may seem, it brings up an interesting commentary on friendship and mental illness.

Written by Katelyn, Teen Volunteer

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is in the same Grisha universe as Leigh Bardugo’s other books, though intriguingly this book can be read stand alone. It’s very popular to compare this book to Oceans 11, and that comparison is startlingly spot on. The plot is a constant high-speed heist of breaking into the most highly guarded security prison with a ragtag team of teenagers. However everyone in the group has their own agenda, which is kept hidden from the reader because of the third person perspective. The experience of this book is similar to learning how to drive without having your license. It’s dark, action-packed and beautifully written, what else could you ask for?

Written by Katelyn, Teen Volunteer

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

What made this book stand out so much was its amazing commentary on generational parenting and the relationship between mothers and daughters. There is the Chinese cultural aspect, but there’s also how it explores what it’s like as generations start to distance themselves from the culture and how that feels for all involved. These conversations aren’t just jumped over, but fully developed in all aspects of the book. The stories are moving and touching, even relatable at most times. It delves into the ideal of feminism and self-worth based on the idea of parental expectations. Though all of the themes may seem daunting, the book was a fulfilling read. Each chapter builds off the last which leads to a whole “aha” moment at the end of the novel.

Written by Katelyn, Teen Volunteer

Legend by Marie Lu

Fifteen-year-olds Day and June live opposite lives in the Republic, a dystopian nation that was once the Western United States. June was born into an elite wealthy family and she was the only person to ever pass the government-issued compulsory test known as “The Trial” with a perfect score. Day, who failed his own Trial, is a street rat and the Republic’s most wanted criminal. When June’s brother Metias is murdered she’s determined to track down his killer, and it turns out that Day is the prime suspect. As they cross paths however they begin to uncover the sinister truth of their country.

I felt that Legend was a very enjoyable book. I thought that the story was interesting, and I felt that the dynamic between Day and June was well done in both their interactions and the differences between the two characters. I genuinely enjoyed the differences between Day and June’s personalities based on the environments and circumstances they each grew up in. I also felt that the action was often exciting and suspenseful, especially later on in the book. Although the story can sometimes be predictable in certain areas, since it does tend to follow a typical dystopian plotline, it still manages to remain interesting, and I would recommend the book as a good dystopian novel for young adults.

Written by Aedan, Teen Volunteer

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reed

The novel The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, written by Taylor Jenkins Reed, is about a Hollywood actress named Evelyn Hugo.  After a long life and career at 79 years old Evelyn decides to let a journalist interview her about her life and seven husbands. This book discusses Evelyn’s feelings for each husband, her love for each one of them, and her reasoning for each marriage. Evelyn must also live with the grief of her dead loved ones. This is something that affects the way she sees love, and affects her process of dealing with emotional struggles as well. I enjoyed this book because it taught me to question love and wonder what it truly is. I also learned to question the reasoning for my actions. I loved the philosophy of this book along with the fitting ending for Evelyn’s long and troubling life. Although seven husbands might seem unbelievable to many people, this is what it took to allow Evelyn to realize who she was truly in love with and what she really wanted.

Written by Arianna, Teen Volunteer

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

In The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien, the main character named Lieutenant Jimmy Cross serves in the Vietnam War. During the time in which Jimmy Cross serves, he struggles to face the many burdens of being a soldier which include both mental and physical struggles. The biggest mental challenge for Jimmy is his guilt. When Ted Lavender, a soldier that Jimmy was in charge of dies as a result of Jimmy’s distraction, Jimmy becomes distraught. In this situation, Jimmy’s guilt teaches him a lesson because he learns to stay focused on his job. On the other hand, every decision that Jimmy makes now causes him to think about the death of Lavender. Jimmy also faces decisions during this novel. For example, Jimmy contemplates crossing the Canadian border to run away from being sent away to the war. Jimmy realizes that he would not be able to face the guilt of this action and stays. Throughout the book, Jimmy deals with pain a person should never have to experience. His morals are questioned at every turn in his journey. This novel takes you on the path of war through the mindset of a soldier.

Written by Arianna, Teen Volunteer

A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas

The novel, “A Court of Silver Flames” written by Sarah J. Maas is the fifth book in the ACOTAR. This final novel has different points of views. No longer is it Feyre and Rhysand, but Cassian and Nesta. Nesta is in bad shape; she has completely isolated herself regardless of Feyre’s pleadings. She drinks and engages in risky activities with people who mean nothing to her. She is alone, but she puts that on herself. However, Feyre and her court especially are done with Nesta’s behavior so they give her an ultimatum. Either Nesta goes back to the human lands or she will have to reside in the House of Wind and will be training with Cassian every day and working in the house’s library. She can’t go to the human lands, which would be torture for her, so she reluctantly chooses the latter option. Her journey is quite interesting actually. She is awful and personally I still don’t like her.  As much as she’s been through, Feyre has probably been through more, and yet Nesta has the audacity to blame Feyre for everything. I know I love my High Lady of the Night Court, but she is amazing and she deserves everything. I’m not saying Nesta doesn’t but she should be less rude to the people who stood by her regardless of their own issues and problems that they were going through. Anyhow, Nesta forms quite a bond with the House and soon she becomes friends with two females who have gone through some traumatic things as well (though it seems everybody in this series has gone through hell and back). She starts to train with Cassian and convinces other females to join; she forms a bond with him and she helps find the last two objects of the trove so the queen from the human realm has no more power than she already has. 

I recommend this book because I like how Nesta has a huge character change for the better. I love how Cassian and Nesta were able to finally be on the same page with their mating bond. It was starting to get annoying because Nesta kept on ignoring the mating bond and Cassian didn’t know what to do but finally at the end they figured it out, thank god. This book has a lot of spicy scenes and thoughts, just to let you know. There is so much cute and funny banter between Nesta and Cassian. They are both so strong and fierce which makes me a proud mom as Nesta grew from her drunken state to a powerful Valkyrie. 9/10.

-Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

“A Court of Frost and Starlight” written by Sarah J. Maas is the first novella/ fourth book in the ACOTAR series. This novella occurs months after the war, during a healing time where most are helping rebuild the Night Court. Feyre finally starts painting again and finds a friend other than the inner circle who is also an artist with the ambition to help others express their emotions from the war by art. Rhys and Cassian are dealing with the backwards ways of Illyrian men with regards to female Illyrians practicing in the war camps (We love feminists!!).  Not only that, but the Illyrians think because they lost the most people in the war, that it was on purpose because they didn’t treat Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel well when they were children. That isn’t true but now there are people talking and unsettling others. Feyre also really wants Nesta to make an appearance for Winter Solstice but Nesta doesn’t want to. She is always drunk, lives in a dreary apartment complex, and is sleeping with random people. It hurts Cassian and angers Rhys because of his mate, Feyre, and Elain. But there are some fun scenes that had me laughing randomly. For instance, the snowball fight tradition between Az, Rhys, and Cas is hilarious, especially after when the three brothers go to the sauna. 

I think this novella was a perfect transition to “A Court of Silver Flames.” I love the cute scenes with Feyre and Rhys;  I think we all needed them. I also think that the point of views from Mor and Cas were essential because we truly get to understand what they went through a little more. I enjoyed the amount of time we spent with Cass and Az, learning more about their backgrounds and how they’ve recovered from the conflict. From Cassian’s point of view in particular, it felt like this was designed to be a true “bridge” between the ACOTAR series and whatever comes next, which I enjoyed. I would recommend this novella to fantasy lovers who don’t mind adorable romance and real trauma that might not relate to you in the way the characters are going through it, but because they are going through something like loss which might be related to something you’ve been through yourself. 10/10.

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

“A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas is the third book in the ACOTAR series. Feyre returns to the Spring Court to gather information on Tamlin’s doings and to destroy him slowly while she’s at it. For instance, she points out that not only did Tamlin sell Prythian out, but he also chose to trust Ianthe, the High Priestess instead of his own soldiers who chose to fight for him and so that seemed like betrayal to them. Then she escapes with Lucien to go back to the Night Court. Once there, she and Rhysand invite every High Lord of  Prythian to discuss Hybern and what they are going to do. The whole point is to gather allies so they can unite as one because they need all the help they can get if they want to defeat Hybern’s army. Feyre also has to deal with her sisters who were forcefully turned into High Fae after being thrown into the Cauldron by the King of Hybern himself, so they are having a hard time coming to terms with who they are. Because of this Elaine is very depressed and Nesta is angry and she takes it out on everybody else, especially Feyre. But because Nesta and Elaine were made by the Cauldron, they have special capabilities that will help them in the war, so Nesta reluctantly agrees to help and begins to train with Amren. While this is happening, the Summer Court gets attacked and the Night Court quickly comes and helps Tarquin’s people. Rhys and Feyre gather allies like no other, surprising each other on the battlefield. 

While war is occurring, too many times have I started crying because of death, Amren, Cassian, and Rhys, oh Rhys! Rhys and Feyre both learn about themselves, but while Feyre discovers her spiteful self, her powerful and determined ruler’s nature, Rhysand reveals his fragile, tender side. The part that drove him to commit himself in order to keep the people he cared about free. I loved this book because it brought out so many emotions. Because it’s set during war, each character expresses their love for each other regardless of the hate they might have had as a façade earlier and that is so beautiful to me. Recommended to fantasy romance lovers ages 13 and up. 

Written by Julia, Teen Volunteer