The Fifth Mage by Megan Reyes

 I know I said at the beginning of the year that there was less fantasy in my sites than years before. This month, it seems I'm eating those words. 

Today's read hit the shelves just a couple days ago and rounds off the Heroes of Havensong series, a epic fantasy about four characters. I have not read the first two books in the series, but when has that stopped me? I'm expecting quite the adventure since this appears to have been getting good reviews so far.

And there's dragons. Who doesn't love dragons?

THE FIFTH MAGE

Heroes of Havensong #3

by Megan Reyes

Labyrinth Road

Middle Grade Fantasy

416 pages

ages 8 to 12

Follow the threads of the Fates to the captivating conclusion of this timeless fantasy series about four unlikely heroes bound together to save their world—and magic itself.

Wren, River, Blue, and Shenli have been struggling to face what the Fates have in store for them ever since learning they are the heroes foretold to save their world. Now Haven is on the brink of war, and the stakes are higher than ever.

River's new mage powers are as out of control as her grief, endangering anyone who comes near her unless she can learn to master her abilities. Shenli must finally confront the impossible decision over the fate of the Lost Ones, as a battle wages between his head and his heart. Finally returning home, Blue, with Wren at his side, sets out to open the closed minds of the people of Gerbera to gain their assistance before it's too late.

When destiny, duty, and danger clash, it’s hard to know if you’re on the right path, especially if it’s one you never chose in the first place. And as the four friends strive to live up to their prophesied roles, none of them know that there is someone out there who believes her sole purpose is to stop the heroes…whatever it takes.

GOODREADS       /       AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Epic fantasy fans are in for a treat as this rich world of magic holds all sorts of dangers and adventures.

This is the third in the series and takes off where the second book left off. While I hadn't read the first two books, and would highly recommend reading them before hitting this last book, it still wasn't too hard to sink into each character, since the author does a wonderful job at building each one up.

The tale is told from the four characters' points of views. To keep it from growing confusing, each chapter starts off with the character by name, but since each one (for at least a section) is working pretty independently...well, three of them are....the situations that each finds themselves in does vary. While these four have a combined fate, each one has their own journey and problems to face. In other words, this book is all about character growth because these heroes are up against more than the villains. They need to figure out their own hopes, desires, fears, and more. That means that the readers gets to know each one very well and connect closely with them.

Dragons, magic, and more create this world and let it shine. The four heroes are part of an intricate, fantasy world, which is full of richness and danger. The imagination takes flight as they meet one interesting character after the other and deal with dangerous and exciting situations. Yet, there's also calmer moments such as with the baby twins, which make sure the characters come across naturally. The read is steadily paced and packs in enough action to keep the pages turning. 

It's a very rich world, and the characters are what drives this story forward. Epic fantasy enjoyers, who love to dive into the realm and join heroes as they grow to meet their destiny are going to want to pick this series up.

And here she is...

Megan Reyes is a children's author who loves writing stories about dragons, magic, and kids getting into all kinds of fantastical shenanigans. Heroes of Havensong is her first series. Megan lives in Northern California with her husband, four More about Megan Reyes

Illusions of Fire by Nisha Sharma

I'm still playing catch-up and was really looking forward to shouting 'Happy Book Birthday!' for this one. I might be a couple days late...it released on the 4th...but I'm still super excited about this one. It's been getting rave reviews and promises all sorts of unique twists and wonderful tension. 

So, let's not waste any more time and jump right in.

ILLUSIONS OF FIRE

by Nisha Sharma

Union Square & Co

YA Fantasy   /  Mythology

368 pages

Unlike most of her classmates, Laila Bansal doesn’t roll out of bed and head to school. Instead, she wakes up early and trains in hand-to-hand combat with her adopted aunts who, when not tending to their thriving vineyard, are immortal Rakshasi demons sworn to protect Laila. Laila was born into a mythological bloodline—one infused with magic and entrusted with Lord Krishna’s secrets of the universe. By all appearances, though, Laila leads a peaceful, protected life. 

Then Ahvi, the new boy in town, arrives and immediately seeks out Laila. He happens to be a descendant of a demi-god. Both his and Laila’s origin stories (found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Hindu epic poem about the great war between demi-gods, witches, and demons) come crashing to the forefront. Magical powers are activated, dark forces converge, and it looks like Laila’s quiet town in upstate New York might be the setting of the next epic battle. 

Author Nisha Sharma deftly weaves together romance, magic, and mythology in this contemporary young adult urban fantasy novel.

GOODREADS     /      AMAZON     /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Rich mythical characters mix with modern day settings, tension, magic, and a dusting of romance to create a fast-paced read, which keeps readers in the pages until the very end.

Laila has been closely protected her entire life and is fated to achieve amazing things thanks to her unique bloodline. She must survive at all costs and has also has the training to guarantee it. The only thing causing some issues are her powers, which seem to gain a mind of their own, at times. When Karan, the descendant warrior of a demi-god, is set on a mission to destroy evil entities, he accidentally runs into her and sparks fly. Unfortunately, his uncle sees Laila as a huge threat, and Karan is soon caught in a tug-a-war. But there's more at play. While Karan and Laila do their best to defeat evil creatures, which come to light, the true villain is making his move. And it's not going to be pretty.

This is a very, well-woven read with characters to root for and tons of action along the way. While set in the modern world, this plays heavily into the mythological magic of Hinduism and keeps monsters, demons, and deities at the forefront. Everything flows together nicely, too. From a meeting at school to a deadly attack with blood-thirsty creatures, this book keeps readers on their toes. It never comes across as tacky or cheap, but lets the two worlds flow together in a seamless play. 

The mythology is a treat and adds a refreshing touch. From Laila's interesting aunts to even cuter beings, the mythology comes to life. It's rich, grabbing, and gives the entire world an ancient atmosphere with tons of depth. This melds nicely into Laila's and Karan's views and actions, grounding them while the fantasy flows. 

As to romance, it's sweet and builds nicely but doesn't overtake the action, either. Laila's strong personality meets Karan's to create fun back-and-forth taunting and smile worthy moments. While they grow together, there's also enough room for each one to develop their own, inner arcs as well. It makes both easy to like and root for as they find themselves in very difficult situations. And there are dark, difficult situations since the villain isn't exactly an easy one to deal with.

It's a great read for fantasy fans, who enjoy romance and are looking for something refreshingly new on the mythology end.

Don't Squish a Slug by Yussef Rafik

Good morning, everyone! Some of you might have noticed that I've been a bit absent as of late. I was hit with a double-whammy of flu viruses, and that knocked me out cold. But things are, finally, looking up, which is very good because I might have drown under my reading list if things carried on for much longer. 

I bet a lot of you are being roughed up by this year's flu season, too, aren't you? (I've been hearing it's quite the nasty beast, this year)

Anyway, I'll be squishing and shoving things around for the next few days to get back into the flow of things, but we'll get it worked out. 

What better way than to start with bugs? Not sick-bugs (that's what my kids called viruses and such), but real bugs! 

DON'T SQUISH A SLUG

by Yussef Rafik

Illustrated by Riley Samels

words & pictures

Middle Grade Nonfiction

62 pages

ages 7 to 12

COMING...

FEBRUARY 18th!!!

Learn all about how amazing bugs and minibeasts are in this detailed guide to over 40 small creatures from around the world. Bugs and minibeasts may be small, sometimes slimy, and maybe a little scary, but they are AMAZING and deserve respect and empathy.

Don't Squish A Slug will show you everything you need to know, and more, about why bugs are the most important creatures on the planet, even if they may not look it!

For example, did you know that there are bugs who. . .

Use disguise to blend in with their surroundings

Bugs who have come up with clever defence tactics to keep themselves safe

AND bugs who have broken world records?

Or, did you know that. . . 

The Taurus Scarab Beetle is the strongest insect in the world and can pull 1,141 times its own body weight – which is the equivalent of a human lifting six double-decker buses!

Or. . . that the Banana Slug has anesthetic slime, so if you were to lick one your tongue would go numb!

Learn about how awe-inspiring bugs really are in Don't Squish A Slug. Written by zoologist, conservationist and wildlife TV presenter Yussef Rafik and illustrated by Riley Samels (who makes every bug look cool), Dont Squish A Slug is a treasure-trove of expert information and quirky, retro illustrations for young readers to enjoy. 

So. . . don’t squash a spider, don’t step on ants and definitely don’t squish a slug!

GOODREADS    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Bugs hit these pages with an impressive parade of abilities and amazing facts, which show how splendid many of these tiny creatures really are.

Already the Table of Contents sets the stage for fun by dividing the presented bugs into categories such as 'Masters of Disguise', 'Daring Defense', and more. Each bug receives an entire page of well done illustrations, which not only highlight its special abilities and aspects, but put it in surroundings which touch upon its uniqueness. While there are a few well-known bugs, most are unique. So, there's sure to be new facts for even well-versed bug fans.

Unlike many insect books, these pages aren't only about facts but try to build a respect for the insect world. To do this, the author presents each one with a hint of awe and excitement, while bringing across the information. Still, it's not overly dramatic, either. The special attributes and facts surrounding each type of insect are delivered in short paragraphs placed over the page. These are written for the younger end of the middle grade audience, steer away from heavier jargon, and bring across the information with energy. It makes it easy to read and digest.

At the end of the book, there's a glossary with several terms and an index helps readers look up specific bug types, if desired.

This is one young bug fans and fact-curious readers are going to want to take a peek at.

And here they are...

Yussef Rafik is a zoologist and wildlife TV presenter. A self-confessed nature nerd, he loves nothing more than to get outside and immerse himself in the natural world. Yussef is one of the main presenters on BBC Earth Kids where he hosts a show called Bugface. 

Riley Samels is an illustrator who lives in New Haven, Connecticut where he Illustrates pop-up greeting cards daily. Riley is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and allows this and other minority communities to inspire and fuel his work to amplify unheard voices. In his free time, he is probably tending to his collection of 112 (and growing) plants. Riley has a green thumb with a passion for illustration, social justice, traveling, and good food.

The Ratnip Series by Cam Higgins

LOST AND FOUND IN THE CITY

RATNIP #1

by Cam Higgins

Illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

Little Simon

Chapter Book

128 pages

ages 5 to 9

In this first book of the new chapter book series from the author of Good Dog, meet Ratnip, an adorable rat who goes on adventures in the city that are equal parts sweet and icky!

Ratnip the rat lives in the City, where there’s always plenty of food to eat…if you know where to look. Dumpster diving isn’t just for finding food, though. It’s also for discovering knick-knacks and adventure! And tonight, Ratnip is on a very special mission to return treasure to its rightful owner. But will he make it home before sunrise?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Ratnip chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

GOODREADS     /      AMAZON     /     B&N

MY TIDBITS

Family, friendship, and fun-packed adventure hits every page thanks to a rat that readers will want to have as a best friend.

It's night-time, and Ratnip, like the rest of his family, is out to find food. And treasures. Ratnip loves collecting things, and he knows friends around town who can help. After watching a weird human do a strange dance around the playground, he heads out into the city streets and runs across an odd object. On the front of this object is the image of this weird human. Ratnip never takes other people's treasures and knows he should return it to the owner. And that isn't going to be an easy task.

This is a fun first book to launch a new series. It starts right in the middle of Ratnip's family getting ready and introduces the reader to the situations and characters by diving straight in. Ratnip, his family, and friends hold an enjoyable mix of personalities, are very friendly, supportive, and energetic. They might not always understand Ratnip's fondness for treasures, but they're there for him when it counts. His curiosity is inspiring as he explores the city and runs from one unexpected adventure to the next.

The text is created in a larger font and great for those readers, who are pretty sure of their words but need more practice before hitting 'larger' reads. There are illustrations on each page, which not only make it easier to understand what exactly is happening but also are cute and adorable. The read is quick-paced and keeps the adventure rolling. The chapters are around a dozen pages each, well divided for reading pauses, and a Table of Contents in the beginning helps readers locate chapters faster if needed.

It's fun to accompany Ratnip through the city and see it from his rat-perspective, while experiencing everything from that angle. Not only is there plenty of humor built in, but there's a little tension, too. His ability to find friends everywhere leaves a smile on the face, and there's even a touch of cleverness as he needs to come up with some interesting ways to make things work. He's definitely a little rat to root for, and it will be fun to see what adventures are still coming his way.

PIZZA DREAMS DO COME TRUE

RATNIP #2

by Cam Higgins

Illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

Little Simon

128 pages

ages 5 to 9

 Meet Ratnip, an adorable rat who goes on adventures that are equal parts sweet and icky! In this second book of the new chapter book series from the author of Good Dog, Ratnip searches for pizza on the city streets.

What goes together better than rats and pizza? Ratnip even lives in an abandoned pizza parlor. But one night, when the pizza craving hits him, he can’t find so much as a single leftover crust in the trash. There’s only one thing to make his own pizzas! How hard could it be?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Ratnip chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

GOODREADS    /     AMAZON     /    B&N

MY TIDBITS

Ratnip's on a mission and is about to discover more adventure than he planned for.

Ratnip's family and friends live in an abandoned pizzeria, which doesn't help when they get the urge for pizza since the only thing left is the old menu sign. Ratnip is determined to make everyone smile by finding the ingredients to make a pizza on his own. This sends him on a search through the city to find each item. Thanks to friends, he does have a little success, but then, things get rough. Still, Ratnip will never give up.

Ratnip's desire to make his family members smile is inspiring...as is his love for pizza. But it's Ratnip's willingness to go completely out of his way to achieve his goals, which make him a character to root for. Not everything goes smoothly for this young rat, and that adds to the humor and, sometimes, tension. He doesn't always know exactly how to accomplish everything, but that's why he has friends. The good and bad decisions create funny situations as Ratnip heads through the city and encounters surprising situations. It makes for a fun, fast-paced plot from beginning to end.

It's a lovely adventure for beginner readers, who are sure of their words but need more practice before hitting larger reads.

And here they are...

Cam Higgins wrote her very first book about a cat who lived in an alleyway when she was eight years old. As a child, she loved visiting a neighboring farm and seeing all the animals. Now Cam has a pup of her own, who is very mischievous, and she still loves writing about animals. Cam lives in New York City with her two children, her husband, and Laila the dog.

Allison Steinfeld grew up in Connecticut where she spent hours getting lost in her library books. She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her two very fluffy cats. When not providing essential head scratches and belly rubs, she finds time to illustrate books like the Wait! What? series and the Kid Legends series.

What's Coming in February?

Now, that January just kind of hit and zipped past at...I'd say warp speed, but actually, it was just cold. My fireplaces got a workout the last few weeks. I'm hoping that doesn't mean that we're getting warm temps mid-February already. It's happened, and that means my 'work season' hits full strength before I catch up with small things. I'll be sliding some eggs into my incubator in a week or so, and that's always fun (although raising baby chicks until they can go outside is a bit of a mess) They are super cute, though! And that means I'll have to get a few seedlings in the windows for the garden. What should we plant this year? Hmmm... 

As for this month's book pile... Well, it appears I'm skinnier on the picture book end, which rarely happens. Usually, around half of my reads fall into this younger age group. That also means I have quite a bit more to read this month, since the older ages definitely hold many more pages and words. The adventures are more grabbing, too.  As for genres... Ummmm....  I know I said that I was seeing less on the fantasy end, but this month, I'm going to be eating those words. I have several fantasy reads, a few mysteries, a couple animal books, and some very interesting-looking contemporary reads. 

And a few other things too, of course.

As you probably have noticed in months before, the dates I post on here should be seen as what-I've-got-scheduled-right-now dates. That means they aren't written in stone and do change a bit, at times. 

But let's just take a look at some of the reads I'll be visiting this month!

DON'T SQUISH A SLUG

The title caught my attention on this one...and the wonderful bugs on the cover. I think this book is aimed at building empathy for bugs, since they are living creatures, too, and we either overlook them or find them to be a nuisance (for the most part). I'm not sure if it will be silly or informative or what. But we're going to find out on the 4th.

Picture Book

ILLUSIONS OF FIRE

This read heads into the mythology direction...but with an original twist into the Hindu realm. I'll admit that I'm not very knowledgeable in that direction, so it will be eye-opening for me. I'm expecting to find a strong heroine, lots of action, and maybe some romance. Join me on the 6th to see what magic and such this one holds.

Young Adult Fantasy

AWAY 

This is the second in a series, and I did take a look at book one when it came out. So, when this landed in front of me, excitement perked since it carries a different plot and characters. So, it really has the chance of winning me over. I have no doubt the writing will be amazing and it is in verse. I'm going out on a limb with this one and am hoping I'll come back with excitement pure on the 10th. 

Middle Grade Dystopian 

REIGN OF THE TALON

I'm back into my old habit of beginning series anywhere but the beginning. This one is, actually, book #3 and the end. I loved the cover (of course), and I'm ready to jump into a realm with dragons. There's supposedly some sort of romance, too. I really can't say much else until I take a peek and let you know more on the 12th.

Young Adult Fantasy

THE WORLD OF MAXIME

 

I saw this one and immediately grabbed up a DRC. Translated from French (?), it's sold as an ode to cats and should also remind of Matilda. Both sound good to me. It revolves around a little girl who discovers mysteriously appearing bowls of cat food in an alley and turns detective to discover what is really going on...only to meet an unexpected, possible friend. We'll learn more about it on the 14th.

Children's Fiction

THE OLD SECRET HOTEL OREGON

I enjoy a good mystery, and this one caught my attention. It involves an old hotel (how cool is that?) and also ghosts. I'm expecting a little heart, too, and hope this one weaves everything in an exciting way.  I'm looking to see where this one goes on the 15th.

Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery

THE BEST DADDY OF ALL

I'm always down for a book to snuggle up with and enjoy the warm feelings flowing from every page. It makes for great hug moments with the kids. This one seems to fulfill that desire and, better yet, will be one for my husband to get involved with. I'm hoping for lovely illustrations and tons of goodness, but we'll find out on the 21st.

Picture Book

BADGE QUEST: A CHEESY BRIE-GINNING

I was on the lookout for humor, when I stumbled across this book. It's the first in a new, graphic novel series (yep, I'm starting at the beginning!). Not only does it promise sticker collecting fun (there's the promise of extra stickers, too) but is created with a font, which should help out dyslexic readers. I'm hoping it's cute and handles the fun with everything else nicely. I'll be taking a peek at this one on the 23rd.

Children's Fiction  /   Graphic Novel

FERRIS

This one might look, at first glimpse, like a fantasy but don't let it fool you. I've read works from this author before and have enjoyed them quite a bit. So, I have high expectations with this read. It should hold a very, very light dusting of magical realism, but it should swirl around family difficulties and relationships. I'll let you know more about it on the 24th.

Middle Grade Contemporary (or Magical Realism?)

WILLOW'S WOODS: SAM SQUIRREL

It's time to take a spin with Mother Nature...or rather, her granddaughter. With adventures surrounding nature, this should be an exciting and surprising fantasy. And that with chapter book goodness! I'm hoping that this one keeps up the pace and draws readers into a fun and imaginative realm, and that we'll get to meet more than a couple intriguing characters. Join me on the 28th to find out more.

Chapter Book

I'm skipping the joker read this month...not because I don't have a huge pile, but rather, I got hit with a flu and am just going to make life a little easier for myself.

Can't wait to dive in and hope you'll join me!