Tag: Kami Garcia

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Starfire by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Starfire by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

While Raven, Gar, Max, Damian, and Dick drive toward California to find the other person on the HIVE list, Kori Anders is home from college and working at a beach club for the summer with her sister Kira. Kira’s boyfriend – and his uncle – have invited Kori to be part of an experiment at a lab to learn more about her EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome type 1). While her time at Edge Pharmaceuticals brings her a new friend, Vic, Kori doesn’t feel any better about Tate and his uncle. And when they take Kira to HIVE after she starts displaying powers, Kori and Vic start looking at what HIVE is up to.

Review

The emphasis in the 5th book of Kami Garcia’s Teen Titans series is on Kori and Kira as they discover their powers and get drawn into HIVE. We get Victor for the team who is also a great partner for Kori as she tries to take her stand against HIVE. When the rest of the Teen Titans show up, she has a full team on her side. But that also sets her in conflict with her sister.

As always, this was over too soon, and I now have to wait a year for the next installment. I can’t wait. I have loved this series from the start, and it holds up each time I re-read it for a new release. I wanted more of the team in this as those group dynamics are my favorite part of the series. But the next book should deliver more team interactions.

While most of this book is about Kori and Kira, and therefore newcomers could probably start here, the earlier books are so great, I think it’s better to dive in from the start of the series.

Rating: ♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥½ = Good+

2023 Year In Review, Part 2

2023 Year In Review, Part 2

Posted on by Jaymie

If you were here on Wednesday, you saw the first half of my list of favorite reads from 2023. Here’s the top five!

5. The Enneagram Development Guide – This is the second non-fiction book on this year’s list, and it’s another book I loved but apparently didn’t review on the blog. The things I love about this book are probably the same things that kept me from posting about it. This is a working book, not a reading book. I have tons of Enneagram books that I can read from cover to cover. Then they go on a shelf and don’t get picked up again. But like a few of my other favorites, this is a WORKING book. Each number has a section that digs into practices that you can work on to bring you to the healthier aspects of your number. But the practices are a DEEP dive – each one could be a focus for weeks at a time. So while I have been working with this for months now, I am still hardly into my number’s section in the book. And I love that. I told a friend reading this is like discovering the Enneagram for the first time. If you are burned out on reading the same old thing and you long to go deeper, this is the resource you should check out.  ♥♥♥♥♥

4. The Renaissance of Gwen Hathaway – Looking to see where this should fall on my top ten list for 2023 made me want to drop everything else and read this again. It’s the second book by Ashley Schumacher to make a top ten list for me, and both are long overdue for re-reading. This is the second of the three books for teens and young adults on this year’s list. You can read my full review of this delight here.

 

 

3. Every Duke Has His Day – The dog-swapping premise of this book was a winner for me. This delivered on everything I had hoped for when I picked it up, and it’s definitely one I would read again. You can read my full review here.

 

 

 

2. Teen Titans: Robin – The second graphic novel – and the third YA novel – on the list is the most recent addition to this DC property that is one of my must-buy series right now (I have already pre-ordered the next book which doesn’t even release until November 2024.). You can read my full review here.

 

 

1. Assistant to the Villain – This was my most anticipated novel of the year, and it delivered on all accounts. I still remember digging into this the minute it arrived, and not putting it down until I was done. I even did a re-read as part of my low-key Christmas reading, and it was as delightful as I remembered. The only other pre-order I have right now, in addition to the new Teen Titans book, is the sequel to this, Apprentice to the Villain, which won’t be out until August. You can read the full review for this book here.

 

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Raven and Gar have broken free from HIVE and are on the run with Max and Damien. They meet up with Max’s mom to regroup – and train for whatever comes next.

Meanwhile, Dick Grayson is tracking Damien. They got off on the wrong foot when Bruce introduced them. Dick is determined to find his brother and help him.

While Damien would love to send Dick packing, the group knows they have a lot to overcome if they want to be ready for HIVE’s next move. And Dick could be an asset.

Review

I love this series more and more with each book. I really enjoyed watching the growth of the two couples. But the relationship between Dick and Damien was my favorite part of this one. I wanted to read this again as soon as I finished. I also loved the cover tease for book five, which is a must-read for me.

DC fans, Teen Titan fans, and graphic novel fans should not miss this series. There are some dark and occultish elements in Raven’s story (her demon father, astral projection, talking to and raising the dead) that might not work for sensitive readers. But there’s nothing else in this series that has raised any red flags for me. I re-read the whole series before letting myself dive into this one, and it was so satisfying. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

YEAR IN REVIEW - Best of 2021 for Kids and Teens

YEAR IN REVIEW – Best of 2021 for Kids and Teens

Posted on by Jaymie

Continuing my best of lists for 2021, here are the lists for books for kids and books for teens/young adults.

Best of 2021 – Books for Kids

The Hunger Heroes: Missed Meal Mayhem – If I could only pick one kids book from 2021 to highlight, it would be this one. I struggle to find early chapter books that I really love and am excited to share with kids, but this is one I literally handed to anyone and everyone in 2021. This graphic novel was a delight to read and to share. Don’t miss it! You can read my full review here.
The Winterborne Home for Mayhem and Mystery – Book 2 in this fantastic series for kids 10 and up from the amazing Ally Carter was another favorite from 2021. You can read my full review here for book one and here for this second book in the series.
Bea Is for Blended – A lovely, powerful middle grade story that shouldn’t be missed. You can read my full review here.
What Comes Next – A stand alone story from the author of the Mr. Terupt series as well as the Perfect Score series. You can read the full review here.
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy – I don’t usually read a lot of nonfiction for kids, but I was intrigued by this kid-friendly version of the author’s show/book Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. This is for readers 10 and up. You can read my full review here.

 

Best of 2021 – Books for Teens/Young Adults

Amelia Unabridged – If I could only pick one “Best of 2021” book, regardless of audience, I would pick this one. This book rocked my world when I first read it, and it stuck with me all year. I’m looking forward to carving out some time for a re-read soon. You can read my full review here.
Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven – I have really enjoyed this graphic novel series. Yes, I wish the series had more depth to the characters, but once I accept the limitations of the format for digging deeper into character details, I just enjoy the story and characters for what they are – fun. You can read my full review of this book here and the whole series here.
Bookish Boyfriends: Get a Clue – This series has been a delight since book one. You can read my full review of this book here, and you can read more about the whole series here.
Counting Down with You – Loved this powerful YA novel this year! You can read my full review here.
The Hawthorne Legacy (♥♥♥♥♥) – Book 2 in the Hawthorne series by my favorite YA author, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, was a powerhouse, It delivered on all the things I thought were missing for the first book while not losing any of the parts I loved. I can’t wait to read book 3 later this year. You can read my full review of book 1 here.
Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche – After the delightful Netflix movie starring Enola Holmes, this book was a must read for me – and it did not disappoint! You can read my full review here.
Never Saw You Coming – I heard a lot about this book last year as I follow the author on social media. The book did not disappoint. Read my full review here.
You Have a Match – This was my second Emma Lord book and I loved it! You can read my full review here, and check out the author page here – she has a new book out that I will be reviewing soon.

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Raven has trapped her demon father and is desperate to keep him out of her life. Desperate enough to hop a train to Nashville to meet up with a guy who says he can help.

Raven’s foster sister, Max, is following her in secret to protect Raven from whatever trouble she might run into.

Garth is still adjusting to his recently un-suppressed powers. He’s on a bus to Nashville to meet a guy who says he has the answers Garth is looking for.

And there’s someone else who is supposed to be meeting up with Slade Wilson. He’s the smart one – observing, wary. And as he watches, he sees what happens next.

Review

EEEEEK! I love these books! This was fantastic! I loved Gar and Raven together. It was great to see them connect. I also loved Max’s presence – as well as the other person who is watching. The only complaint I have about this series is that the books are TOO SHORT. I finish each one begging for more. (There’s a cover reveal for the next book at the back, and I am HERE FOR IT.)

I enjoyed the balance here between the character development and the budding romance along with the next bits in the Slade story. Is it enough? No, not for me. But I was satisfied with the balance between the two aspects.

I don’t know that readers have to go back to read Raven and Beast Boy first, but it will certainly help fill out the backstories for Raven, Max, and Gar. And now that readers can slam all three books in one go, it might feel more satisfying than when I read each one and then had to wait a year for the next installment.

I highly recommend these – for graphic novel fans, and for DC fans. (Demons/ghosts)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Entertainment in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Garfield “Gar” Logan is a senior in high school, and he’s tired of looking like a freshman. He’s lifting weights and downing protein shakes with no impact. He starts to wonder if the supplements his parents have him taking could be stunting his growth. So, he stops taking them. And things start to… change.

Gar is desperate to get in with the cool crowd and get the attention of a certain girl before high school ends. The weird things happening to him seem to be helping him get that attention for once. But a sinister figure, new in town, may be giving Gar exactly the wrong kind of attention.

Review

I have been excited about this book since the moment I finished Teen Titans: Raven last year. This is from the same team, and they can’t churn out books fast enough for me. I discovered that the next book will be a team up of both Raven and Gar, currently titled Beast Boy Loves Raven, and I am here for it! This one ends on a huge cliffhanger, and I need a sequel!

This is an origin story for Gar. There’s an emphasis early in the book on his longing to be noticed. He wants to fit in physically; he wants to be considered “cool.” And he wants to find what he’s good at and who he is meant to be. Gar stumbles into these dares, and the physical changes he’s experiencing help him pull off things that should be impossible.

I wish this had been longer or that some of the set up was condensed. Just when I felt like things were getting into place – a bitter rival at school, a dangerous foe from his parents’ past, full use of his powers –  it was over. I used some choice words when I swiped for more and found there wasn’t any.

So, I enjoyed what’s here, but I wanted more. I guess that’s a sign of a good story. Fans of the Raven graphic novel, and fans of the character Gar/Beast Boy should be sure to check this one out. If you haven’t read these but you enjoy other Teen Titans material, like Teen Titans: Damian Knows Best, put these on your TBR.

DC has graciously shared some examples of the interior artwork for you to enjoy!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia

REVIEW: Teen Titans: Raven by Kami Garcia

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and DC Ink in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

One night in Atlanta, a girl and her foster mom are driving on a wet night. One minute they are talking about signing adoption papers and making their family official. The next, they are part of a horrible car accident that leaves the foster mom dead and the teen with no memories of her life before the crash.

After the accident, Raven moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mom’s sister and her daughter, Max. Max is a great friend – and being at a new school, this is a huge help. But having her “cousin” there isn’t enough to offset the weird things that happen – hearing other people’s thoughts, making the resident mean girl trip just by thinking of it.

Since Raven has no memories from before the accident, she has no way to be sure these things are new and a result of the crash. Could she have been doing these things before?

While Raven and Max try to sort out what’s going on with Raven, they are distracted and unaware that danger is lurking in the shadows and trouble they can’t even fathom is around the corner.

Review

Raven has always been my favorite character of the Teen Titans. Her powers and her back story are mysterious and fascinating. This graphic novel introduction to the character is terrific! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

DC Ink has launched three graphic novels so far this year. I enjoyed Mera: Tidebreaker, but Catwoman: Under the Moon was not a good fit for me as a reader (foul, dark and violent). I was a little concerned that the line was all going to be closer to the Catwoman story than the Mera story, but that was not the case here. This was a perfect graphic novel for me – I loved the art and the color scheme for the storytelling. I would have read a whole series of these. I hope there will be more Raven stories. This does include references to voodoo, astral projection, tarot and demons in keeping with the canon of the character. This may not be a good fit for all readers.

This is a solid introduction to the character and it also hints at the larger DC Universe. DC is restructuring and doing away with the DC Ink imprint in favor of age-rated comics and graphic novels. I’m curious to see where that goes.

I would have loved even more of this story! The author and artist will be releasing Beast Boy in 2020. I’m curious to see if Raven’s story will be part of that or if that will stand on it’s own. A fourth DC Ink graphic novel, Harley Quinn Breaking Glass, will release this fall.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½