The truth about Daisy Jones and the Six is that readers are either going to love this book or hate it. This stems primarily from two facts. First, the story format itself is a departure from most of the previous novels by Taylor Jenkins Reid, framing the story of Daisy Jones and the band The Six through interviews and media coverage instead of a full narrative. And second, these characters are living the lives of rock stars, complete with copious amounts of bad decisions, sexual encounters and consumption of alcohol and drugs, which means they’re not always likable or easy to root for. So, unsurprisingly, this novel has had the most polarizing reactions from many folks who have read (or attempted to read) it. 

Personally, I was apprehensive when I started Daisy Jones and the Six. Did I think I would ever be interested in a tell-all type story about a rock and roll band? Not at all. Did I fret over the fact that this might turn out like Reid’s last novel release did for me? A fair bit. But it surprised me, this novel, and in a good way. 

It helps, I suppose, that I decided to listen to the advice of many other readers and listen to the audiobook. With a full cast (one voice actor for each role) and the incorporation of music, it made for an extremely engaging listening experience. It also made it easier to find the interview format a little less impersonal, since each narrator was excellent at making their given character stand out from the rest using mere inflections or affectations. So, before I go on, I must agree with others before and tell you that if you do get the chance to read this one via audiobook, I would also highly recommend it. 

I will say that I never expected to be as invested in Daisy Jones and the Six as I was, and I am confident in the fact that this happened because of the characters. These characters are all wonderfully complex, as readers will discover while getting to know each person involved in this tale with every succeeding interview. Reid certainly spotlights the many fine, admirable strengths these folks have, but she also doesn’t hold back in revealing their weaknesses and the terrible choices that lead to terrible circumstances. The interview format, in my opinion, worked well for this purpose, as it offered a multi-faceted perspective on each individual (based solely on who was talking about them at any given time). It all comes together to be a group of character studies, and I certainly admire Reid’s chosen approach in the telling. It’s not always easy to read about their ups and their downs, but there is a raw honesty to the portrayal of the series of events that make up the story of one Daisy Jones and her time with the band The Six before everything all falls apart. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was compelling, challenging and different from most of what I read this year, and I savored every single scandalous, intriguing second of it. While it certainly will appeal to a more niche set of readers and it still hasn’t eclipsed former novels of Reid’s to become my favorite, I thought Daisy Jones and the Six was well-done and one of my favorite reading experiences of the year. 

Daisy Jones and the Six was released on March 5, 2019 by Ballantine Books.

I'm so thrilled to be a part of the When She Reigns blog tour! If you've been reading my blog for over a year, you'll know that I adore Jodi Meadows and her novels so dang much (and I am truly honored to call her a friend). The Fallen Isles trilogy is one of my favorite young adult fantasy series with a strong political aspect, a main character I absolutely loved and related to and dragons (because who doesn't love dragons?). Today, I'm picking Jodi's brain about her characters and her books, and I'm excited to share our Q&A with all of you.

1. Mira has always been the main reason I love the Fallen Isles trilogy. What do you feel is the main theme that defines her character journey from start to end? And did you deliberately choose to highlight that theme as you wrote her story?

As cheesy as it might sound, Mira's main theme is love. 

Her gods are the Lovers, representing all kinds of love -- familial, platonic, romantic, etc -- and Mira has always been a believer in that power. It is, more than any of the abilities she displays in the series, Mira's truest gift. 

While Mira is really good at finding ways to love other people, however, she's less good at accepting love. She constantly doubts that people feel as strongly for her as they say they do. Some of this is because she's always been set apart and told to hide her "flaws," and some of it's just Mira's personal journey of learning to be loved. 

I almost never choose themes I want to write about; they almost always show up with the character and their personal arcs. But I do find that I write similar themes in lots of my novels, and love is absolutely one that repeats throughout my work.

2. The world of the Fallen Isles trilogy is complex in terms of politics and lore. Was it easy to decide which island and government Mira was a part of and how that would influence her story?

I always knew which island Mira came from, even before I knew the details of their beliefs and culture. I wanted her to come from a very prestigious island, one that had a lot of pride and wealth. I knew Mira had a very glamorous seeming life where everything was handed to her, even though she'd done nothing to deserve it.

And then I wanted to make her fight to regain everything that's actually important to her. Not the things (although she is a girl who will always love and appreciate pretty dresses), but the people. The ideals. The image she had of her island that was never really as true as she had believed. 

In the third book, Mira tells another character, "Maybe I don't know exactly how the world works, but I know how it should work." 

It's that -- learning to see what's broken, and figuring out how to affect change -- that I really wanted Mira to experience.

3. Apart from Mira, we also have a whole host of characters that have become equally important to the story (and dear to the readers) as part of Mira’s family, blood or found. Was important to you to have all these different relationships in Mira’s life?

Yes, absolutely! I love found family stories, and Mira definitely finds family in the other prisoners, and the friends she's known her entire life. 

Throughout the series, Mira's relationship with all of the other characters grows in some way, and they all affect her differently. One helps her understand her own strength, while another challenges her mind. Another gives her a very gentle, sweet companionship she'd never experienced before. And she gets unwavering loyalty and support from others. 

Each character helps Mira grow into her Ultimate Self. And she, in turn, helps them. 

Which character would be likely to...

1) Enjoy an all you can eat buffet?

Hristo. Hands down.

Aaru would be fascinated but worried about all the waste. 

2) Spend an entire day in the library?

Aaru, because it's quiet. 

Or Ilina, because she's Very Curious.

3) Have their own YouTube channel (and what would it be focused on)?

Hmm. I can think of a few who might, actually.

Gerel's would be a health/workout channel.

Chenda's would revolve around activism. 

Ilina's would be a self-help/inspirational channel.

4) Play video games?

Hristo and Ilina would play video games together. Sometimes Mira would watch.

5) Have a career in diplomacy or government?

Absolutely Chenda. 

6) Own their own company?

Ilina. 

7) Travel the world and blog about it?

Mira. 

Series: Fallen Isles #3

Previous Books in the Series: Before She Ignites, As She Ascends

Be warned that this summary may contain spoilers for the first two books in the series!

The Last Hope

About the Author

The Very Very Far North is a series of short stories that revolve around the every day life of Duane the Polar Bear. He moves to the Very Very Far North, settles in and just starts making friends.  Reading this book felt like a return to being a young reader, when you feel awesome for attempting to pick up a real book at either the school library or at the bookstore. Because this, well, it is a right proper novel for kids!

Duane is such a compelling character for this day and age and, even as an adult, I connect so much to him. And because I’m an adult, I see some pretty cool undertones as I read this book and see the friendships blossom. Like how this one character doesn’t like to be hugged and is comfortable expressing boundaries that don’t ruin the friendship… and surprisingly (or should I say refreshingly), our polar bear remembers and withholds hugs. Their friendship is stronger for it! Or how another character is so painfully in need of affirmation and their friends are as nice about it as they can be. 

But what really won me over is the combination of how pure Duane’s journey is and the simple yet profound way his tale is told. It’s like Winnie the Pooh but for a new generation. Pretty sure it isn’t the first book of its kind out there, but there is something about the journey you make with characters that make you form a bond with them... and some of those bonds are for life. This novel is an anchor to remind you that things can be this simple, and that sometimes, days do get a change of heart and decide to take you want to go. This book is pure and I would definitely buy it for people with kids to help preserve whatever whimsy and wonder they have. 

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you’ll likely know that I have a soft spot for stories about siblings and particularly, stories about sisters. Having two sisters of my own, it always interests me to see how that relationship is reflected in fiction, and She’s the Worst is one of the best portrayals I’ve personally ever encountered. Readers will only have a little over a day to spend with sisters April and Jenn, as they hang out and visit spots meaningful to them all around LA (which happens for two different reasons, depending on which sister you talk to). But Spieller writes about their relationship in a realistic and relatable way, claiming both the nostalgic love and fondness, as well as the misconceptions and hurts that are part and parcel of sisterhood. Interspersed with their sister dynamic, she also writes about their experiences visiting different parts of Los Angeles together, their complicated family situation and their relationships with other people (friendship or romantic). While it does end up feeling a little like the reader is getting shortchanged since we only get a brief glimpse into their lives due to the timeline, I still thought She’s the Worst was a good read and a whole lot of fun (with a slight dash of the feels). 

What are three places in NYC you consider significant to our (Rachel & my) friendship? Books of Wonder was a given, as it was the place we first met. Central Park, as we've visited it together fairly often on many of our days out in the city. And, of course, can't forget to mention Lincoln Center since we have our yearly ballet tradition these days!

She’s the Worst was released on September 3, 2019 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. 

I received an e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley for review.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back is the second published novel from Adrienne Young, a story set in the same world as Sky in the Deep (which was one of my favorite reads in 2018). This novel switches back and forth between two character POVs: Tova, a gifted young woman who is searching for the place she belongs as she resides with a tribe that is not her own, and Halvard, a young man forged in a time of great conflict who has been bestowed with a heavy legacy of leadership. Readers will get to know both as the story progresses, and personally, it was all too easy to get invested in their individual journeys (and how they end up intersecting eventually). As it was in her debut novel, Young’s writing is compulsively readable and all too easy to fly through. And while there are plenty of nods to events in Sky in the Deep, it’s not necessary to read that story first – you can certainly check this one out as a standalone. In fact, it might even make the reading experience better for you, as both books share very similar plot elements (two tribes in opposition who are forced to decide between conflict or peace) and it was very noticeable to me, as someone who absolutely loved Sky in the Deep. This is not to say that the stories are the same, however; there’s just enough of a difference in the character personalities and external elements to allow this novel to stand on its own and still be an enjoyable book. So, while I didn’t love this one nearly as much as Young’s debut, I still really enjoyed The Girl the Sea Gave Back and would highly recommend it to both fans of Sky in the Deep and those readers new to Young’s work.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back was released on September 3, 2019 by Wednesday Books.

I received a galley from the publisher for review.

I'm truly excited to kick off the month of September by partnering with Disney Book Group for a new giveaway! It's always fun to be able to support series and imprints I love, and I'm happy to be able to support The Storm Runner series. I read and loved The Storm Runner last year (and Macky has also read and adored this one), and I'm looking forward to devouring the sequel The Fire Keeper soon. I've heard that it's got more shenanigans with Zane and the gang, including a brand new quest and more Aztec and Mayan gods and monsters popping up! If you'd like to join me in catching up on the series, this is your chance to win a finished copy. 

The Fire Keeper by J.C. Cervantes (Twitter | Instagram)

Series: The Storm Runner #2
Recommended for ages 8-12

Publication Date: September 3, 2019

Publisher: Rick Riordan Presents, an imprint of Disney Book Group (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram)

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound

Zane Obispo’s new life on a beautiful secluded tropical island, complete with his family and closest friends, should be perfect. But he can’t control his newfound fire skills yet (inherited from his father, the Maya god Hurakan); there’s a painful rift between him and his dog ever since she became a hell hound; and he doesn’t know what to do with his feelings for Brooks.

One day he discovers that by writing the book about his misadventures with the Maya gods, he unintentionally put other godborn children at risk. Unless Zane can find the godborns before the gods do, they will be killed. To make matters worse, Zane learns that Hurakan is scheduled to be executed. Zane knows he must rescue him, no matter the cost. Can he accomplish both tasks without the gods detecting him, or will he end up a permanent resident of the underworld?

In this cleverly plotted sequel to The Storm Runner, the gang is back together again with spirited new characters, sneaky gods, Aztec royalty, unlikely alliances, and secrets darker than Zane could ever have imagined. Secrets that will change him forever.

About the Series

A contemporary adventure based on Maya mythology from Rick Riordan Presents! In Book 1, The Storm Runner, a lonely boy in New Mexico has a physical disability that makes middle school feel even more like everyone is watching him. But as he soon learns, his physical differences are merely the first clue to a family history that connects him to the Maya gods—and puts him in mortal danger.

About the Author

J. C. Cervantes is the New York Times best-selling author of The Storm Runner, which Booklist called “a rip-roaring adventure” in a starred review. Her first novel, Tortilla Sun, was a 2010 New Voices pick by the American Booksellers Association and was named to Bank Street's 2011 Best Book List. Jen grew up in San Diego and was fascinated by stories about Maya gods and magic.

About Rick Riordan Presents

The Rick Riordan Presents imprint is dedicated to providing entertaining middle grade fiction based on various world mythologies. Rick Riordan is involved in the selection, editing, and promotion of these books, working with great authors to tell exciting stories inspired by the mythologies of their own heritages. Learn more about the imprint and its current and upcoming titles on their official site.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to the lovely team at Disney Book Group, I get the opportunity to host a fun giveaway for a finished copy of The Fire Keeper and a really cool branded cap and bumper sticker. This is a US only giveaway.

The Storm Runner fans, rejoice! Enter for your chance to win:
a copy of The Fire Keeper,
plus a branded cap and bumper sticker.

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney Book Group.