In case this is your first time coming across my blog, hi, hello, my name is Alexa and my favorite Studio Ghibli film of all time is Kiki's Delivery Service. I never tire of the charming story of a young witch determined to make a life for herself after settling into a new small town. And I'm totally willing to admit that I initially picked up Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch because it was compared to Kiki's Delivery Service. (And, okay, I also fell in love with this adorably illustrated cover and couldn't leave it behind when I found it at the bookstore.)

The most important thing you'll need to know? Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch is wonderful. It's by far my favorite book I've read so far in 2021, and I can easily see it earning a spot on my best reads list at the end of this year (a spot that it'll hopefully share with its forthcoming sequel). I knew I was going to enjoy this book, but I could never have anticipated how much I ended up loving it.

Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch centers around Evalithimus "Eva" Evergreen, a young witch determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before her thirteenth birthday in order to keep her magic... what little she has, that is. The requirements are simple: fly to a town that needs you, live there and do good for one moon and when the time comes, fly home by broomstick. Will Eva be able to settle into her new home, use the pinch of magic she has to help the town and save the day when a big magical threat makes itself known?

While there are certainly small similarities to Kiki's Delivery Service, I can wholeheartedly say that Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch is definitely a standout story on its own merit. I fell head over heels for the whimsical world that Julie Abe brought to life with each new chapter, including the magical beings and lore, the coastal town of Auteri and the Japanese-inspired details woven throughout. I loved the story, particularly how Abe combined a wholesome slice-of-life plot beautifully with an individual character development journey and exciting turns when our characters are faced with looming magical threats. And, best of all, I loved the characters, particularly our titular character Eva. As a character-driven reader, it's always heartwarming to 'meet' a new person to love and root for and Eva was instantly one of those people for me. Her determination to pursue her goal no matter the odds, her genuine heart to help those who need it no matter the cost or risk, and her willingness to acknowledge her vulnerabilities and her strengths - these are just three of the things I adored about her. 

As you can tell, I love Eva Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch so much. It's a charming, wholesome middle grade fantasy tale that warmed my heart (and made me cry) with its delightful cast, compelling plot and themes of friendship and moral support. This novel easily earned it's five star rating and a spot on my all-time favorite middle grade reads list, and I would highly recommend it.

Pub Info: August 4, 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

I'm glad I managed to read My Calamity Jane, the latest and last novel in the Jane series written by the Lady Janies (Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton & Jodi Meadows) before 2020 ended. Much like its predecessors, this novel is the "real" tale of a famous Jane. In this case, readers will be following the adventures of Calamity Jane, who works together with Frank Butler and, later, Annie Oakley, in a traveling show and also as garou (werewolf) hunter. Yes, you read that right, this here tale has garou in it and our trio are part of a group of werewolf hunters! I didn't know much more than that when I went into this one, so I'm not going to add more details to my description. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy a tale set in the Wild West so much, but this was a lot of fun to read! It does help that it's filled with the usual touch of the fantastical (in a fun way), hilarious hijinks (I definitely laughed out loud a few times) and plenty of pop culture references (specifically ones from musicals). I also liked the feminist undertones in both Annie and Jane's perspectives, as well as seeing how they depicted sensitive elements like guns and race (especially considering the time period). If you've enjoyed either or both of the previous Jane books, you'll most likely have a good time with this one as well. While My Calamity Jane isn't my favorite of the series (that honor still goes to My Plain Jane), it's certainly a very strong addition to it.

My Calamity Jane (The Lady Janies #3) was published on June 2, 2020 by Harper Teen.

Previous Books in the Series: My Lady Jane, My Plain Jane

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I preordered The Lives of Saints because 1) it's a lovely book and 2) Macky and I agreed we needed it for our collection since we're both Grishaverse fans. But I'd put off reading it... at least, until I heard that Ben Barnes (!) and Lauren Fortgang would be narrating the audiobook. I finally ended up reading the physical book and listening to the audiobook on a whim one day in December, and I'm so glad I did that because I feel like it enhanced my personal reading experience. The Lives of Saints (referred to as Istorii Sankt’ya in the series) is exactly what it professes to be - a book about the saints, though specifically about these extraordinary men and women in the Grishaverse that have been referenced in the other books. These short tales are written by Leigh Bardugo, accompanied by illustrations from Daniel J. Zollinger, and the physical book is a stunner. But the narration, which alternates between Barnes and Fortgang, was equally wonderful, as these two definitely have a gift for drawing readers in with their voices. Truthfully, reading this collection reminded me of similar books I read as a child featuring Catholic saints but mixed with the overall vibe of a fairytale... and it worked so well for me as a reader.  It was a real treat to dip back into the world of the Grishaverse in a new, unexpected way, and I'm glad I got to do it before 2020 ended!

The Lives of Saints was published on October 6, 2020 by Imprint.

The audiobook was released on December 8, 2020 by Macmillan Audio.

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It's going to be no surprise to anyone who reads this blog that Unlocked would garner a mini-review after its release, as I'm a big fan of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. I've waxed poetic many times on many online platforms about how enjoyable, creative and smart these novels are, and this new novella + world guide just further cements these sentiments. I hadn't originally been planning to read through the entirety of the guides to the series that were included, from character profiles down to world details, but I'm glad I did. It provided an overview of the important details of the series (including some fun and unexpected commentary from a few characters I adore), and reminded me just how much whimsy and thought Shannon Messenger has put into the creation of this series. In particular, I wanted to shoutout a section in this one that gave me way too many feels (hint: it involves journal illustrations) while I perused it! But apart from the fun, detailed information we get about the book series, readers will also be treated to a novella. And this definitely didn't disappoint! The novella does answer questions many of us had at the end of Legacy, but also introduces new questions and problems that our favorite cast of characters will be forced to confront in the novel (or novels) to come. But it also provides a vehicle for Messenger to transition from having a singular POV to having two POVs and, let me tell you, it was chaotic but wonderful to be able to be inside the other person's head for a change. (I'm admittedly biased, but I have no shame in admitting that). It was a really good novella, though that ending, as always, left me on tenterhooks and eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. Unlocked is certainly something that long-time fans of this series are going to want to add to their collection!

Unlocked (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8.5) was published on November 17, 2020 by Aladdin.

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Friends, I’m so excited to be sharing my thoughts on The Ex Talk! This upcoming adult contemporary romance debut from author Rachel Lynn Solomon is essentially about two rival coworkers at a public radio station – producer Shay Goldstein and journalist Dominic Yun. The radio station needs a fresh idea to grow their audience, and Shay comes up with a great idea for a show where two exes deliver relationship advice and share their experience on air. The show is greenlit with one catch: Dom and Shay must pretend to be exes and host it together. Their lie is agreed upon, the show goes on air and becomes popular incredibly fast and our cohosts end up slowly developing real feelings for one another. But what will happen when their lies fall apart? I had a really good feeling about The Ex Talk before I started it, and it totally lived up to my hopes. It’s a very cute romance, and I enjoyed the heck out of the shenanigans (romantic or otherwise) as well as the moments that warmed my heart. It was sweet watching the relationship develop between Shay and Dom, from that one-sided rivalry to cohosts to friends to lovers. I enjoyed their banter right off the bat, and it was lovely to watch their affection, respect and love for the other person develop as the book went on. The other aspects of this story – family and friends, their other coworkers, the work drama, the radio show/podcast – simply added more charm. My only teeny tiny nitpick is that I think that Dominic should have done a few things differently at the end. But this book was still so good, and I’d definitely recommend The Ex Talk! 

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Shipped is the debut adult contemporary romance from Angie Hockman, centering around two rival coworkers Henley and Graeme who are constantly at odds or in competition even though they’ve never actually met in person. Their boss sends them on a cruise to the Galápagos Islands to gather intel for a marketing proposal they need to make to secure the promotion that they are both shortlisted for, and sparks fly between the pair when they finally meet in person. But will the competition for a shiny new job title end up preventing them from finding a happily ever after? While it took a while for me to be hooked by this novel, Shipped ended up being a really fun read! There were so many appealing elements that made up the heart of this tale: the cruise and travel bits (which had me immediately texting my family book club about needing to add the Galápagos Islands to our group bucket list), the sweet romance that blossoms between Henley and Graeme as they get to know each other better, the secondary relationships (including Henley’s relationships with her sister and her coworkers), and the workplace drama. Shipped is very much an entertaining novel that will allow you to escape the real world while you’re reading it, and it’s definitely worth the read!

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The Twelve Dates of Christmas is about Kate Turner, a successful Liberty designer and part-time baker who is signed up by her best friend to participate in an event that offers said twelve dates (and a variety of activities) in order to help singles find love before the holidays. This British women's fiction novel was incredibly charming and totally reminded me of some of my favorites in this particular genre back in the day! I loved the small town setting, especially with the additional touch of the holiday details making everything feel even cozier. I thoroughly enjoyed the twelve dates set-up, especially with the ensuing shenanigans and sweetness dependent on who and what each date was about. And I liked the romance a whole lot too, even though it was fairly obvious from the start who she was meant to be with. I didn't mind that predictability, if only because the journey to get there was very entertaining! But truly, the reason why this novel ended up really being my cup of tea is because I enjoyed our main character Kate so much. She has a strong sense of self, is very independent and funny, and has quite a heart for others, and I couldn't help falling in love with her too. All in all, I'm so happy I ended up picking up The Twelve Dates of Christmas (especially during the holiday season), and can highly recommend it.

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I adored Emma Lord's debut novel Tweet Cute so much, and with her sophomore novel, she's further cemented herself as an author whose work I'm bound to enjoy. You Have a Match is about Abby, who ends up signing up for a DNA service with her best friend. With the results comes a surprising revelation: Abby has a full-blooded older sister named Savannah (nicknamed 'Savvy) who she's never known about. The pair make plans to meet up at a summer camp in order to uncover the truth about why they never knew about each other and the relationship between both sets of parents... though that ends up not being the only thing the pair figure out while they're away.

I loved You Have a Match! My fondness for this story has a lot to do with how much I appreciate stories about family dynamics, particularly between siblings, and specifically between sisters (which I suppose isn't much of a surprise as I have two of my own). While Abby and Savvy's relationship might not be the typical sort, Lord's portrayal of their dynamic was real and relatable. It was equal parts heartwarming (the connections they make!) and heartbreaking (the complications that threaten the fragile relationship that's begun!), while also being 100% compelling to read about these two as they go from strangers to sisters. That's not to say that this was the only aspect of the book I enjoyed! I liked the friendships, the romance (which has a lot of miscommunication, but in a way that made sense),  and the summer camp setting (including the shenanigans). I was also surprised to find out that two characters were Filipino and to see Filipino food mentioned on page; seeing details like that in a story is always exciting. And finally, I fully appreciated the way this novel tackled the aspects of identity (both in real life and online) and relationships (family, friendship and romantic). You Have a Match was a wonderful, charming read, one that I personally really enjoyed and would highly recommend.

Favorite or most memorable camp scene in TV/movies? There are two movies from my childhood that come to mind immediately when I think of camp, and those films are It Takes Two and The Parent Trap (Lindsay Lohan's version). I couldn't decide between two scenes so I'm just going to take the liberty of mentioning them both here! From The Parent Trap, I love the fencing scene, and from It Takes Two, I love the food fight scene.

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(Please note that I will be talking about books 3.5 and 4 in The Bone Season series. At this point, spoilers for previous books will be unavoidable. If you’ve never read the series, check out my review of The Bone Season instead.)

In the novella The Dawn Chorus, Samantha Shannon invites readers to join Paige Mahoney and Arcturus Mesarthim as Paige heals from her ordeal and the pair await further instructions from their benefactors in a Parisian safe house. Arcturus and Paige are slowly reconnecting after an extended separation, and this tentative new beginning has many parallels to the start of their relationship years ago. While this novella is simply a series of scenes strung together, it tugged at my heartstrings. I have made my love and admiration for Paige Mahoney clear, and the additional insight to her character was very welcome. It’s also obvious that I’ve always enjoyed the relationship Arcturus & Paige share, and this novella fills the craving many readers have had for more page time with the two of them together. I soaked up this novella, with its heartbreaking and heartwarming moments alike, and it served as the perfect segue into the next novel of the series.

The Dawn Chorus (The Bone Season #3.5) was released July 9, 2020.

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Fans of The Bone Season series, myself included, have been waiting since 2017 (nearly four years!) for the release of the fourth book in the series, The Mask Falling. And 2021 is the year that we are finally getting this new installment – and it was worth the wait! As you might infer from the previous paragraph, The Mask Falling takes place in the Scion Citadel of Paris. Paige Mahoney and Arcturus Mesarthim are confined to a safe house by the still mysterious Domino Programme until Paige heals up enough to be given an assignment. But Paige, as usual, has her own goals in mind. Together, the pair will embark on an adventure that takes them everywhere from the luxurious political world of the Parisian government to the grittier Parisian underworld. Faced with foes and friends old and new, Paige will have to confront old demons and new revelations that just might change everything yet again.

Truthfully, I’d initially harbored concerns that Samantha Shannon’s writing sensibility and style would have changed so completely that I’d feel put off on the series. But I need not have worried! The book fits in perfectly with the already existing body of work, as the storytelling style and overall series vibe is maintained. Shannon balances the cohesion with the rest of the series along with the new writing prowess she’s gained since the last book in the series was released, and that’s really a testament to her skill as a writer.

The series follows a pattern where each book just adds to this fantastical story that Shannon has crafted, opening up the story and the world just a little bit more than before. We travel to new locations (and in The Mask Falling, the location is Paris). We learn new things about the world, including more about clairvoyance, the rebellion, the Rephaim and government of Scion. We meet interesting new characters and we learn more about characters we’ve encountered before. Even though I do love having a grasp on the series (and I think I’m pretty solid on the basic facts of this one), it’s so cool to keep finding that there is more to be uncovered and unveiled. I’m definitely expecting that the remaining books in the series will continue to have twists and revelations that surprise me!

As for the experience of devouring The Mask Falling, I’m honestly having a hard time putting it into words. (You can refer to this thread, and specifically this tweet, for some idea of what I went through.) The novel was equal parts stressful, frustrating, exhilarating, and wonderful, and it’s one of the most intense reading experiences I’ve had in some time. I was really immersed in the ups and downs, the twists and turns and in betweens of the latest chapter in Paige’s story. I laughed. I smirked. I yelled. I got mad. I teared up. I was stunned speechless. It was seriously such a rollercoaster ride of a read, and I was there for every single minute of it.

It would be remiss not to mention how much I enjoyed being reunited with Paige. I’ve always admired her, as she’s capable, tough, brave, smart, loyal and, above all, willing to do whatever it takes to do the right thing. She’s not perfect, as she does have a temper, a reckless, impulsive streak and pushes herself far past her limits almost all the time. And she certainly struggles with choices she’s made, the consequences of said choices and, in this novel, her PTSD from her capture and torture. She’s such a complex individual, and her circumstances and experiences continue to shape her. I love her so much, including all her strengths and flaws (even if I mentally scream at a lot of her choices), and I’m so honored that I get to continue watching her grow as the series goes on.

Quick shoutout to the incredible and vast cast of secondary characters that Shannon has brought to life! Not only do we get to cross paths with a few familiar faces, we also have a bunch of new ones that provide even more color and detail to an already vivid story. I also need to take a moment to appreciate the wonder that is Arcturus Mesarthim, who has so many incredible moments on page in this installment and who I love even more than before.

To sum it all up, The Mask Falling was incredible! It takes the foundations of this world and the characters we know and love, places them in a brand-new setting and wraps it all up with an action-packed plot. I absolutely loved this new addition to The Bone Season series, and I know many other fans of the series are going to love it too!

The Mask Falling (The Bone Season #4) will be released January 26, 2021.

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