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Deceiver’s Heart by Jennifer Nielsen , 384 pages.  Scholastic, Feb 2019.  $18 Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (fighting) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS - ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE Kestra accepted her role as the Infidante and tried to use the Olden Blade to kill Lord Endrick. When her plan fails, Endrick takes her memories to warp her into his puppet.  When she is again kidnapped by the Coracks, she has no idea who she was, nor who Simon is to her.  In order to restore her memories, she must dare to claim her magic.  But if she does, then she will lose Simon forever. Things get quite complicated in this second book.  I must admit I felt betrayed when Endrick took Kestra’s memories.  I know Kestra couldn’t just kill Endrick in the first chapter, but it felt like a trick.  I think I just have to accept that the magic and the danger takes a back seat to the romance - very convolut...

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes , 448 pages.  Thomas Nelson, 2018.  $17. Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: g; Violence: PG (some deaths, battles) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS – ADVISABLE; HS - ESSENTIAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH Thomas Fawkes may have the Stone Plague, but he is sure that when he gets his Color Mask he will bond with Grey and be able to conquer his disease.  His father, the legendary protector Guy Fawkes, refuses to send his mask, however, and Thomas must trudge to London to find his parent, whom he has never met, and force the gift from him.  In London Thomas finds  a whole different world – one of rebellion and intrigue.  Keepers like Thomas and his father, believe that a person should only bond with only one color.  Igniters, on the other hand, believe that every color should be available to every person with talent.  And the King is an Igniter who is allowing Keepers to be hunted dow...

The Legend of Greg: An Epic Series of Failures by Chris Rylander , 338 pages. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2018. $16.99.   Content: Language: G (no swears; no f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.   BUYING ADVIOSRY: MS - ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  Greg thinks he is just unlucky. In fact, as far back as his family can remember they have been unlucky - especially on Thursdays. He lives in modern Chicago, just a normal kid who somehow got a scholarship to a high class private school. He rides the city bus and lives a life of quiet drudgery. Greg thinks it is just bad luck until his father is snatched out of his specialty tea shop in downtown Chicago by a strange man and a mountain troll. Then Greg is taken underground and informed he is a Dwarf. His only friend at his snobby private school is an elf, sworn enemy of the Dwarfs.  Greg sets out on a quest to find his dad, and maybe destroy civilization.   This is a fun book, Rylander has introd...

Crown of Thunder by Tochi Onyebuchi , 303 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2018. $18. Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13             BUYING ADVISORY: HS – ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE Sequel to Beasts Made of Night . Taj and Aliya barely escaped Queen Karima and the city of Kos with their lives. But they are being hunted by sin beasts unlike any Taj has ever fought or eaten and Taj’s best friend Bo. They meet up with Arzu and she takes them to her ancestor’s village, but refugees keep pouring in and Bo isn’t far behind. Aliya the algebraist is sick. The Unnamed is speaking to her and if she can survive it, she believes that she can save the city of Kos and bring Balance back to their world. Taj will have to fight not only his best friend, but the woman he thought he loved.     Told in first person, Taj’s struggle to decide whether to save himself or be the hero the world needs, feels real and believable. Aliya ch...

Shimmer and Burn by Mary Taranta , 328 pages.  Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster), 2017. $17.99 Language: PG13 (27 swears, “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  Nobody leaves Brindaigel. This is a lesson Faris knows well, since escape plans have had grave consequences on everyone she has loved. However, Faris has no choice but to follow in the footsteps of those who have tried to escape and succeed where they did not. For if Faris doesn’t help the princess, Faris will die and will never get to save her sister from enslavement. The story line was a good read, and I liked how the plot twists fell into place. However, after having read the entire story, I still feel as if I don’t understand the rules of the world Taranta tried to bring to life. There are complex rules and regulations surrounding magic that I might understand if I read the book again, but it was hard to pick up the first time through. ...

Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart , 311 pages. Little, Brown and Company, 2018. $17.99. Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (arena fighting) BUYING ADVISORY:  MS, HS- OPTIONAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE Serina has grown up being pampered for her future as a "Grace." She knows that by being accepted as a "Grace" her family will have an easier life.  Nomi, Serina's rebellious sister feels trapped in their male dominated society. Nomi defies many of the conventions placed upon women. When the time comes to be presented to the heir for her chance to become a "Grace" Serina is accompanied by her sister, Nomi, who is to be her handmaiden. When one of Nomi's many secrets is discovered Serina takes the blame to protect her. Will the bond of sisterhood be enough for them to survive?        When you first start reading the book it feels like other predictable dystopian novels. Good sister, rebellious sister, good sister takes the ...