My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
When fourteen-year-old Selina Kyle, aka the future Catwoman, becomes homeless, she must confront questions of who she is and who she will become.
She rejects human cruelty, but sometimes it seems as though brute force is the only way to "win." And if Selina is to survive on the streets, she must be tough. Can she find her humanity and reconcile toughness with her desire for community ... and love?
From Lauren Myracle, the New York Times best-selling author of books like ttfn and ttyl, comes the story of a teenage Catwoman, as she struggles to find her own identity while living on the streets of Gotham.
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A graphic novel set in Gotham city inspired by Catwoman's origin story. There is a cameo appearance but mostly the graphic novel focuses on the ways Selina discovers her own power and how she evolves from an abused child to a strong young woman.
Trigger alert: abuse, animal killing
About the author:
Lauren Myracle is the author of numerous young adult novels. She was born in 1969 in North Carolina. Lauren Myracle holds an MA in English from Colorado State University and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. she has written many novels, including the famous IM books, ttyl, ttfn, and l8r, g8r.
Her first novel, Kissing Kate, was selected as one of ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" for the year 2004. It was named by Booklist as one of the "Top Ten Youth Romances" of the year, as well as one of the "Top Ten Books by New Writers." Her middle-grade novel, Eleven, came out 2004, followed by its YA sequels (Twelve, Thirteen, Thirteen Plus One)
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
The searing follow-up to 2018’s most celebrated fantasy debut – THE POPPY WAR.
In the aftermath of the Third Poppy War, shaman and warrior Rin is on the run: haunted by the atrocity she committed to end the war, addicted to opium, and hiding from the murderous commands of her vengeful god, the fiery Phoenix. Her only reason for living is to get revenge on the traitorous Empress who sold out Nikan to their enemies.
With no other options, Rin joins forces with the powerful Dragon Warlord, who has a plan to conquer Nikan, unseat the Empress, and create a new Republic. Rin throws herself into his war. After all, making war is all she knows how to do.
But the Empress is a more powerful foe than she appears, and the Dragon Warlord’s motivations are not as democratic as they seem. The more Rin learns, the more she fears her love for Nikan will drive her away from every ally and lead her to rely more and more on the Phoenix’s deadly power. Because there is nothing she won’t sacrifice for her country and her vengeance
The sequel to R.F. Kuang’s acclaimed debut THE POPPY WAR, THE DRAGON REPUBLIC combines the history of 20th-century China with a gripping world of gods and monsters, to devastating effect.
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My friends on Twitter are still reeling on how to write this review. I can only say two words: phenomenally brutal. And also too real, as if the war is part of history (which I know that it could easily be). Rin and gang are true survivors as they try to escape the Empress and yet they become entangled in new plots which will bring the Empire or what's left of it on its knees.
Rin's problems and character undertake a lot of struggles many of which are trigger warned and the violence escalates as the wars become a civil one. Not to mention the new 'benefactors' who see the people of the Empire as nothing more than 'barbarians' in need of being 'civilized'. You will understand when you read this amazing sequel to the Poppy War and I promise you that after the end of this one, you'll dread to see what will happen in the third book.
I just want Kitay to become an astronomer, Rin to find peace in any way she can (which I doubt) and certain someones to die a slow agonizing death in Tartarus style.
About the author:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
Esha is a legend, but no one knows. It’s only in the shadows that she moonlights as the Viper, the rebels’ highly skilled assassin. She’s devoted her life to avenging what she lost in the royal coup, and now she’s been tasked with her most important mission to date: taking down the ruthless General Hotha.
Kunal has been a soldier since childhood, training morning and night to uphold the power of King Vardaan. His uncle, the general, has ensured that Kunal never strays from the path—even as a part of Kunal longs to join the outside world, which has been growing only more volatile.
Then Esha’s and Kunal’s paths cross—and an unimaginable chain of events unfolds. Both the Viper and the soldier think they’re calling the shots, but they’re not the only players moving the pieces. As the bonds that hold their land in order break down and the sins of the past meet the promise of a new future, both rebel and soldier must make unforgivable choices.
Inspired by ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology.
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I received an e-ARC from the Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The Tiger at Midnight is a story of divided kingdoms, conspiracies and a tiny bit of magic. Esha is the Viper, a vigilante of epic proportions who finds herself framed and then hunted by the best of the best soldiers. Kunal is a soldier who after meeting Esha begins questioning his own upbringing, not realizing that both he and Esha will have bigger roles to play.
The world-building is amazing with deserts and lush jungles, wild nature and destruction. I loved the cat and mouse like the chase through the story and since everything was told in third POV I felt much better in getting to know the characters. The book ends in a cliffhanger which I hope that it will be resolved in the second book...and fast!
About the author:
After graduating from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Finance and History, she tumbled into the marketing side of the technology industry. She’s passionate about many things, including how to make a proper cup of chai, the right ratio of curd-to-crust in a lemon tart, and diverse representation in the stories we tell.
She currently lives in New York City.
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