Organ Reapers - Shay West

Genre:  Adult, Mystery, Fantasy
Source:  I received a copy to help facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

No one does time travel/portal travel like Shay West. We meet Tai and Keena who are young and definitely not from our world. They are harvesters. What are harvester?  They harvest the organs needed on their world from humans on earth.  Being a harvester is not only considered an honor, but comes with perks for the whole family.  Their religious beliefs don't allow them to take organs from their own deceased, and that is why they come to earth. One assignment is just too much for them so they decided there must be a way to stop all of the killings.

Eli and Ava are the two detectives stuck with this mystery.  These detectives have very realistic flaws.  Eli drinks too much, having caught his wife with the neighbor and then divorcing her.  Ava is a good balance to Eli.

Master Kelhar is the one sending out the harvesters.  But, is he just pure evil?  Is there a way to stop him?  Find out what happens when Eli and Ave join forces with Tai and Keena.  As always Shay West does an excellent job of story telling.  I would recommend all of her books. She did an excellent job of keeping the pace so that the reader sits on the edge of their seat waiting for the next event.

Student Saturday: Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

Student Reviewer: Trinity M.

Genre:  Middle Grade, Mystery 

The characters are Mr. Lemoncello, Kyle, Akimi, Andrew, Miguel, Charles, and Sierra. This story takes place in a library where you have to escape by playing games doing research and using wits. It reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because of Mr. Lemoncello seemed like he had the same type of personality as Willy Wonka. Just like how  Charlie thought he wouldn’t find a golden ticket,  in this book Kyle didn’t write a long reason why he ws excited about the new library and he still got picked. I recommend this book to those people who like to play games and solve mysteries. I thought this was a five star book.

The Green Dagger by Kelly Hess

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Source: I received a copy to help facilitate my review. The opinons expressed here are my own.

From Goodreads:

Tensions rise between Delvengard and Sorak as the Sorak queen demands the return of the Blade of Torrill. As Delvengard scrambles to locate the mythical weapon, many fear war is inevitable.

Fritz, who secretly possesses the dagger, is tormented by its evil. Eager to take control of its power, he journeys in search of a mysterious being who may be able to help.

The Green Dagger, Book Two of the BlackMyst Trilogy, continues the adventure, five years after the events of Book One, Eyes of the Enemy.

My Thoughts:

I loved the first book in the BlackMyst trilogy.  This second one is just as good.  It is definitely one I will add to my shelves. When we left the first book Fritz has in his possession a special dagger.  The problem is that it has attached itself to him.  The Sorak Queen has sent people out to find and return the dagger.  We learn how and why the dagger was created.  We learn about some of its powers.  Most importantly we learn of the effect it is having on Fritz.  With Beynn by his side, Fritz sets off to find a way to control the dagger.  You have really got to read this book to find out if he is successful.  Like the first book in the series we are left waiting impatiently for the next book in this trilogy.  This is an action packed, clean series.  I have a long student waiting list for the first book in this series.  I definitely need to have the second book on my shelves.  This is a must read for all fantasy readers young or older.