Determined by Kandi J. Wyatt

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Source: I received an advance copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Kandi J. Wyatt has outdone herself with this fourth book in the “Four Stars Over Ardatz: Sovereigns” series.  Hest has been crowned King. Nothing has come easy for the King and Queen.  Siobhan and her daughter Mairead face constant danger. Hest’s bond with his dragon is getting stronger. There are physical and mental changes taking place that he often can’t seem to control. The one constant in all of this is his wife and daughter. Siobhan has carried a fear in her since she and her mother were kidnapped. Maybe it is for this reason Hest feels he must do whatever it takes to protect them.

The tension in this book started with Siobhan giving birth. We see how Hest is the one who can calm her and get her to focus. It is this strong bond of love that will hold them together. The tension never lets up. There are threats around every corner, and that includes in her own castle.  I kept thinking to myself that I could not be that strong if I had to go through all the things the characters in this book go through. Then I realized that they draw their strength from their faith. I realized that faith has a lot of power in it.  The books in this series just keep getting better and better. The fifth book looks to be just as good.  I am so proud to be a reviewer of such a wonderful series.  I highly recommend not only this book but her entire series.

This book will be available for purchase  March 21, 2023. Don't wait, pre-order your copy now.

 

Noises From the Other Side by Tabatha Shipley

 

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Mystery

Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing

This was one of the quirkiest books I have read in a long time. Annie Lewis and her mother move into a duplex after her parents split up. It's bad enough being pulled away from all of your friends your senior year. However, Annie begins hearing noises from the other side of the duplex that is empty. I have lived in duplexes before and they can be quite creepy.

This is where things are quirky, and I mean that in a good way. I believe it is a ghost, so I read on trying to figure out who would be haunting the place. Like Annie I missed so many clues along the way. The author did a great job building the world in this book. It takes place in reality and then also in an alternate reality. That's all I will say about that. I didn't see the person who ends up as the antagonist as the one. The pacing and the twists and turns kept me reading non-stop. I literally read this book in a little over four hours. Would I recommend this book? Definitely! I love the way this author thinks as they write. Awesome book!

Student Saturday: The Plot to Kill Hitler by Andy Marino

Student Reviewer: Langdon

Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction

“The Plot to Kill Hitler” by Andy Marino, book one, is a thrilling story set in Berlin in the year 1943. The main character Max, a twelve year old boy, and his sister Gerta, age thirteen are living with their mom and dad in Berlin. At this time, Berlin, Germany is under Nazi Control. This causes Berlin to get air  raided every night by the allies. One cay Max and Gerta discover their parents are a part of an anti-Nazi rebel group and they are dragged into it. Their parents don’t agree to this demand, but the leader of this rebel group does. Once Max and Gerta went on their first mission they noticed a suspicious man seeming to follow them. Max acts normal walking away but takes a long way home Will Max escape?- To sum it up, “The Plot to Kill Hitler,” by Andy Marino, is a thrilling story about love, conspiracy, and mystery.